Fort Bend Independent School District (FBISD) trustees made a significant decision during their meeting on Tuesday night, opting to close seven elementary schools after extensive discussions and emotional appeals from families concerned about the fate of their local campuses.
The closures are part of the district’s Long-Range Boundary Planning initiative, aimed at addressing issues such as declining enrollment and underutilized facilities. Additionally, the board approved new attendance boundaries for the upcoming Amy Coleman Middle School, which is set to open for the 2026-27 academic year.
During the meeting, over 50 individuals signed up to express their opinions during the public comment session. Parents, educators, and community members passionately urged the trustees to reconsider the proposed closures. Nonetheless, the board ultimately voted in favor of shutting down the following elementary schools:
- Austin Parkway Elementary
- Dulles Elementary
- Fleming Elementary
- Glover Elementary
- Mission West Elementary
- Ridgegate Elementary
- Sugar Mill Elementary
District officials have stated that these changes are intended to better align campus capacities with student enrollment trends, ultimately optimizing the use of district resources. They also mentioned plans to collaborate with affected schools and families to facilitate a smooth transition.
While the closures have been approved, several aspects of the implementation remain uncertain. The future of the teachers and staff at the closing schools is yet to be clarified, including whether they will be relocated to other campuses or if any staffing changes will occur. Furthermore, district leaders have not disclosed what will happen to the facilities once they are shut down, including possibilities for repurposing or selling the buildings.
The board meeting featured various procedural votes as trustees debated whether to consider schools individually or collectively. Austin Parkway Elementary was initially pulled from a larger closure proposal for individual consideration, while attempts to separate Dulles, Glover, and Ridgegate elementary schools from the same motion were unsuccessful.
Concerns regarding the impact of these changes on students and families were voiced by several trustees. Trustee Afshi Charania raised questions about the implications for students connected to Madden Elementary, suggesting that families might lose their neighborhood school pathway. Trustee Addie Heyliger cautioned that removing too many boundary changes could exacerbate enrollment imbalances, with some schools remaining overcrowded while others have excess capacity.
Board President Kristin Tassin emphasized that the district is grappling with broader enrollment challenges and referenced recent reports indicating that FBISD is among the Texas districts experiencing notable enrollment declines.
Parents expressed their frustration with the process, voicing concerns about the potential effects of the closures on their children. One parent lamented, “You had months to know what you were doing. That was the most frustrating part.”
Looking ahead, district leaders plan to begin collaborating with affected campuses and families to ease the transition before the 2026-27 school year. They also intend to share more details regarding transition plans and timelines with families in the upcoming weeks. Further information about the Long-Range Boundary Planning process can be found on the district’s official website.
