In a nutshell
In a Dec. 2 letter to school board President Shannon Braun, Tate offered to help raise $1.2 million for the district if trustees agree to pause the consolidations so the consolidation process can be reevaluated. GCISD Executive Communications Director Nicole Lyons confirmed that Braun received the letter.
“I would like to personally raise funds for GCISD while the options are reassessed,” the letter states. “The district information I have seen shows that the Dove Elementary closure would save $1.2 million. I believe we can raise these funds over the next two months if you will agree to pause while we work towards that goal.”
In an emailed statement to Community Impact, Tate said city officials will meet with Grapevine's largest business taxpayers to ask for contributions and accept donations from individuals. In the event of a donation exceeding $5,000, district Chief Financial Officer David Johnson said he is required to present that donation to trustees at a board meeting.
By the numbers
Projections from Johnson at a Dec. 2 board meeting show that closing one campus will net about $1.8 million in savings from staff cuts, while closing a second campus would save roughly an additional $866,000. At an October board meeting, Chief Human Resources Officer Kelly Mires said the second campus closure would not cut any teacher positions to maintain the current 20-1 student-teacher ratio, resulting in less savings.
The district also expects to save about $182,000 in operational costs, based on a conservative estimate from Johnson. The average savings per closure is about $1.3 million, with a total savings about just under $2.7 million, per Johnson's presentation.
Some background
GCISD is facing a roughly $10 million state funding loss after enrollment dropped by 1,500 students since 2019. The Texas Education Agency ties state funding to average daily attendance, so a drop in enrollment can cut into a school district’s budget.
A committee of district staff and community members recommended closing Dove and Bransford elementary schools at a Nov. 17 trustee meeting to combat the funding loss.
Looking ahead
GCISD trustees are scheduled to vote on closing Dove and Bransford elementary schools at a Dec. 10 board meeting.
