Grapevine-Colleyville parents vow to fight over proposed school closures
When parents in the Grapevine-Colleyville school district learned this week of recommendations to close two elementary schools, they joined forces, vowing to fight for their schools.
This week, the school district’s education Master Planning Committee comprised of district employees and residents to help shape the district’s future needs, recommended the closing of Bransford Elementary in Colleyville and Dove Elementary in Grapevine.
Ashleigh Johnson, whose three children attend Bransford, said she was beyond angry when she read an email to parents from Superintendent Brad Schnautz that was sent Thursday.
“We are livid,” she said.
Johnson described how her children are thriving at Bransford, which has a renowned fine arts program and also serves special education students.
“This has awakened a giant bear,” she said.
Trustees are meeting Monday night to hear the committee’s recommendations, but they are not scheduled to vote on the school closings until Dec. 10, board President Shannon Braun said in an interview.
Asked about parents’ concerns that school employees were finding out about the recommendations to close campuses before a final decision was made Braun said: “What would they want the district to do, not tell people what’s going on, or tell the employees what the recommendation is going to be so that they can be prepared. I think that would be the kindest thing,” she said.
Braun said trustees are not going to vote Monday night, but will hear the committee’s recommendations, which are “far more broader” than closing the two elementaries, she said.
For instance, Braun said another recommendation is to close and sell the Professional Development Building on Colleyville Boulevard, which houses Bridges, the district’s alternative high school.
“I don’t hear people upset about that,” she said.
The next steps are to send letters to residents, hold a community forum on Dec. 2 and vote on Dec. 10, Braun said.
In his letter to parents that Johnson provided to the Star-Telegram, Schnautz said he was sharing the committee’s final recommendation after 10 months of looking at finances, growth projections and other factors.
The letter said the recommendation was to consolidate Bransford with Colleyville Elementary and O.C. Taylor.
“We know that this news brings many feelings. The Bransford campus, the physical building, the community, and the memories created, is so much more than just a place of learning,” Schnautz wrote. “It is a home, and the idea of closing that home is truly heartbreaking. We share those feelings with you.”
Parents from Dove Elementary in Grapevine were also upset when they heard that the campus was on the recommendation list for closure.
Allan Thompson, who lives in north Grapevine, said he has a kindergartner enrolled at school, and that the teachers are outstanding and helped his daughter get used to the idea of going to school and learning.
Thompson said the PTA at Dove was to meet at 5 p.m. Friday after an employee meeting. He said the PTA will likely craft a resolution calling for the school to remain open.
Johnson said she will also keep fighting for her school.
“Closing schools doesn’t show a thriving district, it shows a crumbling district,” she said.
Parents also held two community forums. During a forum Thursday night in Grapevine, they discussed ideas for bringing in revenue and building community partnerships.
They will provide their recommendations to the district.
Grapevine Mayor William Tate also attended the meeting, and said he was there to listen to the people.
“The people always win. I am here to give people encouragement,” he said in an interview.