Webb Middle School Parents Say They Were Misled Into Signing a Petition to Close Their Own School
The Webb Middle School PTA says some parents signed a petition to close Webb believing it would save the school — and a counter-petition now claims outside groups pressured families at both Webb and Burnet.
Some Webb Middle School parents say they were misled about a petition that could help determine their school's future, according to FOX 7 Austin's report on a Webb PTA press conference. Webb and Burnet middle schools have each received five consecutive F ratings from the Texas Education Agency, and Austin ISD faces a potential state takeover over the two campuses.
There are three potential paths for the schools, FOX 7 reported: the state could replace the school board, close a campus, or parents could petition the state education commissioner to close the schools. If more than 50 percent of parents at a campus sign, the commissioner has to accept the petition, and the district must submit an improvement plan, on which the commissioner still has the final say.
Webb PTA president Vanessa Gamez told FOX 7 that some signatures were gathered by telling parents the petition was to save Webb when its text said to close it, and that English copies were sent to a school with a large Hispanic population. "There's a lot of confusion in our community," Gamez said, as reported by FOX 7. "Our feelings are confused because now parents don't trust Austin ISD and the school." Petition advocates say it gives parents more say; Burnet parent Ken Zarifis told FOX 7 families should defend their school and ask the state to help rather than take over.
Parents have now launched a counter-petition claiming several outside groups, including the Austin Council PTA, conducted a pressure campaign to gather signatures. In statements to FOX 7, the Austin Council PTA said its board-voted stance was to support families with factual information and take no position on signing, and Keep Austin Schools Independent said it was one of several groups invited to send out a call for help and did not organize or deploy volunteers at either school. Webb parent Valarie Gonzales told FOX 7 it is not yet known how the process will handle signatures that are withdrawn.
