Frisco School Board Discussing Delaying Opening Of New Schools
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FRISCO (CBSDFW.COM) – After voters shot down the bond money needed to move forward on four school openings, the Frisco School board meeting Thursday to will discuss options.
Memorial is Frisco's 10th high school. It is currently under construction and that won't stop, but the opening may end up being pushed back.
"We're not even sure if that school's going to be opening next year or not, "says Beau Jennings. His girls could soon go to Memorial, they are currently at Staley Middle School and their brother is at the jam-packed Wakeland High School.
The Jennings moved to Frisco 5 years ago because of the small class sizes at the schools.
"We don't have a concern as far as the ability of the teachers and the high ranking of the school district, our concern is of course the overcrowding," says Jennings.
Overcrowding is the issue being discussed at the school boards work session. The district hopes to fix the issue with two new elementary schools, a middle school and the new Memorial High School.
Last August, voters rejected a property tax hike and that has put the brakes on operating the new schools. The proposed tax increase would have supported day-to-day operations of the school district and allowed FISD to control rising class sizes, hire additional teachers and staff to meet the needs of growth.
Jennings voted for the proposed tax increase, but admits it wasn't an easy decision.
When the school board meets it will focus on money and whether to open schools next fall as planned or temporarily delaying some or all openings by one year.
For now, places like Wakeland are dealing with exploding growth, and parents are left wondering where their kids will be next year.
Tonight's meeting is a work session so there be a vote until Monday October 17th.
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