Community members filled the Coppell ISD board room, with overflow attendees moving to the lobby, all anticipating a vote on the consolidation of Town Center Elementary School.
A vote did not occur, but their voices were heard.
On Monday, the Coppell ISD Board of Trustees to discuss the Cowboys United: We are the CHOICE, Campus Consolidation and Boundary Realignment plans.
The vote on the consolidation of Town Center Elementary School was rescheduled to take place as early as Oct. 27, while formal action for the plans have also been delayed until further notice.
Forty-four individuals spoke in the open forum, where community members in support of TCES addressed their concerns about the proposed consolidation.
“They want to talk about trust. As trustees, you have all dedicated your lives to serving this community and doing what you believe is best for our children,” TCES parent Brent Billington said. “When we were told that expandability was suddenly a critical factor despite shrinking enrollment and that no contractors and engineers were consulted in this determination, we lost trust.”
As community members voiced their frustrations, the board and district officials emphasized school consolidations are part of a multi-year budget financial strategy. The consolidation of Pinkerton Elementary School and the Dual Language Immersion Program resulted in $1.4 million in savings for the district.
Cowboys United will focus on data-driven retention and recruitment strategies to bring students into the district.
“We have 700 students who live within our boundary that attend a charter school, which needs to change,” interim Superintendent Doug Williams said. “We must be very aggressive in how we go about it. Trustee David Caviness did some quick math, and he said 120 students. I think the goal should be 350 students back in this district.”
As enrollment discussions continued, attention shifted to the undecided proposition to consolidate TCES. Under the current draft map, TCES students would consolidate into Lakeside and Cottonwood Elementary Schools.
The board invited CISD Superintendent Dr. Leanne Shivers to address how district officials are working to refine potential consolidation options and project future enrollment impacts.
“I think what is important, though, while this is a version of a plan, is to be able to come forward and show multiple options for you,” Shivers said. “To have some discussion, to look at numbers and also see what that looks like for the next 1-5 years.”
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