FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas – Seven elementary schools closing, one new middle school opening, and a fresh map of school boundaries-- these are the solutions Fort Bend Independent School District (FBISD) officials proposed Monday as ways to handle the district’s budget and overcrowding issues.
So, what’s the problem?
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FBISD officials said fewer students are enrolling, some schools are way under capacity (like a school built for 800 kids but only 300 attend), and that there is a growing budget deficit. In other words, they’re paying to run buildings that aren’t full.
How will these proposed changes help?
District officials say this plan will better match the number of seats with the number of students, save money by closing some schools, and reduce operating costs.
Here’s what we learned at the meeting...
- Proposed school closures:
Mission West Elementary
Arizona Fleming Elementary
Sugar Mill Elementary
Ridgegate Elementary
Glover Elementary
Dulles Elementary
Austin Parkway Elementary
- New Middle School
Amy Coleman Middle School is planned to open to help ease overcrowding and provide more space for students.
- New school boundaries:
The district’s School Boundary Advisory Committee (SBAC) is working with a company called Zonda to redraw school zoning maps to make it clear which school your child will attend.
- What’s the timeline?
FBISD’s school board will meet on March 9th to consider and vote on the proposed suggestions. If approved, the changes will happen before the next school year starts.
- What happens after a school closes?
They’ll move student records from one school to another, reassign staff, figure out transportation, and help families and students adjust.
- The community survey:
In January, the district asked for feedback on the proposed plan. About 68,600 people got the survey, 13,200 started it, and 7,275 actually completed it. The largest single response was “neutral,” but overall, 34% of respondents opposed the proposed boundary changes.
Among families connected to the schools being closed about 49% said they oppose the plan.
We want more answers
While school officials shared a lot of information, many questions remain. KPRC 2 News reached out to FBISD’s Communications Department to get clarity on key concerns, including student and staff relocation plans, transportation changes, financial details, and what will happen to the closed school buildings. We made those requests today and we will update this article when we get the answers.
What we still want to know...
- Who moves where?
How will districts decide which students and staff go to which schools? When will families find out? And how will transportation and special programs be affected?
- The Financial Math:
How much will closing each school save the district? What will it cost to open the new middle school? And what about moving expenses, extra buses, or portable classrooms?
- What about the empty buildings?
Will the closed schools be used for something else, rented out, sold, or just left empty?
- Impact on Special programs:
How will special education, bilingual programs, and other services be handled without disrupting kids’ learning?
What people are saying...
Several parents, students, and staff members spoke up at the meeting, sharing worries about how this plan may affect kids emotionally and socially. Many asked the district to slow down, be more transparent, and look for other options.
If you are a parent or guardian who’s affected by these changes, we want to hear from you. Let us know in the conversation starter below!