Education Opportunity Committee Meeting - May 19, 2026

The Education Opportunity Committee of the San Antonio City Council met on May 19, 2026, at 9:59 a.m. to discuss two major agenda items: the impact of charter school expansion on local public education and school-based health centers managed by University Health. The meeting featured extensive public testimony, a presentation from the nonprofit Our Schools Our Democracy, and a presentation from University Health officials. No formal votes were taken, but the committee outlined next steps for legislative advocacy and improved communication with school districts.

Consent Calendar

• The committee approved the minutes of the previous meeting by unanimous voice vote, with no amendments or opposition.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Angie Addis Mende (Senior Executive Director, Idea Public Schools San Antonio): Expressed support for charter schools, noting that Idea serves over 17,000 scholars across 30 campuses, with 36% receiving special education services and 82% economically disadvantaged. She urged the committee to engage directly with charter leaders and visit campuses.
• Kizzy Thomas (District 2 resident, former educator): Supported a broader definition of public education that includes charter schools, emphasizing that systems do not have to exist in opposition and should be held accountable for results.
• Megan Garrison (District Director of Communications, Harmony Public Schools): Highlighted Harmony's STEM focus and outcomes, including 91% college enrollment among graduates, and asked the committee to include charter schools in future discussions and city initiatives.
• Melissa Franklin (Policy Advisor, Columbia Laws Center; mother and former educator): Criticized the us-versus-them narrative, arguing that families leave certain schools for valid reasons and that the committee should focus on why families are leaving rather than attacking charter schools. She called for collaboration and accountability.
• Alyssa Freeney (Student, UTSA): Shared her personal educational journey through public, charter, and homeschooling, urging the committee to focus on student needs and avoid creating divisions between school types.
• Lori Alvedez (District 2 resident, member of SAISD Special Education Parent Advisory Council): Expressed support for charter schools as a lifeline for her children, citing that only 26% of District 2 students are proficient in math while Idea Carver achieves 65% reading proficiency. She asked the committee not to restrict charter access.
• Shannon Tolliver Blackman (School Leader, KIPP San Antonio): Noted that KIPP is closing two campuses due to enrollment declines, but highlighted that 97% of its students are economically disadvantaged and that her campus improved from an F to a B rating. She asked the committee to include the nearly 45,000 charter students in city programs.
• Erlinda Aguilar (AP Bilingual Educator, Idea Public Schools; parent): Advocated for family choice and access to multiple high-quality options, stating that District 6 has high charter enrollment and that families should not be limited.
• Lauren Lewis (Superintendent, Prelude Prep Charter School): Shared her personal story of needing to live with grandparents to access a better public school, and asked the committee to engage with charter superintendents and include them in city initiatives.
• Zayana Lambridge (Executive Director, Futuro San Antonio): Cited polling showing 64% of San Antonians want a full ecosystem of public school options. She criticized the committee's decision to learn about charters from an opposition group without inviting charter families or operators, and called for a balanced briefing and publication of yearly grade-level metrics across all school types.
• Ray Diorina (Board President, South San ISD): Called for a cross-sector table where all educators can share resources and collaborate, noting that San Antonio has a dynamic educational ecosystem but lacks communication between entities.
• Gabby Patton (Principal, Royal Public Schools, District 5): Described the challenges her campus faces, including federal funding cuts and declining enrollment, but stated that her open-enrollment charter absorbed over 200 students from failing schools and brought them to grade level. She asked for partnership, not scapegoating.
• Inga Cotton (Founder and Executive Director, School Discovery Network; charter parent): Noted that ISDs like SAISD are also embracing choice and that families move between school types. She urged the committee to focus on the current landscape where parents are well-informed and making choices.
• Itzman Morales (Student, KIPP University Prep High School): Shared his positive experience at KIPP, where he received support for undiagnosed ADHD and is now taking AP classes. He stated that charter schools give students opportunities and that families should be able to choose.

Discussion Items

• Impact of Charter School Expansion (Item 2): Carrie Griffith, Patty Everett, and Maggie Stern of Our Schools Our Democracy presented data on charter school growth, noting a 300% increase in charter students, $500 million in annual revenue loss from ISDs to charters, and that charters serve about one-third fewer special education students. They highlighted that charter expansion via administrative amendments lacks public transparency and recommended an annual education report, formal communication with superintendents, and inclusion of public education in the city's economic development agenda. Council members discussed the need for accountability, transparency, and collaboration. Councilman McKee Rodriguez emphasized tying CTE programs to economic development and inviting ISD superintendents to the table. Councilman Castillo called for transparency from all school types and criticized the state's underfunding of education. Councilman Mungia identified the state as the primary antagonist, urging a focus on legislative advocacy to adequately fund public schools and hold charters to the same standards as ISDs.
• School-Based Health Centers (Item 3): Valerie Maldonado, Director of School-Based Health Centers, and Dr. Michelle Rodriguez, Medical Director, presented on University Health's program. The program includes seven clinics in six school districts (Harlandale, Southwest, SAISD, Northside, Judson, Southside), two mobile units, and a health education component. In 2025, the clinics saw nearly 18,000 visits, with the highest payer being Medicaid. Services include primary care, immunizations, well-child checks, sports physicals, and adult care. The mobile units provided over 6,800 services, including flu shots and mammograms. Council members thanked University Health and asked about expansion opportunities and data on health and attendance outcomes. The presenters agreed to follow up with additional data.

Key Outcomes

• The committee did not take any formal votes on the agenda items.
• The chair summarized potential next steps: developing an annual education report that provides context and data on all school types, establishing formal communication channels with public school superintendents, and incorporating public education into the city's economic development and legislative agendas.
• Council members expressed interest in convening a cross-sector table to foster collaboration among all educational entities.
• The meeting adjourned at 11:57 a.m.