Although the opening of four new schools in Frisco ISD has been delayed for one year, the rezoning process will proceed as more students continue moving into the district.

In October, FISD board of trustees unanimously voted to delay the opening of four new schools that were scheduled to open next fall to save the district more than $15 million in operation costs.

Memorial High School, Lawler Middle School and Talley and Liscano elementary schools will continue construction and open in 2018.

“This is not a long-term solution,” said Todd Fouche, FISD deputy superintendent of business services. “But this allows us to work through the budgeting process and look at our growth for another year.”

FISD has opened new schools almost every year since 1996. With the district’s fast growth and the small schools model, the district redraws attendance zones each year to keep schools from becoming too congested.

“The goal is to not negatively impact student programs or student opportunities,” FISD Superintendent Jeremy Lyon said. “This year, rezoning will focus on school capacity and utilization of space.”

The rezoning process usually begins in September but the process was pushed back this year as the school board considered whether to delay opening the new schools.

District leaders will present preliminary attendance zone changes for the 2017-18 school year during the Nov. 14 board meeting.

According to the district, the proposed attendance zone changes that will be presented to the school board are not expected to affect areas that would have been relieved by the opening of the four new schools.

During the rezoning process, FISD staff presents proposed zoning changes to the school board. Then the district holds a public hearing for the board to receive public input on the proposed changes before making a final decision.

Lyon said the district caught a break this year because the year’s enrollment is less than what was expected based on projections.

According to projections, FISD was expected to have 56,904 students in 2016. But as of Oct. 3, the district’s enrollment was 55,851.

“This year will allow us to determine whether the slowdown this year is a trend or a one-year blip,” Fouche said.

Small schools, big growth

FISD’s small-schools concept keeps the student population at each school low so the student-to-teacher ratio is also low.

Elementary schools in FISD are built to accommodate 760 students. Middle schools are built to accommodate 1,000 students, and high schools are built to accommodate 2,100 students.

With this model, new schools are built and opened almost every year to relieve the student population at certain schools.

Talley was intended to relieve Curtsinger—which is currently over capacity—and McSpedden elementary schools.

New-to-district families moving into the Curtsinger zone will attend Shawnee Trail Elementary School.

Liscano was also intended to relieve Mooneyham, Norris and Sem elementary schools. Mooneyham is currently over capacity, and the other two are expected to be over capacity by next year.

Lawler was intended to relieve Vandeventer—which is also over capacity—and Scoggins middle schools.

For now, new-to-district families moving into the Vandeventer Middle School zone will continue to attend Wester Middle School.

Memorial was intended to relieve Wakeland, Lone Star and Heritage high schools. Wakeland is currently over capacity. Heritage is expected to be over capacity by next year.