Concerned parents and leaders in the African American community came out to protest the proposed closure of Jones High School and four other predominately African American schools in Houston Independent School District.

Kofi Taharka, leader of the National Black United Front- Houston, held a microphone and led the rally in a chant saying they were fired up and they wanted Terry Grier, Superintendent of HISD out.
“Are willing to put our money on the line for tis, are we willing to go to the School Board meeting on Thursday,“ Tahaarka asked the crowd? The answer was yes, every time.

The African American community in Houston is facing more closures or “repurposing” of community based schools in highly dense areas of Blacks. Jones High School has been in the hot seat prior to this decision and has a momentary reprieve but the issue is now back before the School Board on whether to keep Jones High as is or whether to close or repurpose the school.

“This is ridiculous; Terry Grier and HISD are not properly assessing the schools. This community is rebuilding and to close the school without allowing the growth makes no sense. This is not about education,” said Assata Richards, a member of the Houston Housing Authority and a graduate of Jones.

Parent and former students alike have expressed that HISD is not thoughtful of the students and community’s well- being and education.

“If they close the school, they kill the community, it’s that simple,” said Vice President of Houston’s Super Neighborhoods, Tomaro Bell.

With many school closures, residents are worried about the feeder path from elementary to middle to high school and the interruptive flow it will have to close down schools such as Dodson Elementary which was also another sore spot for parents.

Dodson, Henderson, Port Houston Elementary, Fleming Middle and Jones High School are all on the chopping block for Thursday’s School Board meeting. Community member are asked to come out and support their community schools at the Hattie Mae White Educational Center at 4400 West 18th St. Houston, TX 77092 and protest the closure at the School Board meeting Thursday, March 13, 2014.

School closures are attributed to low enrollment, high transfers out, high budget cost per student and changing demographics.
View www.houstonsun.com to see remarks from Minister Robert Muhammad on the state of African American schools in Houston and the leadership in HISD.