“One of the major problems our city’s public school system faces is a chronic lack of space for the growing population of students. While I understand that changes – like co-locating some suspension program students into Channel View High School – may be inevitable, and I have heard the concerns of students and parents, our focus should be on making sure any decision on how to utilize available building space does not affect the success of the students or their ability to learn. Channel View High School has worked hard to transform its atmosphere and move toward a more positive learning environment, and it is important that this progress not be interrupted by any possible changes by the Department of Education. While nothing is set in stone yet, it is my belief that co-locating students from the suspension program into Channel View High School could be successful if done properly, including giving a dedicated entrance to the incoming students through the building’s underutilized E wing and ensuring they have the appropriate space where both groups of students can thrive separately despite sharing a school building.”