“We’ve put this forum together to allow [parents] to have an opportunity to engage in a forum where we can talk about rezoning,” FISD Superintendent Jeremy Lyon said.
Frisco ISD hosts forum to discuss rezoning.[/caption]He said he understands that rezoning can be difficult to understand especially with a fast-growing city such as Frisco, and he wants to help parents understand why this is happening in FISD every year.
Lyon lead the forum and began speaking about the unprecedented growth in FISD. He showed a slide that showed the growth in the district since 1993 when there were only four schools and the student enrollment was only 1,933.
In the past 20 years, on average FISD opens three schools a year and remains one of the fastest growing school districts in the state and nation, Lyon said.
Today there more than 60 schools, and enrollment is 53,147.
“This is a challenge for Frisco ISD as it continues to grow while trying to maintain small schools,” Lyon told parents.
Lyon said throughout the school year enrollment is a moving target year to year. FISD adds 2,500 to 3,500 students a year.
In 2016, FISD will open four new schools: Lebanon Trail High School, Nelson Middle School, Miller Elementary and Vaughn Elementary.
Richard Wilkinson, deputy superintendent for business services, presented the rezoning process and timeline.
He explained that each September, updated enrollment projections for each school are gathered and used to draw preliminary attendance zones for new campuses opening the next year.
The preliminary results are presented to the school board in October. In November parents and students can sign up to give their direct input to the board. The final decision is made in December after the board has heard both parent and administrative input.
Wilkinson said FISD determines attendance boundaries using different criteria such as capacity at schools, stability, and effective use of space, proximity and community.
A question from the audience asked if there would ever be cleaner feeder patterns.
Lyon said he too would love to see cleaner feeder patterns and it would be simpler, but given the rapid growth of the district and the many schools, it is not a possibility at the moment.
Another question from the audience asked why does the district have to make a decision now and not a within a year.
Wilkinson said the district has to have a plan ahead as much as possible to prepare for the next high school.
The final question of the night was if there was a possibility of the district making the high schools go up to a 6A or higher.
“We have a firm commitment to stick to the small schools model,” Lyon said. “It is our intention for every high school to accommodate 2,100 student. Every high school will remain a 5A.”
In addition to learning more about the rezoning process, families had the opportunity to meet Devin Padavil, principal of Lebanon Trail High School.
LTHS is planned to open with ninth graders only and will add more grade levels later on.
For more information on FISD’s attendance zones, click here.
