CCISD Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Sandra Clement said fewer students across the district have forced administrators to look at closing seven schools
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Corpus Christi Independent School District held its final community input meeting Tuesday night as leaders consider closing and consolidating seven campuses, including Martin Middle School.
District officials say declining enrollment is driving the proposal.
CCISD Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Sandra Clement said fewer students across the district have forced administrators to look at closing seven schools.
If approved, Martin Middle School would close, and students would be rezoned to Cunningham or Driscoll middle schools. Clement said both campuses have the capacity to absorb additional students.
“Cunningham Middle School was built for 1,233 students. Currently, the enrollment there is 688. Driscoll Middle School was built for 882 students, and currently they have enrolled 482,” she said.
However, parents at the meeting pushed back, arguing the decision should not be based on enrollment numbers alone.
Novena Garcia said Martin Middle School plays a central role in the surrounding neighborhood.
“There are so many kids that walk. I mean, if you drive down Greenwood during arrival and dismissal, this really is the heart of this entire surrounding community,” she said.
Garcia said safety and transportation challenges are major concerns for families if the school closes.
“They’re not here in the struggle with us daily, you know, when we’re having car problems and we don’t always have the money to get those car problems fixed, so for a whole week we’re having to figure those things out,” she said.
Clement said logistics are also a key factor in the proposal.
“The other two schools have a lot of space. That’s a real big determining factor in this proposal as well,” she said.
The CCISD school board is scheduled to meet Monday. Clement said the district is keeping a record of questions submitted throughout the consolidation meetings so trustees can review them as discussions continue.