Grapevine-Colleyville ISD trustees will decide on closing three elementary campuses soon, but the board hasn’t determined which schools will be on the chopping block.
Board president Shannon Braun said in an interview Friday morning that the decision on which elementaries are closing will be made in November or December.
“It will be before Christmas,” Braun said.
The Grapevine-Colleyville school board will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday to hear a report from the Education Master Planning committee, which is tasked with making recommendations about the district’s future needs.
The agenda also lists a period for public comment.
Braun said that by closing three elementaries, it will bring the other campuses up to full capacity and save approximately $1.6 million.
“We’re freeing up as much money as we can,” she said.
Grapevine-Colleyville is facing critical financial needs as are other North Texas school districts.
Grapevine-Colleyville did not receive full funding from the state, and it is also a “recapture” or Robinhood district, and sent more than $30 million to the state to distribute to poorer school districts.
Grapevine-Colleyville is also facing declining enrollment and a concern that the number of high school seniors is outpacing kindergarteners
Parents raise concerns about school closures
But some parents in the district want school officials to pause and to take a step back from closing schools and explore other possibilities, because closing schools is not just about saving money. There are other factors to consider such as the impact on students, teachers, businesses and neighborhoods, several speakers said during a presentation.
The parents gathered Thursday night at The Vine, an event venue in Grapevine where they divided into small groups to discuss questions and ideas that will be submitted to the district.
Some questioned if full capacity in the elementary schools that will remain open is a good idea when it comes to student learning.
Renee Hart, a parent in the Grapevine-Colleyville district, said schools at full capacity for an extended period of time face overcrowding, larger class sizes and less space for enrichment programs.
Braun said that she spoke to principals at schools that are not at full capacity, and they said it is easier to schedule classes and activities when there are more children in the buildings.
The parents also said the district should explore ways to make the district more attractive for families.
There were also questions about the consequences of changing traffic patterns and the emotional toll on children who are moved to a different campus.
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