District leaders discussed the campus closure and renovation options during a Sept. 15 board meeting. The closure of the school was only a discussion item and no official action was taken by the board.
“This is not a shock that our recommendation as an administration to the board is for the retirement of Staley [Middle School],” said Scott Warstler, FISD’s chief operations officer.
Looking back
Staley Middle School was built in 1973 and originally housed Frisco High School before being converted into the middle school in 1996.
The middle school needs extensive plumbing repairs as it has a 52-year-old underground cast-iron plumbing system, which usually has a lifespan of 50 years, district officials said. Replacing the system would take 18-30 months to complete, according to previous estimates from district staff. This would remove students from the school for two to three years.
A motion to close the middle school at the end of the 2024-25 school year was denied by FISD board members in a 4-3 vote April 14. After the failed vote, board members directed district staff to get additional information from a demographer for a further consideration regarding the closure.
District staff and the board of trustees discussed potential plans for Staley Middle during an Aug. 25 workshop.
The options
District officials considered cost, student displacement and student opportunities when considering the future of the middle school, Warstler said.
Replacing the plumbing system is estimated to cost $3.5 million. Options presented to the school board for the middle school included:
- No change. The district would spend $3.5 million on the plumbing system and students may have to be displaced during the construction.
- Option A: $19.6 million for a light refresh to modernize plumbing, refresh classrooms, remodel bathroom and update the school’s front entry, among other improvements.
- Option B: $24.54 million for a full refresh of the campus. This would include everything in Option A as well as five additional classrooms, a new art studio and open collaboration spaces.
- Option C: $85 million for a new building. The district’s remaining 2018 bond dollars are insufficient to cover the construction costs.
- Option D: close Staley May 30, 2026, at the end of the school year
Staley Middle School students would be rezoned to Hunt, Trent and Griffin middle schools, officials said. These schools were selected because of their proximity to the Staley school zone and the campus’s ability to accept the former Staley students, officials said.
Receiving campuses would meet with the Teaching and Learning Department to review incoming student data and needs, said Christy Fiori, FISD’s chief academic officer. The department would also guarantee the needed resources are available for incoming students, she said.
In honor of the campus, FISD officials plan to host legacy celebrations for current and former students. This could include a retirement celebration for the school, student and staff recognitions, a closing ceremony and a last day of school final walk, according to the meeting presentation.
Looking ahead
The school board is expected to decide if Staley Middle School will close at the end of the year during the board’s October meeting.
