Lamar Elementary, once central to the Gabrielson family’s life, is now closed along with 14 other schools in the San Antonio ISD (SAISD) as part of a budget-related rightsizing plan. Neil Gabrielson and other parents are concerned about the district’s financial and management issues. SAISD Superintendent Jaime Aquino’s extensive travel—22 trips in two years, costing over $22,000—has sparked criticism. Aquino visited other districts to study school closures, but some residents, including Melissa Vasquez and policy director James Quintero, question the necessity of his travel expenses given the district’s financial strains and poor academic performance, as reflected in the 2024 STAAR test results.
‘It’s a Load of Crap’: Records Show SAISD Superintendent Spent More Than $21,000 on Trips in less Than Two Years
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