to approximately 26,844. That year, the school board voted to consolidate certain schools at the end of school year, closing Spring Branch and Westchester Senior High Schools, along with Westchester and Northbrook Junior High Schools. (Northbrook Junior High School was later re-opened in 1991 as Northbrook Middle School.) Hal Guthrie became superintendent in 1986 and retired in 2001. During Guthrie's term, an influx of Hispanic and low income students entered the district. By 2001, SBISD established free preschool for students at eligible lower income levels, as well as for students needing ESL or special education services. Melanie Markley of the Houston Chronicle wrote that Guthrie "not only guided the district back to health, but his retirement this year caps the end of a career that many say has earned Spring Branch a reputation as a trailblazer." In 2009, SBISD began a partnership with Houston Community College Northwest, allowing students to take community college credit. Each student may earn up to 30 credits while enrolled at an SBISD school. In 2015 two sections of Thornwood, two and three, currently served by the Katy Independent School District, proposed being removed from Katy ISD and placed in Spring Branch ISD, but both KISD and SBISD's boards denied the proposal. Governance Spring Branch ISD is led by a Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Jennifer Blaine, Ed.D., chosen by the Board of Trustees, headed by President Pam Goodson. The Board of Trustees is elected by voters living in Spring Branch ISD. Student body In 2001 SBISD had 32,000 students. SBISD's student body was 48% Hispanic, 39% White, 7% Asian, and 6% African American. By 2002 over half of the district's student body consisted of Hispanic and Latino Americans. As of 2001, most students north of Interstate 10 are Hispanic and lower to middle income, while most students south of Interstate 10 are White and middle to upper income. In 2008 it had 32,000 students. In 2009 55% of SBISD students qualified for free or reduced lunch. In 2018, SBISD had approximately 35,000 students. SBISD cities SBISD covers all of the following cities: Bunker Hill Village Hedwig Village Hilshire Village Spring Valley Village SBISD covers portions of the following cities: Houston (portions around the villages) Hunters Creek Village (areas north of Buffalo Bayou) Piney Point Village (areas north of Buffalo Bayou) Schools K-12 Schools Spring Branch Academic Institute (Houston, Choice) Previously known as The Spring Branch School