The Plano ISD school board will vote Monday night on a plan to shut down four schools. The district says low enrollment has forced their hand. NBC 5 education reporter Wayne Carter reports on what’s next for the district.
Plano ISD voted unanimously shut down four campuses Monday night, despite pleas from parents to find a way to keep the doors open.
"I come to tell you how great this school is," one parent told school board members at a meeting on the issue.
Forman Elementary, Armstrong Middle, Davis Elementary & Carpenter Middle were all recommended to shut down at the end of the next school year.
"Plano has allowed the housing market to price out young families now the only people that can afford to live here are older people who don't have kids that go to school," said Zach Carson, a parent in the district.
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It's a story heard before. Richardson ISD is in the same boat. Ranch-style homes that cost $200,000 not that long ago are now going from more than $1 million. Young families on a budget can't afford it, and so they've moved on.
"It was a very difficult recommendation to have to make, my heart hurts; it hurts for our kids, it hurts for our principals and our counselors; everyone that just pours into our schools. Big at the same time, if I am going to look at what we need to do in RISD for the long term; this is a short-term decision that I know we had to make," said Richardson ISD Superintendent Tabitha Branham.
What happened there is now happening in Plano ISD.
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The district cited home cost, with smaller class sizes, lower birth rates, and families moving further north where homes are cheaper.
For those still in Plano ISD, Superintendent Theresa WIlliams is promising the district is trying to make the decision fairly.
Parents whose school will close are expected to have the chance to transfer their kids to another school in the district of their choice.
