At the Dec. 17 special meeting, Trustees took decisive action on long-range planning, voting to consolidate Faubion Elementary beginning in the 2026–27 school year. The decision followed months of analysis connecting enrollment trends, staffing guidelines and the district’s ongoing budget deficit.

Meeting Agenda
Meeting Recording

🌐 A message from Acting Superintendent Chris Clark

Faubion Elementary consolidation approved

Trustees voted to consolidate Faubion Elementary, making the current 2025–26 school year its final year. The vote also directs the administration to implement a comprehensive transition plan.

Next steps will include:

  • Attendance zoning adjustments, with details to be shared early in the spring semester to provide families clarity and planning time.

    Based on the original paths presented on May 29 at the beginning of this process, Faubion was projected to be consolidated with Westside Elementary. Additional community feedback will be gathered on an attendance rezoning scenario(s) before going to the Board for approval.
  • Campus and district transition teams to support students, families and staff through the transition.
  • Intentional planning to preserve Faubion’s legacy while welcoming students into their new school community.
  • Design programming work to further explore the expansion of the New Hope High School program, which was identified as an opportunity associated with the Faubion consolidation. This spring, the district will engage in defining how the Faubion campus could support an expanded New Hope program in a way that is intentional, student-centered, and aligned with district goals. Any repurposing is funded by the 2023 Bond.

“Faubion Elementary was one of the first schools I visited when I became a Board member,” Board President Anna Smith said. “The school community has a wonderful campus leader and amazing staff. They are doing amazing things in offering students exceptional experiences.

“But, I can’t imagine what it’s like to have so much uncertainty with enrollment hanging over their heads,” she added. “I have to look at the big picture of our district with teaching and learning as a North star. I want exceptional experiences for each and every student. With the planned expansion of New Hope High School at this location, this specialty school could give those students a brighter future.”

As outlined in the Dec. 11 presentation, the district’s consolidation support plan includes counseling services for students, transition teams for staff, community engagement, staffing support and operational planning to help ensure continuity and stability as the Faubion community moves forward.

Steiner Ranch Elementary remains open for 2026–27

Trustees also clarified that Steiner Ranch Elementary along with other low-enrolled campuses in the southern portion of the district will remain open for the 2026–27 school year. In making that determination, the Board emphasized the importance of allowing the mitigation strategies tied to the newly approved enrollment thresholds time to take effect before considering further action.

Those strategies include efforts to increase or stabilize enrollment and support campuses over time, such as through allowing out-of-district transfers opportunities in LISD for the 2026-27 school year, while also allowing additional time to explore innovative facility uses should consolidation be needed in the future.

The Board emphasized that:

  • Steiner Ranch Elementary will continue operating in 2026–27
  • Enrollment trends and mitigation strategies will be closely monitored throughout the year
  • Any future consideration would be based on updated enrollment data and long-range planning needs for 2027–28 and beyond

This approach reflects the Board’s intent to use the thresholds as a tool for intervention and stabilization, not as an automatic trigger for school closure while giving campuses time for those strategies to play out.

Direction set for future long-range planning work

In a separate motion, Trustees approved a directive to administration in alignment with the long-range planning resolution adopted Sept. 30 to develop the following:

  • A districtwide secondary alignment plan that explores expanded grade-span models that integrate elementary and middle grades, such as a K-8 model.
  • Consolidation scenarios, if warranted by enrollment thresholds, for the 2027–28 school year within the Vandegrift High School feeder pattern that include clear plans for facility use.

Visit the district’s Begin website for an enrollment interest form and an exciting new showcase of our schools coming soon.

District leaders will continue working closely with affected campuses and communities, sharing updates as zoning, the impact of staffing guidelines and support structures are developed. The Board reaffirmed that long-range planning decisions will remain guided by transparency, community engagement and a focus on doing what is best for students across the district.

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