On a picture-perfect spring day, parents and future students celebrated at Saturday’s groundbreaking ceremony for BASIS San Antonio North. The new campus will serve grades 5-8 starting in August 2014 at 318 E. Ramsey Rd., San Antonio, Texas 78216 (map), near the Loop 410–Highway 281 interchange. BASIS San Antonio North is still accepting applications for 2014-15.
Victoria Rico, Chair and Trustee of the Brackenridge Foundation, had the vision that the most effective way to transform education in San Antonio is to help high-performing charter schools to grow, and to locate networks of high-performing charter schools that are willing to expand and help them establish campuses in San Antonio. She reached out to BASIS and helped them get a Texas charter. Now, BASIS is one of several charter school networks in the Choose to Succeed portfolio, along with KIPP San Antonio, IDEA Public Schools, Great Hearts, Carpe Diem, and Rocketship.
Dan Nienhauser, Superintendent of BTX Schools, talked about the ambitious goals for BASIS in San Antonio: to offer an accelerated curriculum that will prepare all BASIS students to get into selective colleges, and to excel once they get there.
Jeffrey Houser, Vice President of Financial and Corporate Services for BASIS.ed, shared the BASIS story and the vision of school founders Michael and Olga Block to offer world-class education in a tuition-free public school.
Dr. Abigail Hasberry is the current School Director for BASIS San Antonio and the future Head of School for BASIS San Antonio North. She introduced several staff members and faculty who will be joining the new campus in the fall.
Dr. Jeff Richards is the current Head of Operations for BASIS San Antonio and the future Head of Operations for BASIS San Antonio North. He invited all the leaders to grab a vest, a hard, hat, and a golden shovel, and then pick up a ceremonial scoop of dirt. Teachers, staff, parents, and kids also got to take pictures in front of the banner. Then, everyone grabbed a slice of pizza (or several slices, for F.T.), T-shirts, and car magnets. The organizers thoughtfully provided recycling bins for the water bottles.
The lot at 318 E. Ramsey Rd. will soon be a construction site, but on Saturday it was still mostly a grassy green field; some of the future BASIS students took off running across the field and around the live oak and mesquite trees. It was a reminder that, even though they are ready to study Algebra and Latin, they are generally less than five feet tall and still need to run around and play. I noticed that same high spirits and playfulness in the classrooms when I recently toured the BASIS San Antonio campus.
Robin Martin and Dr. Abigail Hasberry
BASIS San Antonio North is accepting applications for enrollment. Start your application online. Here is an earlier post about a previous BASIS San Antonio North information session. Standardized testing is going on this week, but more information sessions and school tours will likely be posted soon.
Read more:
- “BASIS charter school slated to open second campus”, Maria Luisa Cesar, San Antonio Express-News, March 28, 2014
- “New charter school set to open this fall in San Antonio”, James Aldridge, San Antonio Business Journal, March 27, 2014
- “At BASIS San Antonio, Intellectual Engagement is the Norm”, Bekah McNeel, Rivard Report, March 27, 2014
- “Charter Schools: Educational Incubators”, Sarit Kapur, Rivard Report, February 18, 2014
- An earlier post about the dedication ceremony for BASIS San Antonio
