Kamal A. Ansari, principal of E.O. Smith Middle School, might have to look elsewhere to use his skills as an administrator, if H.I.S.D. gets its way.  St. Rep. Sylvester Turner, the Texas Legislative Black Caucus,  and advocacy groups will convene a public hearing on the possible closing of E.O. Smith Middle School by the Houston Independent School District (H.I.S.D.) at E.O. Smith Middle School, 1701 Bringhurst St., 12 noon on Saturday, June 13, 2009.
     “It has come to our attention that the Board of the Houston Independent School District is proposing to permanently close E. O. Smith Middle School,” said Rep. Turner, Chair of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus.  “As many people know, E.O. Smith, formerly the site of Wheatley High School, is one of the most historic campuses in Houston and the state of Texas.  The list of graduates of E.O. Smith reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ in any career or profession in this nation.”
The members of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus (TLBC) are extremely concerned about the closing of E.O. Smith, in addition to the number of other closures slated for historic school campuses around the state. TLBC members believe school closures should be pursued with extreme caution given the negative effects closing schools have on neighborhoods and communities; school closures often mean the death of these communities.