The Corpus Christi Independent School District released its proposed school boundary maps for the 2019-20 school year Thursday, with big changes planned for the schools on the city’s south side.
The proposed changes affect students at Kaffie Middle School and Veterans Memorial High School most. Kaffie is already at capacity, while Vets is expected to reach capacity within two years.
“Right now our biggest concern is the overcrowding that Kaffie will reach if we don’t do something now,” said Dr. Roland Hernandez, CCISD Superintendent. “We’re trying to take the least disruptive approach as possible to where it’s not going to impact as many kids.”
The current Kaffie boundary runs along South Staples Street to Saratoga Boulevard and Rodd Field Road. At Rodd Field the boundary dips to Brooke Road and then along the Oso Creek.
On the proposed map, Kaffie’s northern boundary would run along Saratoga from Staples to Cimarron Boulevard. At Yorktown Boulevard it extends east to Rodd Field where it runs south to the creek. All affected students would move to Adkins Middle School.
Veterans Memorial High School would also see its boundaries shrink.
The current boundary runs along Saratoga between Rodd Field and Staples. It also runs south to Lipes Boulevard, where it extends to Yorktown near Weber Road.
On the proposed map, Veterans’ northern boundary would run along Brooke from Staples to the creek. Students in the area between Brooke and Saratoga would be sent to King High School. The area on Lipes to Yorktown near Weber would be added to the Carroll High School boundary.
“We’re going to try to have all the families at the closest schools they live nearby, but in some cases, you have to do with the space that you have,” Hernandez said.
If these boundaries are adopted, current Kaffie seventh-graders and Vets 11th graders won’t be forced to change schools, even if they live outside the boundary.
“We really wouldn’t expect the kids who have been at these schools for a year or two to get up and leave all of a sudden,” said Hernandez.
CCISD will also explore allowing other students to stay where they are, but only if there’s room.
Some parents expressed their unhappiness with the plan on social media. Hernandez stresses this plan is preliminary.
“We just ask for some patience, let us work through it,” he said.
Hernandez says the district hopes to have its final plan in place by early May. In the meantime, parents are encouraged to contact the district with their concerns.
