Frisco ISD to Delay Opening of Four New Schools
October 20, 2016
Frisco ISD is projected to save more than $15 million in operational costs after the school board unanimously voted Monday evening to delay the opening of four new schools until 2018.
Memorial High School, intended to relieve Wakeland, Lone Star and Heritage high schools, Lawler Middle School, intended to relieve Vandeventer and Scoggins middle schools, Liscano Elementary, intended to relieve Mooneyham, Norris and Sem elementary schools and Talley Elementary, intended to relieve Curtsinger and McSpedden elementary schools, had been planned to open in fall 2017.
District leadership recommended the delays following the failure of the TRE, a property tax increase which would have helped offset cuts in state funding.
The delays set up a rezoning process this fall that will have an extra focus on school capacity and effective utilization of space.
District leaders will present preliminary attendance zone changes for the 2017-18 school year at the next board meeting on November 14. Following the meeting, proposals will be shared with parents and input will be taken through phone calls and emails, as well as during the December meeting. A final decision is anticipated for the January meeting.
FISD is currently seeking input from the community at www.friscoisd.org/budgetfeedback regarding district priorities and ideas for cost savings. Responses will be reviewed and vetted through the priorities-based budgeting process. Three committees consisting of FISD employees and community members have been formed to identify and recommend cost savings to the school board next spring.
