The League for Public School Justice

Mission Statement

The League for Public School Justice is a grassroots organization in the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD); committed to inform, unify, and mobilize parents, students, and its community to advocate equity and excellence in its schools.

In a nutshell we're about empowering people to fight for social justice in our inner-city school district. The education of our children is of vital importance to each and every one living in the San Antonio Independent School District (SAISD) and many more people need to be involved.

NEW! Fox Tech students walk-out

Friday November 20, 2009 was a rainy & chilly day but that didn't stop a group of nearly 20 Fox Tech students, and many more over the next hour, from walking out of classes. These students were protesting the SAISD Board of Trustees decision to make Fox Tech exclusively a magnet school.

The first tv station to make it out to cover this story was WOAI ~ channel 4. For some reason I haven't been able to find the story on-line. I'll keep checking on it, though. But here is a picture I snapped with my cell phone while Gene "Geno" Collins was getting ready to interview the students.

Despite the rain & the chilly weather more students came out to support the SAVE FOX TECH movement. In fact, their numbers grew to well over 100 students! One SAISD policeman even suggested to me it was close to 250 students missing from their classes.

Vice Principal Loveland and an unidentified woman came out, along with a SAISD policeman in his car and tried to get the students to return to class. The students response was a chant of "WE WON'T GO. WE WON'T GO. WE WON'T GO." and they stood their ground.

A student reported that their teachers had grabbed their arm & attempted to pull them away from the protest. In the student's own words "basically grabbing my arm kind of ugly". The teachers then said "If you wanna stay in magnet come with us." The student refused to leave the protest because they felt they're standing up for what they believe in despite having their magnet enrollment threatened.

These students should be applauded for their courage and their determination despite many of those who continue to tell them "it's a done deal".

Fox Tech, I think the district is listening to you now! Tell 'em what you want.

For more on the walk-out stay tuned for the upcoming blog.

updated November 21, 2009

SAISD "History in the Making"

Join the fan page on facebook. You can find discussions, links, and photos here. This is one of the new tools that the Thompson Marketing Group is using in the PR campaign.

Upcoming events with L4PSJ:

updated November 16, 2009

NEW! News stories posted to SAISD in the News

NEW! Sign up to receive SAISD newsletters here.

NEW! "Currently Working On" moved to page 2

NEW! View SAISD 2009 accountability ratings right here. See for yourself which schools were exemplary, recognized, acceptable & unacceptable. Type San Antonio when prompted for name of district. Or visit our very own accountabilities page.

updated November 16, 2009

NEW! Fox Tech High School's name change

The SAISD Board of Trustees unanimously voted to officially designate Fox Tech HS as the "Fox Tech Health Professions and Law Magnet High School" during the November 16, 2009 regularly scheduled board meeting.

This done with no discussion whatsoever by the trustees. They were told that they would be receiving detailed information AFTER the Thanksgiving break. So it sounds as if they have little information regarding what this new version of Fox Tech will be.

To the supporters of Fox Tech High School please be aware that this vote was a name change only. The L4PSJ will delve deeper into this subject and pass the information along.

Read the "board highlights" with the official SAISD take on the future of Fox Tech here.

updated November 21, 2009

The SAISD Board of Trustees have finally brought Phase III of the long-range facilities plan to an end at the special-called board meeting of October 26, 2009. This meeting marked the end of much speculation in many communities on whether or not their schools will remain open or possibly even undergo major repurposing.

These are the 13 schools that will be closing:

Washington Elementary in district 2

W.W. White Elementary in district 2

Ball Elementary in district 3

Smith Elementary in district 3

Steele Elementary in district 3

Stewart Elementary in district 3

Green Elementary  in district 4

Storm Academy in district 4

Brewer Elementary in district 5

Austin Academy in district 6

Neal Elementary in district 6

Huppertz Elementary in district 7

Nelson Elementary in district 7

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to this restructuring. Please keep in mind that even though some schools aren't listed as being closed there will be going through some major changes that in effect, in our opinion, still closes them.

For example Connell Middle School's campus will not close but it will no longer accommodate middle school students. It will become an elementary school. Same goes for Wheatley Middle School. Fox Tech High School is not on the list for closure as you can see but it will no longer be a traditional high school. The SAISD will only allow students enrolled in either the Law & Research magnet or the new Health Careers School. All other students will be displaced to other high schools, most likely Lanier.

For more information please view this document from the SAISD. You can also view the SAISDs page on their website for more information on this.

Now that facilities have been determined, at least for now, the long-range strategic plan moves into phase IV. Phase IV goes into some very detailed analysis such as: analysis of our school's standard and special programs, additions & renovations and the costs associated, transportation issues & costs, and the timeline for all these things to occur.

Originally this phase was to be completed by a community-based committee. The district has since decided not to include any community members but rely on district staff to round out the future of our schools in our districts.

Didja know?

Contacting the L4PSJ