Fort Bend ISD’s school boundary advisory committee shared its final recommendation to close seven elementary schools across the district’s northwest/central and southeast/central areas at a Feb. 23 meeting.
The recommendation comes after a January boundary survey showed nearly half of respondents were neutral about the potential elementary school closures, Community Impact reported. However, 34% of all stakeholders were against the closures.
How we got here
Beth Martinez, deputy superintendent chief of staff, said the proposed closures are necessary to accomplish the district’s goal of balancing enrollment as campuses become underserved and student enrollment falls with the current elementary school utilization at 74%.
However, Martinez said the utilization could fall an additional 7% within five years if nothing is done to address the low campus numbers.
Potential elementary schools affected by the boundary proposal include:
- Austin Parkway Elementary
- Dulles Elementary
- Arizona Fleming Elementary
- Edgar Glover Jr Elementary
- Mission West Elementary
- Ridgegate Elementary
- Sugar Mill Elementary
The vote will also include boundary changes for the opening of Amy Coleman Middle School, located in Arcola.
What they’re saying
Superintendent Marc Smith said if the schools are not closed, smaller campuses could hurt programming initiatives, and the district will stay operating under a financial deficit, which could result in staff layoffs.
“Our responsibility is to every child today, but also in the years ahead,” Smith said.
Additionally, board President Kristin Tassin said she knows what concerned parents are going through, as she previously had to approve rezoning that directly affected her daughter.
However, she said the board needs to think of students’ wellbeing, proper staff compensation and the district possibly ceasing control to the Texas Education Agency, as other districts in the area have, when considering these boundary changes.
“I feel strongly [that] in order to navigate the challenges we are facing, we have to consolidate schools for the benefit of every Fort Bend ISD student and to support our Fort Bend ISD teachers,” Tassin said.
However, several board members, including Angie Wierzbicki, shared concerns about the school boundary process, such as the swiftness of the decision and the schools slated for closure.
“I’m not against closing schools, but I feel, though, that the seven that are here are a lot, and I understand we got to stop the hemorrhaging, but I just don’t 100% feel comfortable with the seven that are here or seven in general,” Wierzbicki said.
Also of note
During the meeting’s public comment period, 78 parents, students and faculty across various schools came forward to appeal to the board, including Ligi Varghese, who has a child who attends Austin Parkway Elementary and another who has graduated.
Varghese said she understands the difficulties the board is confronted with, although she said she thinks they do not comprehend the effects of their actions.
“Are you willing to risk the amount of kids that are going to be leaving Fort Bend ISD because it’s going to be too hard?” Varghese said. “They’re not going to get the same education. They’re going to lower-rated schools. People bought their homes specifically to be zoned to these particular schools.”
What’s next?
The board is set to consider final elementary recommendations March 9.
If approved, Martinez said the district will prioritize communication with students, families, staff and the community at large as these projected changes are implemented ahead of the 2026-27 school year.
Following the potential primary school boundary changes, FBISD secondary school boundaries will begin review in April, with plans for board consideration in early fall.
