The meeting room was packed with passionate parents, and 14 of them stood before the school board, urging them to keep their children's schools open. Some of those parents made their disappointment visible outside with signs.
Dodson, Nathaniel Q. Henderson and Port Houston elementaries, Fleming Middle School and Jones High School are all in danger of closing because the district says they are low-performing or have low enrollment and can be combined with other schools.
Opponents of this plan say closing schools in minority communities is becoming a trend and that has to stop.
"Let's be honest, a lot of parents in that area does not have the transportation or the means to take them to another school. This school is in walking distance. It would be detrimental to the community if they close the school," parent Darline Houston said.
"We can't send that message to our children that we don't care about their schools. We must do everything we can to support them, and I think it's important we stand as a community because we can't just let this trend continue," teacher Daniel Santos said.
HISD school board trustees will vote on whether or not to close the schools on March 13.
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