Frisco ISD remains one of the fastest growing school districts in Texas with new enrollment numbers showing continued growth.

The district has added more than 1,900 students since this time last year, according to figures presented during FISD board of trustees' first meeting of the new year on Jan. 14.

Todd Fouche, deputy superintendent of business and operations, provided the latest figures to the board. From Dec. 10-Jan. 14, the district added 243 students with 186 of those being elementary students. Since Labor Day, the district has added 740 students; 582 of those were elementary students.

In October, FISD enrollment surpassed the 60,000-student mark with 60,205 students.

Staff allocations

For this spring semester, FISD has added 44 campus personnel to address class size and provide direct support to the schools.

The district added 28 classroom and special education teaching positions, six special education behavior support coaches and 10 special education paraprofessionals.

Last month, the board voted to amend the budget to add 75 teacher allocations. The remaining allocations will be distributed as needed.

“This will offer flexibility for us to bring outstanding candidates to the district in preparation for next school year, particularly in critical-needs areas,” Chief Human Resources Officer Pam Linton said.

Safe Schools Survey

Last June, the board approved to hire six student assistance coordinators, or crisis counselors, to provide student counseling on an individual and group basis, mental health training to staff, crisis counseling for students, and to connect families and staff to counseling resources.

According to the district, the student assistance coordinators have met with 2,777 students providing multiple types of interventions, which include but are not limited to multiple counseling visits, mental health referrals to private practitioners, outpatient treatment and inpatient treatment.

The Safe Schools Survey went out in December and staff provided highlights.

Number of students who report being bullied two to three times per month:
• National average—20 percent
• FISD average—14 percent (same as last year)

District staff said some of the elementary campuses have cut their numbers almost in half. They stated it was because of the increase in social-emotional support with counselors and the ability of counselors to support teachers in the classroom.

Lowest reports of bullying in the district:
• McSpedden Elementary School—7 percent (11 percent last year)
• Ogle Elementary School—7 percent (19 percent last year)
• Sem Elementary School—7 percent (14 percent last year)
• Sparks Elementary School—8 percent (19 percent last year)
• Taylor Elementary School—8 percent (14 percent last year)

FISD counselors work in partnership with the SACs and provide face-to-face suicide-awareness training to all secondary students, meeting with each student in need within 24 hours, according to the district.