(Source : KERA News) In a highly emotional meeting on Monday night, the Lewisville ISD board members voted to close five elementary schools as a cost-saving measure in response to declining student enrollment and uncertain state funding. The schools affected are B.B. Owen, Creekside, Garden Ridge, Highland Village, and Polser elementary schools.
During the public comment section, more than a dozen people passionately urged the board to delay the school consolidation plan. Many speakers, including board members, directed their anger at the state Legislature, accusing politicians of neglecting public schools. Governor Greg Abbott, state Senator Tan Parker, and state Representatives Ben Bumgarner and Mitch Little were specifically named.
Parents and students from Garden Ridge and Highland Village elementary schools, wearing matching T-shirts, expressed their dismay as the votes were cast. The district’s demography research partner, Zonda Education, has forecasted a declining student population, expected to settle at around 45,000 over the next decade, down from a peak of 53,396 in the 2015-16 school year.
Superintendent Lori Rapp highlighted the issue of empty classroom seats, noting that the district’s buildings have room for 62,508 students. The declining enrollment rate, coupled with the state lawmakers’ reluctance to increase the per-student allotment, has created financial challenges for Texas school districts. The recent mandate to put armed security on every Texas school campus has further strained budgets.
Melissa Adams, a parent, blamed Texas lawmakers and the governor for the crisis, while Ryan Ritter, a father of two Highland Village students, argued that closing schools would send the wrong message to state lawmakers. Some speakers suggested alternative measures, such as closing the district administrative building.
Board members expressed their anguish over the decision, with Allison Lassahn casting the sole vote against closing Highland Village. She emphasized her responsibility to represent the will of her district’s residents. As the meeting concluded, board member Buddy Bonner highlighted the district’s financial struggles, citing dropped enrollment and lack of funds as major issues.
The closures are part of the district’s efforts to manage its budget and resources effectively, but the decision has left many parents and students feeling devastated and uncertain about the future.
