Corpus Christi ISD is considering closing two schools. Here’s why

Corpus Christi ISD has closed about a dozen elementary schools since 2008 — and by next school year, two more schools might join the list.

The Corpus Christi Independent School District Board of Trustees discussed potentially closing Kostoryz Elementary School and Schanen Estates Elementary School during a committee meeting April 14.

No official decisions have been made on whether to close the campuses, but staff did present the school board with the reasoning for the potential closures and a plan for where Kostoryz and Schanen Estates students would be moved if the campuses are shut down, which would impact Club Estates, Dawson, Galvan, Los Encinos, Sanders and Yeager elementary schools.

The next meetings when further action or discussion could occur are April 28 or May 12, though the agendas for these meetings have not yet been set.

Here are the factors that could impact the school board’s decision:

Corpus Christi ISD’s Bond 2024 did not pass.

Last year, Corpus Christi ISD asked voters to weigh in on a $135.4 million bond package to construct two new consolidated elementary schools and renovate and expand several high schools.

But voters said no.

This means that the district has to rely on its maintenance and operations budget to address any facility needs. This is the same funding source that the district uses to pay teachers and staff, as well as all other costs throughout the year.

Corpus Christi ISD does not have much money to spend. For the past several years, the district has passed deficit budgets, with more expenses than revenues.

The district had to scrap plans to build a new school adjacent to the Yeager Elementary School campus to house students from Yeager, as well as Sanders and Kostoryz elementary schools.

The district planned to close Sanders and Kostoryz elementary schools. Kostoryz might still be shut down, but now, students won’t have a newly built school to attend.

Plans to renovate Houston Elementary School to take in Fannin and Travis elementary schools were also scrapped. These three campuses were built in 1980.

Numerous campuses have aging facilities and maintenance needs.

The district is eyeing Kostoryz and Schanen Estates elementary schools for closure because of their maintenance needs. However, Yeager, Sanders, Club Estates and Galvan also have maintenance needs.

At Kostoryz, both HVAC chillers need replacing. This is the big-ticket reason that the district is leaning toward closing Kostoryz as opposed to another aging campus. The campus is using a temporary 14-year-old chiller salvaged from the demolition of Crockett Elementary School, a previously closed campus.

Kostoryz also has maintenance needs related to cast-iron plumbing, chiller water supply and return lines and roofing, as well as deteriorating portables.

Schanen Estates, the other campus that might be closed, has roofing needs, aging cast-iron plumbing and current sewer issues, weathered concrete throughout the building, asbestos acoustic installation, and chiller water supply and return line needs.

Yeager’s maintenance list includes cast-iron piping, roofing repairs and deteriorating concrete in stairwells.

Sanders has needs related to roofing and chiller water supply and return lines.

Club Estates has roofing needs, but is next in line for replacement. Flooring in the campus’ portables is also being addressed this summer. The school’s HVAC system is scheduled for replacement in 2026. The school also needs exterior door replacements.

Galvan has HVAC needs, but the district plans to replace 11 rooftop units this summer.

Enrollments are low at some campuses, leaving space for more students.

The district’s planning relates to eight elementary school campuses located in southwest Corpus Christi: Kostoryz, Schanen Estates, Yeager, Sanders, Club Estates, Dawson, Galvan and Los Encinos elementary schools.

Each of these campuses has a larger capacity than the number of students zoned within their attendance boundaries. Capacity is also larger than actual enrollments this school year and projected enrollments for the 2025-26 school year if no schools close, according to the district’s April 14 presentation.

The capacity counts at Yeager, Sanders, Club Estates and Galvan elementary schools include classrooms in portables.

Most of the highlighted campuses are projected to have fewer students in 2025-26 than they have this year. The exceptions are Galvan, Los Encinos and Dawson elementary schools.

If Kostoryz Elementary School closes, about 370 students would be split between Galvan, Los Encinos, Sandars and Yeager elementary schools somewhat evenly. Galvan Elementary School would receive the most Kostoryz students, 28%, while Yeager Elementary School would receive the fewest, 21%.

If Schanen Estates Elementary School is closed, a small majority of the students, or 59%, would be rezoned to Dawson Elementary School. Another 29% would go to Club Estates Elementary School and 12% would go to Sanders Elementary School.

Dawson Elementary School would potentially gain more than 200 students.

This would mean four additional classrooms of students at Club Estates, seven additional classrooms at Dawson, five at Galvan, four at Los Encinos, seven at Sanders and one at Yeager.

This includes two additional adaptive education classrooms at Dawson, one additional adaptive education classroom at Los Encinos and one adaptive education and one additional early childhood special education classroom at Yeager.

After the Kostoryz and Schanen Estates students are rezoned, the projected 2025-26 enrollments for the remaining six campuses would still fall below each campus’ capacity, according to the meeting presentation.

At Club Estates, the average class size would vary between 17 students and 24 students depending on grade level. Class size would vary between 18 and 24 at Galvan, 17 and 22 at Los Encinos, 17 and 21 at Sanders, and 16 and 22 at Yeager.

Class size would be 21 students at Dawson, except for in pre-K, which would be 22.

Summer camps 2025: Here’s where children can have fun this summer in Corpus Christi area

More residencies? A medical school? Medical leaders weigh in on doctor shortage solutions

Book vending machines? Here’s how Robstown ISD is promoting literacy

This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Corpus Christi ISD considers closing two schools