District leaders discussed the campus closure during an Oct. 20 board meeting. The board of trustees moved to close the campus in a unanimous vote.
“We simply have more students going out of our buildings than coming in,” trustee Sherrie Salas said. “We would prefer [Frisco ISD] be immune to campus closures, but that is not the case. The landscape of public education is changing.”
This decision was made after a motion to close the campus at the end of the 2024-25 school year was denied by the FISD board members in a 4-3 vote in April. After the failed vote, board members directed district staff to get additional demography information for further consideration regarding the closure, but no other solutions were found to keep the campus open.
The need for the closure comes after a failed bond program, which voters denied in November 2024, and declining enrollment. District officials earmarked $102.3 million to rebuild Staley Middle in Proposition B of the $1.08 billion bond, which 52.09% of voters denied during the election.
The plan
Staley Middle School students will be rezoned to Hunt, Trent and Griffin middle schools, which was approved during the board meeting. The zoning changes will go into effect for the 2026-27 school year.
Approving a zoning change after a school closure is required in order to meet accountability measures set by the Texas Education Agency. FISD’s legal counsel Esther Kolni explained that every time a school district closes a campus, it must report to the state what campus students will be moved to.
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 will meet with the Teaching and Learning Department to review incoming student data and needs, said Christy Fiori, FISD’s chief academic officer, during a previous board meeting. The department would also guarantee the needed resources are available for incoming students, she said.
Staley Middle’s staff are reasonably assured a comparable position within the district, officials said.
Staley Middle receives Title I federal funding, which allots extra money to help students acquire the skills they need to meet academic standards. As the funds do not follow individual students, the district will use its general fund to pay for any needed student support, such as additional resources and instructional materials, tutors and professional development for campus staff, said Wes Cunningham, FISD’s associate deputy superintendent.
Some context
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.
The campus closure and renovation options were discussed during an August work session and a September board meeting.
Current enrollment for FISD is 65,256, Salas said. According to demography projections, district enrollment may drop to 63,358 students next year and drop further to 58,292 in five years, Salas said.
“This decline is happening rapidly, and unfortunately, I think retiring schools is going to be part of the next 5-10 years of our future,” FISD’s deputy superintendent Todd Fouche said.
FISD is not alone in closing campuses. Area districts like Plano and Lewisville ISDs retired several campuses before the 2025-26 school year. Austin ISD is set to close 13 campuses at the end of this school year.
What were the options?
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
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. An official event has not yet been determined.
Chief Operations Officer Scott Warstler said administration will update the community as it can.
“Staley has stood as more than just a school. It has been a foundation of learning, leadership and community for generations of students, educators and families,” trustee Dynette Davis said. “The spirit of Staley, its pride, its people [and] its purpose will forever remain a cherished part of Frisco ISD’s story.”
