MANSFIELD, Texas — Before school began, Jesse Cannon II and his wife did what most parents do. They took their two children to “Meet the Teacher Night” at Brenda Norwood Elementary School in Mansfield.
“With his particular teacher in kindergarten, we were able to put his name on his desk and put his school supplies on that desk," Cannon told WFAA. "He was able to meet his teacher. He was really excited."
However, just one week after his son’s first day, the Cannons got a surprise call.
“We received a phone call from the principal this week citing that there was overcrowding at that particular grade level,” said Cannon.
He said his son was being transferred to another campus in just 48 hours.
“Disheartening when the day that we receive the phone call with communication from the principal, our son is sent home with a box of the same supplies that we dropped off at Meet the Teacher Night,” Cannon explained. “For a five-year-old boy starting kindergarten, what does that do to his psyche? What does that do to his sense of belonging?”
Norwood Elementary is just six minutes from the Cannon's home. The new campus, Cora Spencer Elementary School, is an additional eight miles away in Grand Prairie.
“I asked several questions as it relates to transportation or where my daughter would go. Are we splitting them up,” asked Cannon. He said he attended the district’s board meeting but wasn’t allowed to give any public comment.
In a statement, Mansfield ISD said 13 students have been transferred to keep up with the state’s mandated student-to-teacher ratio of 22-1. Although there may be some students attending Norwood who are not zoned for that campus, the district said they transferred students based on when they completed their enrollment.
The district told WFAA they are offering transportation and a before-and-after school program for those who have transferred.
“We’re in an area that is experiencing tremendous growth. Why is this something that is being communicated at the eleventh hour after we started school,” asked Cannon.
He plans to meet with other parents whose children have been relocated. As a former student of Mansfield ISD himself, Cannon said he will continue to bring his son and daughter to Norwood where they are zoned. “Similar to what is happening with my child, happened to me in high school. Our parents didn’t really push it,” said Cannon. “I think it’s important for the parents that are involved to use their voice. If Mansfield ISD is going to continue to be a destination district, we have to operate differently.”
Cannon said he plans to attend the next school board meeting in hopes of addressing ways to improve the district’s transferring process.