San Antonio ISD officials faced scrutiny during a public forum Tuesday night, struggling to answer basic questions from parents about the recent transfer of three campuses to Colorado-based charter operator, Third Future Schools.

Concerns Over Campus Privatization

The forum, hosted by the watchdog group COPS/Metro, was intended to address parental anxieties about the district potentially privatizing public schools. Many attendees reported leaving with more questions than answers regarding the changes coming to their children’s schools.

Takeover Driven by Declining Enrollment

SAISD’s board voted last month to transfer the underperforming schools to Third Future Schools in response to rising costs and declining enrollment. The move aims to potentially avoid a takeover by the Texas Education Agency if Third Future can improve academic outcomes within three years.

Limited Answers from SAISD Leadership

Shawn Bird, SAISD’s deputy superintendent of school leadership and partnership services, stated that Third Future Schools has a “strong record of turning schools around.” However, he admitted he lacked specific details about the curriculum changes planned for the campuses.

“I don’t know the specifics of this program, but they do have a track record of turning schools around,” Bird said. When questioned about this lack of knowledge, he responded, “I don’t work for Third Future, so I don’t know the intricacies of their program design.”

Past Practices of Third Future Schools

The three schools transferred to Third Future were among SAISD’s lowest-performing academically. Experiences at other schools managed by Third Future Schools, such as Hirschi Middle School in Wichita Falls, have raised concerns. At Hirschi, the school day and year were extended, extracurricular activities were restricted during school hours, and students faced strict behavioral rules, including answering multiplication questions while waiting for lunch.

Extracurriculars and Transportation Questions

Parents questioned whether Third Future Schools would continue to offer extracurricular activities like sports. Patti Salzmann, SAISD’s deputy superintendent of operations, human capital management and strategy, stated, “They’re going to have extracurriculars and sports,” though details remain unclear.

Concerns were also raised about transportation for students participating in after-school programs, particularly for families with parents working non-traditional hours.

Continued Dialogue Planned

Father Mike DeGerolami, co-chair of COPS/Metro’s public education action team, described the forum as a “good start,” with additional meetings planned in the coming weeks. The transfer of these schools is part of a larger trend, as SAISD has closed 17 schools in the past three years due to declining enrollment.