Educational Opportunities Committee Meeting - February 17, 2026: K-12 Education in Bexar County

The Educational Opportunities Committee of the San Antonio City Council met on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at 10:02 a.m. to discuss the state of K-12 education in Bexar County. The meeting featured presentations from Julia Grizzard of the Bexar County Education Coalition, Dr. Jaime Aquino (Superintendent of San Antonio ISD), and Dr. Kraft (Superintendent of Northside ISD), along with contributions from city staff on public safety radio fees and patrol partnerships. The committee explored school finance, academic accountability, school closures, and opportunities for city support.

Consent Calendar

• The committee unanimously approved the minutes from the previous meeting without corrections.

Discussion Items

• School Finance Overview: Julia Grizzard presented a detailed overview of Texas school funding, noting that the Foundation School Program basic allotment will be $6,215 per student in 2026-2027. She explained that Texas ranks 43rd in per-student funding nationwide and has experienced record surpluses ($33 billion in 2023, $24 billion in 2025) yet only increased the basic allotment by $55 in the last session. She highlighted that funding based on attendance disproportionately affects at-risk communities and that enrichment funding is increasingly used to fill gaps in special education, transportation, and school safety.
• School Closures and Facilities: Dr. Aquino described SAISD's "right-sizing with heart" process, involving over 40 community meetings and a Facilities Repurposing Panel. He noted the average age of SAISD buildings is 68 years, with some requiring $30-60 million in renovations. The district is now considering selling some properties due to lack of preventive maintenance funds. Dr. Kraft added that Northside ISD is engaging in "optimization" conversations, with seven elementary schools at or below 300 students, and is exploring a three-cent golden penny Voter-Approved Tax Ratification Election (VATRE) in November.
• Academic Accountability: Grizzard criticized the state's A-F system, noting that 100% of elementary and middle school ratings are based on a single test day. She explained that in 2023, the state changed cut scores retroactively, using data from students who had already graduated. She presented data from Commit showing significant academic improvement in several Bexar County districts (e.g., East Central improved markedly but remained a C), arguing the rating system does not reflect classroom reality.
• City-School District Stressors: City CIO Craig Hopkins clarified that the $22/month per radio fee for the city's radio system covers maintenance of the 27-tower, $85 million system. Assistant Chief Robert Lenton of SAPD described strong partnerships with school district police, including joint training and programs like Handle with Care, but noted that state mandates (HB 3) have forced school districts to shift patrol resources to daytime campus coverage, requiring SAPD to absorb nighttime patrols.
• Potential City Support: Grizzard suggested the city could support districts by waiving or subsidizing radio fees, coordinating safe routes to school (e.g., sidewalks, lighting), leveraging data to align investments, and advocating at the state level for increased funding. Councilmembers expressed interest in exploring these ideas, with Councilmember Castillo requesting a breakdown of radio fees paid by each ISD.

Key Outcomes

• Commitment to Explore Radio Fee Relief: Councilmember Castillo requested that the city provide a detailed cost breakdown of radio fees paid by each ISD. The committee agreed to explore potential fee waivers or subsidies.
• Public Safety Partnership Review: Councilmember Galvan committed to examining the ISD police department partnership, including costs and potential for the city to absorb overnight patrols, with a report expected by the March or April meeting.
• Data Dashboard and Bond Alignment: The committee discussed integrating school-level data into the city's community metrics dashboard, adding a layer showing city investments around schools. This could inform future bond funding priorities.
• Legislative Advocacy: Councilmembers agreed to prioritize education funding in the city's 90th legislative agenda, including advocating for increased basic allotment and opposing unfunded mandates. Councilmember Mungia noted that the state's $18 billion property tax cut did not increase school funding.
• Future Meeting: The committee plans a more hands-on April meeting to develop specific recommendations for city actions supporting K-12 education, including potential transportation partnerships (e.g., with VIA) and communication improvements.