As many Alumni are no longer in the San Antonio area, you probably haven't had any awareness to the events leading up to the vote closing the South San West Campus High School. I will attempt to bring you up to date here as I can best recall, and until I can obtain the corrections and additions from others.  Please recognize this is not an official record of the events, but a personal recollection of them.

On August 16, 2007, torrential rains caused extensive damage to West Campus High School. Enough water rushed into the school to cause a 12-14 ft. section of the wall on the front lower level to collapse under the weight of about 4ft of running water. Immediately thereafter, the officials from the various involved entities met with regards to the damage, it's cause, and the efforts to be taken to restore the school to functional status. It's important to note, at that time, the estimated repair efforts was about six to eight weeks. On the following Sunday, efforts to clean-up and repair the school as well as address the area drainage problems which attributed in part to the flooding began.

On the Superintendents recommendation, the West Campus students were to be bussed to South San High School arriving 1 hour after the South San High School classes had begun, and a additional period will be added to the end of the day, after which the students would be bussed back, returning to the West Campus parking lot about 5pm. West Campus students were provided their own, unique ID badge to differentiate them from the South San High School students. Most of the teachers would have to float, using rolling carts to conduct their classes in whatever classrooms were available that day. You can read the official notices from the South San Website at this address http://www.southsanisd.net/education/district/district.php?sectionid=1

Officially, no recommendations or decision other than working to re-open West Campus High School were made until October 23, 2007, however, on October (3rd or 9th), 2007 a special meeting of the Board was called with District Staff to present financial information and options with regards to South San ISD. In this meeting, attended by many students and parents, which were not allowed to address the board, discussions on how funds presently being spent on West Campus, its students and operations, could be utilized on South San High School.

On October 11, 2007 a public meeting was held at Alan B. Shepard Middle School to inform the parent of the progress being made on the clean-up and repair of West Campus High School. Nearly 400 parents and students attended this meeting. As rumors had already been well underway that the District Trustees were already considering the closing of West Campus for good, the questions began and went on for over an hour to the intent of the board with regards to West Campus. Not a single question was answered, and in fact, the meeting was called short because "it was getting too hot" in the building. The district staff exited the building from the back quickly.  

The special meeting called to discuss closing West Campus High School was held October 23, 2007 without notice that this was the actual item (although it was easy to figure it out, and well over 100 parents and students attempted to attend the meeting, but only a fraction was allowed in, as staff occupied nearly half the meeting room seats.) The vote was 4 to 3 in favor of closing West Campus High School permanently, and integrating those students who would otherwise attend West Campus High School to South San High School.

MORE BACKGROUND TO COME SOON. PLEASE VISIT US AGAIN FOR THE LATEST UPDATES, AND SHOW US YOUR SUPPORT.