The board removed Austin Elementary as an option for potential closure primarily due to its position as a neighborhood school that students can walk to, Superintendent Brad Hunt said. They also removed the option that would consolidate New Tech High at Coppell with the stipulation that the staff develop a plan to increase enrollment and efficiency at that campus.
The options to close Pinkerton Elementary, consolidate the dual language immersion program and leveling Pre-K enrollment districtwide remain on the table ahead of Sept. 30 approval. If approved, the changes would take effect for the 2025-26 school year.
The details
If approved, Pinkerton students will consolidate into Wilson and Austin elementary schools. The district will adjust Denton Creek Elementary attendance zones to Town Center, Cottonwood Creek and Lakeside elementaries based on enrollment, according to district documents. The option would save around $2.1 million in the 2024-25 school year.
The district is also considering the consolidation of its dual language immersion, or DLI, program into a single school. The program is currently offered at Wilson and Denton Creek elementary schools and seeks to create bilingual and biliterate students. The district would try to move as many DLI staff members as possible from Wilson Elementary to Denton Creek Elementary, said Angie Brooks, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. There are currently 204 students enrolled in the program.
“The district will ensure all Spanish learners that qualify for the program will also receive the transportation required per the state to meet their needs,” Brooks said.
Closing Pinkerton Elementary would mean that the district’s International Baccalaureate program would move to Wilson Elementary along with as many Pinkerton IB staff members as possible to ensure the program continues seamlessly, Brooks said.
The context
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. Additionally, the district has seen enrollment decline since demographer projections in April. Without consolidation efforts, elementary campus utilization will drop below 75 %. District staff said that the consolidations would not affect the elementary class student-to-teacher ratios of 22:1.
To mitigate these challenges, CISD has implemented various cost-cutting measures and revenue generation strategies, Chief Financial Officer Diana Sircar said. This includes reducing positions through attrition; cutting district-level; expenses and lowering the budget for student competitions, shuttles, custodial services and more. Revenue-generation strategies include expanding open enrollment, increasing facility rental fees and pay-to-ride bus fees.
The district also called a voter-approval tax rate election, which could generate $2.4 million if it passes in the November election.
Also of note
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.
Buildings were rated on capacity, age and condition, cost to run and maintain, and proximity to neighborhoods. Pinkerton scored the lowest of all facilities in the district in the age and condition category.
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.
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. 18 — Town hall at Coppell High School Ninth Grade Campus at 6:30 p.m. in the auditorium
- Sept. 30 — Board meeting at 6 p.m. (possible board action on final decision)
