New Tech High School, Austin Elementary and Pinkerton Elementary are the three schools that could shut down due to budget concerns in the district. If approved, the changes would take effect for the 2025-26 school year.
Parents and students spoke about their passion for their respective campuses and pleaded against the closures.
“If you close Pinkerton it won’t just be closing a building, it would be taking away our home and our family. Please don’t close our school or any other school in the district,” said a fourth grader at Pinkerton Elementary.
Community members expressed concern that the decision would have long-term consequences for students without resolving the budget issues. They also expressed fears of additional closures in the future.
The details
A state funding formula that hasn’t changed since 2019, over 20% inflation since that time, and underfunded state mandates have forced CISD to adopt a $7.5 million deficit budget in fiscal year 2024-25, per district documents. To combat these challenges, the district called a voter-approval tax rate election, which could generate $2.4 million if it passes in the November election.
Along with the VATRE, another major funding strategy CISD explored was building consolidation, prompting the creation of a facilities evaluation tool. The tool was approved in June, and is used to determine facility, building and land use efficiency amid declining enrollment and budget concerns. The tool was developed by a committee of parents, community members and staff.
District officials presented six consolidation options and their potential impact to the board using data from the facilities evaluation. The board voted to remove one of the options which closed both Austin and Pinkerton Elementary and will consider the others at a following workshop, per district documents.
The five-year average cost per student at the elementary level in CISD is $6,440, according to the presentation. For Austin Elementary it is $6,947, for Pinkerton Elementary it's $7,119 and for Wilson Elementary $7,132. The per student cost for New Tech High is $7,429.
More details
Buildings were rated on capacity, age and condition, efficiency as in cost per student and cost per square-foot and proximity, which refers to travel time between the boundary zone and a campus. Pinkerton scored the lowest of all facilities in the district in the age and condition category.
The closure of Austin Elementary would result in the following changes:
- Consolidate the Austin campus with Town Center, Wilson, Pinkerton and Lakeside Elementary schools
- Move Dual Language Immersion and bilingual Pre-K program to Denton Creek Elementary
- Level Pre-K enrollment districtwide
- $2.26 million in savings
- Consolidate the Pinkerton campus with Wilson and Austin Elementary schools
- Move the International Baccalaureate Program to Wilson Elementary
- Move Dual Language Immersion and bilingual Pre-K program to Denton Creek Elementary
- Level Pre-K enrollment districtwide
- Adjust Denton Creek Elementary attendance zones to Town Center, Cottonwood Creek and Lakeside Elementary based on enrollment
- $2.1 million in savings
The district’s 2023 bond package allocated millions for renovation projects at multiple campuses outlined through 2027, including the three schools poised for possible closure, according to district documents. Should closures occur, the board could choose to not spend the money or reallocate it to other projects.
Additionally, the New Tech High lot is valued between $3-5 million. The property could be repurposed for other CISD uses.
“If these consolidations are made, the district could achieve cumulative cost savings between $10.5 and $61.5 million over the next five years,” Chief Financial Officer Diana Sircar said.
Going forward
The board plans to hold additional workshops on the topic as well as a town hall for public comment. The dates are as follows:
- Sept. 16 — Board Workshop at 5:30 p.m.
- Sept. 18 — Town Hall at CHS9 at 6:30 p.m. in the Auditorium
- Sept. 30 — Board Meeting at 6 p.m. (possible board action on final decision)
“These are indeed difficult decisions, but, as always, our district is committed to working together to do what is best for all of the students we serve," Hunt said in the statement. "Our top priority is taking care of our students, employees, and families."
