By Houston ISD recently hosted a community meeting to discuss the proposed co-location of Sanchez Elementary School with Deady Middle School. This initiative is part of a $4.4 billion bond proposal that will appear on the November 5th election ballot. The bond is designed to address multiple district challenges, including declining enrollment, financial constraints, and the need for updated and secure school facilities.
If the bond is approved, students from eight schools will be relocated to seven existing campuses. HISD plans to invest $580 million in renovations and new construction to accommodate the increased number of students while enhancing the quality and safety of these schools.
During the meeting, HISD officials detailed the logistics of the co-location plan for Deady Middle School and Sanchez Elementary, emphasizing the goal of maintaining continuity and stability for the students. The plan involves shared use of larger communal spaces, such as cafeterias and gymnasiums, while keeping the schools operationally independent with separate faculty and student populations.
A partial renovation of Deady Middle School, estimated at $14 million, will be undertaken as part of this plan. Currently, Deady operates at a 37% utilization rate, and Sanchez at 69%. Utilization at both campuses is expected to decline in the coming years, further supporting the need for strategic co-location.
HISD leaders reiterated that the bond proposal aims to avoid closing schools while optimizing resources and improving facilities. During previous discussions, the district considered reducing the number of campuses, rezoning, or focusing bond funds on fewer schools. Ultimately, HISD chose to prioritize co-location to benefit a broader number of campuses while managing declining enrollment.
Deady Middle School is centrally located within the Sanchez attendance zone, just 0.5 miles away, which supports the transition and minimizes disruption to families.
All future co-location meetings will follow the same format: a 30-minute presentation followed by an interactive Q&A session. Community members are encouraged to share their concerns on topics such as safety, transportation, and academic quality through a structured feedback system, which includes writing comments on sticky notes and placing them around the meeting space. This approach fosters open communication between the district and the communities affected by the changes.
HISD sees co-location as a viable solution to reduce operational costs while maintaining or enhancing student services and academic quality. Daniel Soliz, HISD’s Senior Executive Director of Support, emphasized the district’s commitment to providing the best educational experience for all students and ensuring a stable, supportive learning environment throughout the transition.
The potential for significant renovations and new construction under the bond was also highlighted, with a focus on modernizing school facilities and addressing safety issues, including HVAC systems and lead abatement. These updates are critical to providing safe, modern, and effective learning spaces for students.
District officials also shared context from the 2012 bond, which focused primarily on high school improvements. The proposed “Renew HISD” bond aims to address remaining facility needs across all school levels—benefiting elementary, middle, and high schools alike—by providing comprehensive upgrades to ensure students across the district have access to safe, updated, and fully equipped learning environments.
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