Petition Seeks To Save Metz Elementary In East Austin

EAST AUSTIN, TX — A Metz Elementary parent has launched a petition in efforts to save the school from closure amid an Austin ISD plan calling for a dozen schools to be shuttered.

Bertha Rendon Delgado, herself a Metz Elementary School alumnus, reminds prospective signers the school district passed a bond a mere two years ago with a promise proceeds would stave off school closings.

"It’s been two years since the AISD bond passed with promises of No School Closures!" Delgado wrote on the page. "We have followed the process & waited with no plan of action into keeping the schools open as if they want them to fail, so they won’t meet standards!"

Related story: Austin ISD Plans To Close 12 Schools In Reorganization Effort

Amid dwindling student enrollment, Austin ISD is exploring streamlining options — one of which includes a proposal to close 12 schools. Aside from Metz, the elementary and middle schools slated for closure are: Brooke, Dawson, Joslin, Sims, Maplewood, Palm, Pease, Pecan Springs and Ridgetop elementary schools, along with Webb Middle School and Sadler Means Young Women's Leadership Academy. Under the district's plan, the schools' students would be consolidated with other schools, the district superintendent wrote in a letter to the Austin ISD community.

But some critics decry the predominance of schools in East Austin — long a marginalized part of the city — on the proposed closures list. Others worry the plan is being expedited as the district seeks to stem the tide. Metz Elementary is located at 84 Robert T. Martinez Jr. St.

"AISD has just selected to close Metz Elementary in their recommendations," Delgado wrote. "Our school in the heart of the East Side on Willow St.," she added, substituting the central word with a heart symbol. "Please sign this petition as we fight to save our childhood school that our grandparents, ourselves and our children attend. We must Save our Metz is the Best!"

Along with their signatures, those supporting the petition aired their views:

• "What's wrong with these people?" Jesse Martinez asked rhetorically. "That school is part of our neighborhood from generations and to more to come. What don't ya go to west or north and knock some of them schools down? Leave the east side school alone."
• "My son has attended Metz since early childhood, he started with a speech impediment, and has now came a long way as a second grader," Melinda Ann wrote. "Thanks to all the staff, teachers, and therapists. I would hate to disrupt my child's education by removing him from one school to another, no child's education should be disrupted."

About Metz Elementary School

According to information found on the Austin ISD website, Metz Elementary is a bilingual school offering core subjects (i.e. English language arts and social studies) along with pre-K, dual language and a "robust range" of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs.

"The tightly knit school community offers a world of educational opportunities — from arts and athletics to reading and robotics — to ensure all children reach their fullest potential.Metz has computers in every classroom to connect students to the world," district officials wrote on the school's page.

"Metz is part of the Eastside Memorial family of schools, which offers STEM programs at every grade level and is part of the district’s new creative learning initiative to offer a quality arts-rich education to every child," officials added.

Ironically given its inclusion on a potential closures list, district officials invite those visiting the Metz Elementary page to get updated "with the Bond Modernization Project at your school." Clicking on the link takes one to a synopsis of planned bonds-fueled revamping at Sánchez Elementary School, during which time students and staff will share the Metz Elementary campus.

District officials explain the passage of the 2017 Bond allocated $25 million to modernize an elementary school in the community. After months of community engagement, the Austin ISD Board of Trustees voted in September 2018 to modernize Sánchez Elementary School.

"This modernization of Sánchez ES will take two years," district officials wrote. "After considering the best options for our students, the Austin ISD leadership team has decided that during these two years, students and staff from Sánchez will share a campus with Metz Elementary."

To that end, officials said, Sánchez and Metz students will be co-located at the latter campus starting this fall. "During co-location, both campuses will share the Metz campus from August 2019 to May 2021," officials wrote. "Each school will have space dedicated to their students and staff, and the two communities will share spaces including bilingual daycare, the cafeteria, the library, the pre-K play area and the gym."

At last check, the petition had secured the initial 100-signature goal. To see the petition on change.org, click here.