PFLUGERVILLE, Texas — Some Pflugerville ISD parents are concerned about school closures that the district is considering.
A viewer reached out to KVUE to say that parents are "outraged" after they reportedly learned that the district is considering closing three schools, including Pflugerville Elementary School, the district's oldest elementary school.
"These closures are being considered while several subdivisions and apartment complexes are being built in a close radius of Pflugerville Elementary," the viewer wrote. "That means more residents and less schools. Many families moved to the area for the school."
The viewer went on to say that if Pflugerville Elementary does close, that will force students to go to other schools, causing overcrowding and putting a burden on families.
The viewer said that the board plans to discuss the closures as part of its Thursday meeting agenda, under the section, "Discussion Regarding 2023-24 Proposed Attendance Boundaries Adjustments."
KVUE reached out to Pflugerville ISD to learn more about whether school closures will be discussed at Thursday's board meeting. The district sent the following response:
"Tonight [Thursday] at the Board of Trustees meeting, staff will present multiple attendance boundary drafts for the 2023-24 academic year, some of which include possible school closures. A series of boundary meetings for community feedback will follow this Board presentation. The Board of Trustees will not take action on the proposals tonight."
Schools being considered for closure are Parmer Lane, River Oaks, Dessau, Spring Hill, Brook Hollow and Pflugerville elementary schools.
In a meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 11, district leaders informed families about potential options.
Pflugerville ISD officials say they're seeing declining enrollment in the southwestern part of the district but growth in the northeast. They say if nothing is done, schools in the northeast will exceed capacity and schools in the southwest will continue to operate well below capacity.
Parents saw a district presentation about the options for new attendance zones. They say the district isn't explaining the differences in enrollment, and parents like Frannie Sanchez and teacher Stephanie Castillo say if schools are shut down, there will be long-term problems.
"These jarring transitions have become a pattern with Pflugerville ISD. I've been here to advocate for River Oaks but I also believe our school is a community," Sanchez said.
Pflugerville ISD officials say by making these changes, schools students would be moved to will operate efficiently and the plans show there wouldn't be overcrowding for at least five years, which some parents say isn't true.
A Facebook page for the Pflugerville Elementary School PTO made a post Wednesday evening, calling for the community to share their thoughts at the board meeting.
At the meeting, district leaders said the main issue is that enrollment is declining and the school district isn't getting enough funding from the state to keep some schools open. School members didn't take any action at the meeting.