The Plano ISD board voted unanimously to close four campuses on June 10, 2024. Foreman Elementary, Armstrong Middle, Davis Elementary and Carpenter Middle will permanently close at the end of the 2025 school year.
Specialized programs at the closing schools, such as the elementary regional day school program for the Deaf (RDSPD) at Davis, are being relocated. Plano ISD also said that no staff members will lose their jobs due to the closures. Students at the schools will be rezoned and transportation routes will need to be redrawn.
During the public comment section, with a provided sign language interpreter, many Davis Elementary parents and staff members urged the board to keep the campuses operating.
Katie Strong, Plano ISD staff member and parent, emphasized the importance of keeping Davis open, as it functions for both mixed-hearing, deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) children. “Davis is the most specialized school I have ever encountered,” Strong said.
Previously, many parents and staff members spoke about the potential damages that would occur by closing Davis. Several parents shared their concerns about how Plano ISD handled the situation.
Going forward, Plano ISD stated during Monday’s meeting that it will continue to inform the community and staff members about the changes and the next steps. “The voice of all community stakeholders is critical to the district’s success and the district is always working to provide inclusivity and engagement,” Plano ISD previosuly said.
According to the board, the closures will save Plano ISD an estimated $5.2 million annually. Several factors are contributing to this issue, primarily the cost of living in Plano. According to the district, the average home price in Plano is $584,000. Additionally, declining birth rates in Plano have resulted in smaller kindergarten classes compared to graduating classes. Carpenter, for example, had a capacity for nearly 1,400 students, but only 500 enrolled.
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