Fort Worth ISD to vote on closing International Newcomers Academy, despite pushback
Fort Worth school district’s Board of Managers will vote on whether to close International Newcomers Academy — a sixth-through-ninth-grade school that offers specialized academic instruction for refugees and immigrants — during a board meeting Tuesday, April 28.
The district held a community listening session at the school on Tuesday night to hear thoughts from parents and former students on what the school’s next steps should be. Those who spoke to Fort Worth ISD leaders passionately defended the school and claimed closing it would be a great mistake.
Representing Fort Worth school district at the listening session were deputy superintendents Daniel Soliz and Kellie Spencer, and chief of staff Louis Kushner. Superintendent Peter Licata was not present, which was pointed out by a number of disgruntled parents who spoke to Fort Worth ISD’s leaders imploring them to keep the school open.
“Not only my son but many of the students here have arrived to this country, in this school, with many insecurities and fears,” said (through a translator) Gabriella Ramirez, the parent of an International Newcomers Academy student. “As a surprise to me as his mom, my son could have a whole conversation in English after the first month of being here. What is going to happen to my so after April 28? Will my son have to start all over again and start from zero? We need an answer now.”
Soliz originally planned to give a brief introduction to those in attendance before moving everyone into groups in the school’s cafeteria where they could create feedback as a group. That feedback would then be passed along to Licata and the other board members.
But parents and attendees quickly disapproved of that idea. They wanted to stay in the auditorium and have Soliz hear each of their direct concerns about the school’s potential closure one by one. He eventually agreed to change course. For the next hour, dozens of parents pleaded for the district to keep the school open. There were well over 100 attendees in total.
“How do you ensure that newcomers will succeed in Fort Worth ISD school and in America?” asked David Manuel, a Fort Worth resident and former president of Drury University in Springfield, Missouri. “The answer lies in retaining International Newcomers Academy in the Fort Worth ISD, and consolidating all Fort Worth ISD newcomers, and unschooled refugees into the existing INA. INA offers an environment that brings so much unity to their learning.”
According to INA’s website, the school’s mission is to engage English Language Learners in rigorous learning experiences to develop responsible and productive citizens that contribute to American society. As speakers on Tuesday night pointed out, teachers at the school have a specialized skill set that cannot be replicated by most other teachers in the district at typical middle and high schools.
Soliz, Spencer and Kushner did not tell attendees on Tuesday what the plan would be with current teachers and students that attend IRA. A meeting agenda with more information on the topic will be posted by the district on Wednesday, which will explain next steps for students and teachers if INA closes.
“You don’t really understand what it’s like when you move over to a new country,” said Paula Chavira Hernandez — a former INA student — to Fort Worth ISD leaders.
“It’s confusing. It’s overwhelming. But I got support from INA and it gave me confidence. Now I am 26 years old, and I am about to graduate from the University of Texas at Arlington. Looking back, I can say INA is what got me here today. I truly believe that INA is important for this community.”
The potential closure of INA comes after Fort Worth ISD already voted to close 18 campuses over the next four years to address declining enrollment across the district. In 2025, Texas Education Agency data showed that the rate Fort Worth ISD was closing campuses was among the highest in the state.
Soliz, who explained the timeline and how the decision process will work at next week’s board meeting, told attendees that it will not be a one-person decision, and that all nine members of the Board of Managers will be able to hear feedback and make their own decision.
“We want to hear your feedback,” Soliz said. “We want to hear directly from you. What are the unique supports you feel that newcomers have, to support them in their education here at International Newcomers Academy?”
Some in attendance who spoke weren’t buying it. A number of speakers told Soliz and district leaders they believe a final decision has already been made before the listening event, and were disgruntled that they only had 48 hours notice about the meeting.
Parents of students who currently attend INA received an email from the district earlier this week that informed them of “changes” that could be coming to the campus. The email also invited them to Tuesday’s listening session but did not offer much additional information.
The email, which was obtained by the Star-Telegram on Tuesday, read “Fort Worth ISD leadership invites International Newcomers Academy families to attend a special meeting focused on the future of the campus. We know INA is an important place for students and those who support them, and we want to ensure you have the opportunity to receive information and hear directly from district leadership.”
The April 28 meeting where the Board of Managers will vote on INA’s future is set to start at 5:30 p.m. A public comment session will be held prior to the vote, and Soliz encouraged attendees who didn’t get a chance to speak Tuesday to attend on April 28. Soliz ended Tuesday’s session after an hour, but the Board of Managers has previously vowed to give speakers a full three minute to talk regardless of how many sign up to speak.
“There have been so many community partnerships that have developed over the years that have taken years to build the support network for these families,” said Russ Boyd, a senior minister at Ridglea Christian Church, which partners with INA. “I would prefer that INA can continue to be the special place that it is. I would encourage you, whatever the outcome is, just find a way that we can continue to support these families.”
This story was originally published April 21, 2026 at 9:18 PM.
