Lewisville ISD may close some elementary schools next year to save money.
The district outlined the plan during a work session Monday night.
“It’s a difficult conversation to have,” said trustee Stacey Barker.
Officials are targeting five schools for closure: B.B. Owen, Creekside, Garden Ridge, Highland Village and Polcer. One school from each high school’s feeder pattern.
Some Garden Ridge parents questioned why the school was targeted for closure.
“The decline in enrollment is not happening on our campus,” Sarah Lynn Johnson said. “I think we need to consider keeping smaller schools and eliminating larger buildings at greater cost.”
Parent Kevin Forsberg called the school a “jewel” in the crown of the district.
“Once we remove this jewel from LISD’s crown, we can’t put it back together,” he said. “I would like to emphasize that this decision is permanent. Schools cannot be closed.”
Barker said it’s important that decisions are made district-wide to ensure some feeder patterns are not affected more than others.
“It would be unfair and unfair to place this burden at the feet of one feeder pattern, as all five feeder patterns have seen enrollment declines,” she said.
The district announced in October that it was considering closing or consolidating up to 20 campuses due to budget shortfalls and declining enrollment.
Superintendent Lori Rapp said LISD faces a budget deficit and the loss of about 10,000 students over the next 10 years. The district enrolled about 48,400 students last school year, down from more than 53,000 nearly a decade ago, according to Texas Education Agency data.
The school board could take action on Monday.
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