The decision comes as the district plans to build four new elementary schools over the next 10 years to relieve overcapacity at existing schools in the northern part of the district.
Current situation
The following schools are planned for the next 10 years:
- Elementary School No. 30: opening in 2024-25 to relieve Bagdad and Plain elementary schools
- Elementary School No. 31: opening in 2025-26 to relieve Tarvin Elementary School
- Elementary School No. 32: opening in 2028-29 to relieve Mason Elementary School
- Elementary School No. 33: opening in 2029-30 to relieve Elementary School No. 31, Pleasant Hill Elementary School and Akin Elementary School
Elementary Schools No. 31 and 32 will be funded by the district’s $762.8 million 2023 bond package. Chief Operations Officer Jimmy Disler said it was important for the board to decide on the future capacity for elementary schools as Elementary School No. 31 is in its design phase.
The approach
As LISD has experienced fast-paced growth, specifically in the district’s northern portion, the LISD Long-Range Planning Committee has discussed building new elementary schools to accommodate 1,000 students instead of 800, which is the standard, LISD Chief Communications Officer Crestina Hardie said.
At the Aug. 10 meeting, Disler and LISD Chief of Staff Sarah Grissom recommended the board continue with the 800-student capacity design based on zoning projections, financial impact and feedback from elementary school principals and the planning committee.
The following reasons were cited for maintaining an 800-student capacity:
- Three additional elementary schools would be required beyond Elementary School No. 30 whether they accommodated 800 or 1000 students; however, building the schools for 1,000 students would cost $18 million more.
- Elementary school principals said larger school sizes could negatively impact student and parent experience, campus culture, quality of instruction, staff, and safety and operations.
- Almost 30 committee members voted in favor of an 800-student capacity school versus six who voted for 1,000.
“I think that larger school just really does impact your student experience. There’s less opportunities for the student to be in that leadership role, less opportunities for that student to be in this club,” board President Gloria Gonzales-Dholakia said. “As we look at our guiding documents and you look at the comments that are on there, they’re really aligned with that 800 to provide the student experience that as a board we’re striving for.”
