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Charter school may takeover operations of SAISD elementary school

Stewart Elementary on the east side is on the brink of failing TEA standards for the sixth straight year, which means that a charter school could take over operations.

The future of an underperforming elementary school in San Antonio is in jeopardy. SAISD's school board will be voting soon on whether or not they want to get a charter nonprofit to come in and operate the school starting next year.

Stewart Elementary School has been failing Texas Education Agency standards for five straight years. State law mandates that if a school fails TEA standards for five consecutive years, the TEA can take corrective action either by shutting the school down or taking it over.

There is a new regulation though that gives SAISD a few other options, including partnering with a charter operator, nonprofit, or higher education institute, which would put their compliance with TEA standards on hold for two years.

"We think it's a great opportunity to bring in their program, their curriculum, their extended day, all that they have to offer, and really make a difference in Stewart," said Leslie Price with SAISD. But leaders of the San Antonio Alliance of Teachers and Support Personnel, an elected group of SAISD employees, say that they don't think it's a good idea.

"They are known for very regressive approaches to student discipline that push students out of their school,” said Shelley Potter with the Alliance. “It's been described by former teachers at their New York schools as a police state that teaches students through fear.”

If Democracy Prep takes over Stewart Elementary, teachers at that school will give up their status as SAISD employees and become at-will workers of Democracy Prep.

"So you're asking people to trade their contract rights and the security of their own families for the students who they care about," Potter said.

SAISD says that they'll find another district school for students or teachers who don't want to participate in Democracy Prep to attend.

The San Antonio Alliance of Teachers and Support Personnel filed a grievance with SAISD's school board this week. They feel that other alternatives to Democracy Prep were not pursued and that parents and teachers were left out of the discussion on the future of Stewart.

SAISD vehemently denies those allegations. The district has 10 business days to hold a hearing on the issue. The school board will vote on whether or not they should partner with Democracy Prep later this month, but the outcome of the hearing on transparency could force SAISD back to the drawing board to come up with a different option.

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