Fort Worth ISD board to vote on staff reductions, new campus instructional model
Fort Worth school district’s new state-appointed Board of Managers will hold a special board meeting Tuesday to vote on changes related to campus closures and a new instructional model that will impact staffing, including a reduction in positions within the district.
The district is recommending Tuesday to change campus organization to address decreases in student enrollment, improve efficiency and redirect resources to campuses that need additional support, structure and attention, according to the meeting agenda. The Elevate Network is a new instructional model the district will follow to “ensure every student has access to strong instruction and support they need to succeed.”
The new model is being implemented in tandem with campus closures that were already approved for this summer. Those schools include: Milton Kirkpatrick Elementary School, Charles E. Nash Elementary School, Riverside Applied Learning Center, Edward J. Briscoe Elementary School, Western Hills Primary and De Zavala Elementary School.
The Elevate Network will aim to improve teaching skills, address underwhelming academic performance, strengthen instruction and increase resources to support students. Schools in the network will also have a longer school year that stretches further into the summer, student-teachers training to become full-time educators, support staff for teachers during lessons and group instruction and higher compensation.
Current staff impacted by the reduction in force will be notified Tuesday evening.
Schools identified by the Board of Managers as part of the Elevate model include:
- Clifford Davis Elementary
- Diamond Hill Elementary
- East Handley Elementary
- George Clarke Elementary
- Harlean Beal Elementary
- Hazel Harvey Peace Elementary
- Maudrie Walton Elementary
- Monnig Middle
- Morningside Middle
- Rufino Mendoza Sr. Elementary
- T.A. Sims Elementary
- Van Zandt-Guinn Elementary
- W.J. Turner Elementary
- W.M. Green Elementary
- Wedgmood Middle
- Westcreek Elemetary
- Eastern Hill-West Handley Elementary
- Western Hills Elementary
- William James Middle
Clifford Davis Elementary, Morningside Middle, Wedgwood Middle, Eastern Hills-West Handley Elementary, Western Hills Elementary and William James Middle are also campuses that have adopted the Accelerating Campus Excellence, or ACE, state turnaround model. This model has provided struggling schools with additional funding for a lengthened school year, high-quality instructional materials and a strategic teacher compensation plan.
Teachers at the 13 Elevate, non-ACE schools will receive notice this week with information about whether they will be retained. Those staff members include critical need teachers, core teachers and elective teachers. New principals for the 13 schools will also be selected by the district by May 1.
The changes come three weeks after a new superintendent and Board of Managers were appointed by the Texas Education Agency, marking the start of a state takeover.
Fort Worth ISD officials said in a statement on Monday that the reduction in force is tied to the already-approved school closures, which were decided before the new administration was appointed to the district.
“The reduction in force due to program change is directly tied to school closures that were approved under the district’s existing master facility plan. We have not expanded or altered that plan; we are implementing decisions that were already in place before the current administration arrived,” district officials said.
Officials also said the district’s top priority is to retain great teachers and noted that internal hiring fairs are already being held to help affected staff secure new positions.
“While we understand there is heightened interest this year, the timing of contract renewals is standard and appears as a regular item on the board agenda each spring,” officials added, noting another agenda item related to ending contracts for certain probationary contract employees.
Probationary contracts are one-year contracts that are usually given to employees who are in their first year with a district. These contracts can be renewed for two more years and can be terminated by the employer at the end of the period for any reason. Employers are also not required to give a reason for termination, according to the Texas chapter of the American Federation of Teachers.
Farrington Field sale updates, Cesar Chavez holiday changes
The district is also moving forward with plans to sell and develop the land surrounding Farrington Field, a 18,000-seat sports stadium used by a number of high schools in the district. The district received two purchase proposals for the stadium on Feb. 20 and sent questions to both interested parties on March 10. Interviews with both candidates were held on March 27, according to the district.
The selected proposal will be responsible for developing all or a portion of the property as a mixed-use sports development in order for it to receive tax increment funds to pay for the cost of possible improvements. There is no action item being considered on Tuesday related to the field, but the board will discuss the property during closed session.
Additionally, the board will consider removing Cesar Chavez Day, March 31, from 2026-2027 district calendars in light of allegations that the civil rights icon sexually abused girls. The board will also vote on updating a policy that outlines processes for naming schools and facilities; it remains to be seen whether the district will rename Cesar Chavez Elementary in the Diamond Hill neighborhood of Fort Worth.
This story was originally published April 13, 2026 at 12:54 PM.
