A mother is scrambling to find her three children new schools after the state on Wednesday suspended the San Antonio School for Inquiry and Creativity district.
Three of Stephanie Moreno's children go to schools in SASIC district.
"My oldest one, he's 13, and he's been going since first grade," she said.
That's why Wednesday's news came as a big blow to her.
"Around 5 o'clock, that's when I got the phone call saying they were shut down. And I'm completely astonished about that," Moreno said.
The suspension order from the Texas Education Agency said health inspection violations and other criminal history violations were not corrected.
"We are confident that SASIC's buildings, staff, and food are safe," a SASIC district spokesperson said in a statement. "SASIC looks forward to showing the agency its documentation in this regard. It appears that TEA is concerned, in part, about the sufficiency of the background checks SASIC already has performed on all of the school's employees."
District officials plan to present the items Friday at a hearing in Austin, where they will ask to reopen the campus on March 20 after spring break.
Moreno is upset because she said she and other parents never knew about the first suspension notice, which was issued Feb. 16.
"We never once got an email," Moreno said.
SASIC Superintendent Dr. Tonja Nelson told KSAT 12 that parents have been notified every step of the way. Nelson said there were meetings with parents Feb. 10 and 15 about the inspections and concerns about the food.
Moreno pulled her kids out of SASIC schools Thursday, but finding new charter schools mid-semester is not easy.
"I went to three different charter schools, and they wouldn't accept him until next year," she said.
Moreno said she wants to find an education for her kids like they had at SASIC's elementary school, Monticello Academy.
"I really loved it. I mean, when he went to public school he wasn't really learning as much there, so that's why I transferred him to Monticello," Moreno said. "And as soon as he got to Monticello, he was doing perfect, straight A's and everything. And now it really breaks my heart. The public school I'm going to, it's not really in a good neighborhood, but I have no choice."
Moreno will find a new charter school system for her kids by next year, but until then they'll be back in public schools.
TEA officials said the district will remain closed until conditions at the school don't pose a danger to students and staff.
The hearing will be held Friday at 1:30 p.m. in the William B. Travis Building at 1701 N. Congress in Austin
For parents wanting to change schools, San Antonio Can High School is welcoming students from San Antonio School for Inquiry and Creativity. Students are able to enroll and immediately start classes so they do not have any disruption in their education.
"While the closing of San Antonio School for Inquiry and Creativity is unfortunate, we are most concerned with the students misplaced without warning," San Antonio Can High School Principal Mark Tribett said. "Our doors are open to them and any student wishing to complete their high school education."