(Ericka Mellon, Houston Chronicle)
The Houston school board Monday withdrew a plan to close Ryan Middle School despite the district administration’s assertion that closing the 265-student campus was better for the children and taxpayers.
Trustee Paula Harris, whose district includes the historic Third Ward campus, asked Superintendent Terry Grier to return with a proposal that keeps open Ryan and provides more money so it can adequately educate the students.
The Houston Independent School District already has poured an extra $438,000 a year into Ryan on average over the past five years, according to middle school chief Dallas Dance, who recommended the closure in a letter to parents late last month.
Because HISD funds schools based on student enrollment, Ryan has struggled to afford counselors, a full-time nurse and elective classes such as music, speech and world languages. Ryan’s enrollment has dropped nearly 70 percent over the decade.
“I just want to make sure we have enough funding for the kids,” Harris said.
(See the full story at the Houston Chronicle)
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