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Key Middle School students start anew

05:25 PM CDT on Wednesday, September 26, 2007

By Carolyn Campbell and Karla Barguiarena / 11 News

Click to watch Karla Barguiarena's 5 p.m. update | Noon update

Fleming will be close to capacity.

Fleming Middle School has about 600 more new students.

All 700 Key Middle School children started attending classes at Fleming on Wednesday morning.

Not all parents like the idea. "Two principals two schools, two packs of kids in one school, I mean the school already have enough kids of their own,” said Antwanetta Johnson.

“I don’t think it’s gonna be a good idea, it’s too much, school is going to be jam packed,” said Tarvia Johnson.

Some parents like Pamela Fletcher say they’re not worried. “Every time you change schools there’s a new student.  And what do you do?  You welcome them in, that’s hospitality Texas style.”

Students from Key Middle School will stay at Fleming until the air quality is checked at their northeast Houston school.

For the past several weeks staff and teachers have been complaining about getting sick inside the building, HISD will get more extensive testing of the air.

Authorities with the Centers for Disease Control are inspecting the school to find out what’s been making people sick.

But for now, Fleming will be just under capacity at 1,200 students. Even though the campuses will be combined, HISD said they will continue as two separate entities.

"There is a lot of chaos here," said Amy Pantoja a Key Middle School parent. "...just moving. Having to drop them off. The bus taking them. "

"A lot of kids are still over there. They're lost. They don't know what's going on," said Veronic Hatter whose child also goes to Key Middle School.

Overcrowding isn’t the only fear.

The two schools are known to be rivals said Lydia Johnson a 7th grader. “Some people say they’re going to start fights with Key because they know that Key hate them.”

So HISD added extra security guards and opened a separate entrance for Key students.

They also promised to keep the two student bodies on opposite sides of the campus. 

The district will also have additional counselors, administrators and police officers to ensure a smooth transition.

Key football players will practice at Barbara Jordan High School and play their games at Kashmere.

E-mail 11 News reporter Carolyn Campbell

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