SAN ANTONIO – Many families are scrambling to find solutions after a charter school shut down just five days before the first day of the school year.
Bexar County Academy announced Wednesday it would not reopen for the 2025–2026 academic year. Classes were supposed to begin Monday.
The decision caught parents like Regina Vogelsberg off guard, who has been preparing for her daughter to return to school.
“I just want my daughter to get the education she needs,” Vogelsberg said. “This last-minute thing is just putting one hell of a frustration on me.”
The letter stated that the school’s Board of Directors voted to voluntarily surrender the school’s charter to the Texas Education Agency.
However, it also revealed the closure became effective on July 31 — a full week before families were notified — and approved by the state on Monday.
“Why didn’t they tell us ahead of time?” Vogelsberg asked. “Especially not finding out until after August.”
Adding to the confusion, the school’s principal told KSAT there was no clear information on the schools future on Tuesday, days after the board finalized its decision.
“I have no answers,” the principal said Tuesday. “I don’t know what’s going to happen — and that’s the god honest truth.”
According to the Texas Education Agency, charter holder Academy of America held a board meeting on July 24 and voted to close Bexar County Academy the following week.
It remains unclear why notice wasn’t given to families earlier, particularly before the summer break, when many parents begin planning for the upcoming school year.
“(The Superintendent) should have said to everybody before summer started that there might be a possibility the school could close,” Vogelsberg said. “I would’ve actually had enough time to look around and explore other schools.”
The closure is especially concerning for Vogelsberg, whose daughter has learning disabilities and had been making progress at the school.
“She has learning disabilities, but with that school, they have helped her in so many ways that I don’t think any other school probably would,” she said.
State directs school to remove enrollment links, announce closure on social media
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) appointed two conservators to facilitate the closure of the school Thursday.
In a letter sent to the charter school’s operator Academy for America, the state agency appointed Bobby Parker and Kevin Demirci as the conservators to oversee the closeout.
When KSAT visited the school earlier this week, its sign said enrolling now and website had an active link to enroll.
The state agency told KSAT on Thursday that the conservators directed the school to remove any references for parents to enroll. They also instructed the school to add permanently closed to the school’s exterior, website and social media pages.
The website now redirects to the closure letter when a user attempts to enroll. The school posted the message to social media just after 2:30 p.m. Thursday.
According to the agency, the conservators will also do the following:
- Oversee financial management and governance of the school to ensure compliance with state, federal law
- Attend board meetings and direct the board as necessary to address findings in the final audit
- Oversee and report monthly to Commissioner of Education on closeout activities, including sale or disposal of assets
- Direct, approve or disapprove of any action by the principal or superintendent
The school will be required to use its funds to pay the conservators $125 per hour, plus necessary travel expenses.
What parents need to know
According to the letter from Bexar County Academy, parents who need access to their child’s school records can call 210-432-8600.
TEA encourages families seeking alternative schools to visit its website.
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