FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas – Fort Bend ISD leaders faced another packed room Monday as families urged trustees to slow down a plan that could close seven elementary schools and redraw boundaries across the district.
Trustees opened the 5 p.m. special-called meeting by warning they had just one hour to review boundary survey feedback, with 34 speakers signed up to address the board.
Multiple speakers urged the board to slow the process down, arguing the district has not shared enough underlying data to justify closing seven elementary schools. Several residents said survey results should be used to pause and reassess, not accelerate toward a March vote.
Walkability surfaced as a major concern, especially among families who said boundary shifts would move children from a short neighborhood walk to multi-mile commutes that would require busing or lengthy drop-offs.
Some parents argued the plan contradicts survey priorities like reducing portable buildings. They pointed to campuses already using portables and said adding students could increase portable use and crowding rather than reduce costs.
Speakers repeatedly raised concerns about special education and bilingual services, arguing that “programs aren’t portable” and that moving students without a detailed support plan risks weakening services.
Survey results released Monday show mixed views on proposed elementary school closures in Fort Bend ISD, with the largest group of respondents selecting neutral and about one-third opposing the changes.
More than 68,000 stakeholders either received or accessed the survey link. Of those, 13,207 initiated the survey and 7,275 completed it. District officials said they reviewed every response, including more than 12,000 written comments submitted across multiple open-ended questions.
Fort Bend ISD asked the community to weigh in last month on possible changes as part of its Long-Range Boundary Planning process.
The survey focused on several elementary school scenarios, including potential campus closures and boundaries for the future Amy Coleman Middle School.
The largest percentage of respondents selected “neutral” when asked about their level of support for boundary changes.
Overall, 34% of stakeholders opposed the proposed changes, including 24% who strongly opposed them. Seventeen percent indicated support or strong support, while 49% selected neutral.
Among respondents associated with one of the seven campuses proposed for closure, opposition rose to 49%. For those not directly tied to a campus under consideration, opposition dropped to 29%.
District leaders said the neutral option was intentionally included in the survey to avoid forcing respondents into either support or opposition.
When asked which decision principles should guide the board’s decision, stakeholders ranked community integrity as the top priority. Minimizing the frequency of boundary changes and accommodating student needs followed. Cost-effectiveness did not rank among the top three priorities for any stakeholder group.
In open-ended responses, roughly half of those asked about potential advantages said they saw none. Others cited balanced enrollment and cost savings as possible benefits.
The top concerns included student impact, transportation and walkability, and the loss or splitting of communities.
District officials noted that survey responses revealed different definitions of “community.” Some families described community as friend groups, others as entire school populations, and others as neighborhoods or master-planned communities.
More than 150 responses included alternative boundary proposals. District staff said each submission was reviewed alongside the district’s boundary planning consultant. Officials said some proposals had already been considered earlier in the process, while others required additional analysis, including driving traffic routes and evaluating long-term enrollment impacts.
District officials said if the board approves boundary changes in March, implementation would begin immediately and continue through August. That process would include transferring student records, adjusting staffing, managing campus consolidations and rolling out academic, social-emotional and logistical supports for families.
At the same time, the district plans to begin reviewing secondary school boundaries this spring, with the goal of bringing those recommendations forward in early 2026.
SBAC Chair Monica Willis said the 36-member committee has spent more than 700 hours reviewing proposals. She said members revisited plans after public feedback, examined alternate solutions submitted by families and physically reviewed traffic patterns and campus locations.
Committee members reviewed more than 150 alternative boundary suggestions submitted by families, although district officials noted that many overlapped or had already been considered earlier in the process.
Willis acknowledged that while roughly two-thirds of survey respondents were neutral or supportive, the most vocal opposition came from directly affected communities.
Superintendent Dr. Marc Smith acknowledged the emotional weight of the discussion, telling trustees that closing schools is not something district leaders want to do.
“We’re in a tough situation,” Smith said, pointing to declining enrollment and its financial impact.
The district’s primary revenue source is tied to student attendance. Officials say Fort Bend ISD has approximately 1,800 fewer students than projected, resulting in an estimated $18 million revenue drop this year. Combined with rising costs and projected enrollment declines, the district faces a shortfall estimated at nearly $49 million, with the potential to grow beyond $56 million if additional students leave for voucher programs.
Smith described the situation as a “perfect storm” of declining enrollment, underutilized campuses and financial pressure.
Operating multiple underused schools year after year, he said, creates compounding costs that affect academic programming, staffing competitiveness and long-term stability.
District leaders said the full survey dashboard will be published publicly on Tuesday, along with a guide to help families review the data.
Trustees pressed SBAC leaders about the strength of the committee’s recommendations following public backlash.
Trustee Angie Helleger asked whether members remained firmly committed to the proposed closures after reviewing survey results. SBAC Chair Monica Willis said support varied by region, with one area showing unanimous backing and another reflecting roughly 75% support. She acknowledged that some dissent stemmed from members who were directly affected by potential closures.
Trustee Kristin Hannon then shared her own childhood experience with rezoning and bullying, explaining why she is scrutinizing transportation routes, walkability, and the impact on campus culture. She called for clearer data on how many bilingual, special education and other special population students would be affected by boundary shifts.
Hannon also asked for more precise breakdowns of students who would move from walking to bus routes and how portable classroom capacity would be used at receiving campuses.
What you need to know
What’s the point of the Long-Range Boundary Planning process?
District leaders say the goal is to balance enrollment better and ensure school buildings are used the right way — now and in the future.
What schools could potentially close?
• Austin Parkway Elementary
• Dulles Elementary
• Fleming Elementary
• Glover Elementary
• Mission West Elementary
• Ridgegate Elementary
• Sugar Mill Elementary
This is something KPRC 2 has covered before, with many parents asking why their child’s school is on the list and how a possible closure could affect their family’s daily routine.
Why did the district send out a survey?
The survey gave parents, teachers, and community members a chance to share feedback.
More than 13,000 people started the survey, and over 7,200 completed it.
Tonight, Fort Bend ISD leaders will also discuss how declining enrollment is driving a growing budget shortfall.
Right now, the district has about 1,800 fewer students than expected, leading to an $18 million drop in revenue this school year.
Looking ahead, enrollment is projected to decline again next year, which could cost the district another $4.4 million.
When you factor in rising expenses and an existing deficit, Fort Bend ISD estimates a shortfall of nearly $49 million — and that could grow to more than $56 million if additional students leave for school vouchers.
KPRC 2 asked the district about the budget and the long-range boundary planning survey.
Those topics will be discussed separately.
The long-range boundary planning will be discussed at 5 PM. The board will then discuss the shortfall at 6 PM.