Facilities Planning For Future Success
In Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD, we are determined to ensure the future success of our students and school district. We take this responsibility seriously and believe it is important to plan for the learners of tomorrow.
Like several districts throughout the region and state, CFBISD is facing financial, infrastructure and enrollment challenges. Long-term planning is key to tackling these issues, which is why the district is undergoing a facilities future planning process for potential school consolidation.
Questions or concerns can be shared by calling Ask CFB at 972-968-6550 or email AskCFB@cfbisd.edu.
The information from the demographic and utilization study and the four criteria developed by the Facility Planning Advisory group were used to carefully and diligently evaluate every CFBISD campus. The results indicated that the following schools are recommended for consolidation: Central Elementary, Furneaux Elementary, McCoy Elementary, and Long Middle School.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Family
- If the targeted percentage of classroom utilization is 75-90% throughout the district, what is the average student-teacher ratio in a classroom with those percentages?
- Will programs for bilingual or students receiving special education services remain the same?
- How much funding will the district save with consolidation?
- When will student enrollment / registration begin?
- Will there be a transfer window?
- Will there be enrollment caps?
- Will students be grandfathered?
- When will families impacted by attendance zone adjustments be notified of the changes?
- If my attendance zone is adjusted and I will attend a new school, when will I receive communication from the new campus?
- Where can I get additional information about the district’s transfer policy?
- Will families impacted by consolidation receive bus transportation?
If the targeted percentage of classroom utilization is 75-90% throughout the district, what is the average student-teacher ratio in a classroom with those percentages?
The average student-teacher ratio can vary but should be in alignment with the Texas Education Code §25.112 of 22:1 in PK-4th grade.
Will programs for bilingual or students receiving special education services remain the same?
Bilingual programs will remain the same with the exception of the locations. Bilingual sections at the consolidated campuses will transition to the campuses welcoming students who attended consolidated schools.
Families of students receiving special education services who are impacted by school consolidations and/or new attendance zones will receive new campus information by March 14. The Special Services Department will be available to provide support to any families who have questions or need assistance.
How much funding will the district save with consolidation?
When will student enrollment / registration begin?
Will there be a transfer window?
Will there be enrollment caps?
Will students be grandfathered?
When will families impacted by attendance zone adjustments be notified of the changes?
If my attendance zone is adjusted and I will attend a new school, when will I receive communication from the new campus?
Where can I get additional information about the district’s transfer policy?
Please refer to www.cfbisd.edu/students/enrollment/transfers for transfer information.
Will families impacted by consolidation receive bus transportation?
One of the benefits of consolidating and rezoning schools is that CFB would be able to take advantage of the close proximity of most campuses. Many students who currently walk or bike to school could continue doing so. Some would be rezoned to a school farther away than their current campus, but some would also be rezoned to campuses closer to their homes. Route times could also be decreased. Based on state guidelines, bus transportation is offered to families that reside 2-or-more miles away from their attendance area school. Transportation routes can also be added if a route is less than two miles but determined to be hazardous—factors such as construction or other barriers that prohibit safely walking or biking come into consideration.
Bus route information is shared with all families at a campus in advance of the school year as part of back to school information, and is also available centrally through the CFBISD Transportation website. As part of back to school planning each year, CFB’s transportation department evaluates enrollment within each attendance area and determines where bus routes will be.
Staff
- Am I guaranteed a job?
- Will my job responsibilities or title change?
- Who decides the staff assignment?
- When will I know my new location?
- Will seniority be used to determine placement?
- What if I don’t want to work at that location?
- If someone resigns from another campus during the summer, can I transfer to a different school?
- If my current principal is moved to another campus, can I follow them?
- Can I be moved to a department instead of a campus?
- Will my child be allowed to attend that school with me?
- If I am a coach or receive a stipend, will I receive it at my new location?
- If I am required to change subjects, grade levels, or even levels of school (ES to MS, MS to HS, etc.), will I be required to obtain another certification?
- Could teacher’s aides and/or paras be required to change school levels?
- Will the district help me move my belongings?
- When can I set up the classroom at my new location?
- Can I choose the school where I prefer to work?
- What happens if I choose not to transfer to the new campus due to culture, location from home, etc.?
- What is the transfer process?
- Will you tell me which school I am going to in time so that I can decide if I want to go or leave the district? (If a teacher lives in McKinney and works at a northern CFB campus, they may not want to travel to Irving.)
- What support will be provided during the transition period?
- Will there be training or orientation to understand the new campus procedures and culture?
- When will staff meet their new principal, new team, etc?
- If I am a receiving principal, when/how will we begin integrating new students, parents, and staff?
- What will happen to our school building?
- What will happen to our social media accounts and website?
- Will our school name be memorialized in some way?
- Will there be a closing ceremony or dedication?
Am I guaranteed a job?
Is there a chance I won’t have one? (Principals, teachers, librarians, clerks, secretaries, counselors, etc.)
See the above area “Assignment process by position”. The district is committed to ensuring that all staff members have positions. While specific assignments may change due to rezoning/consolidation or district needs, our goal is to provide every employee with a role that aligns with their certification and expertise.
Will my job responsibilities or title change?
Who decides the staff assignment?
Staff members will have the opportunity to complete an internal survey indicating their top three preferred positions and campuses. The district will consider these preferences, alongside certification requirements, rezoning needs/consolidation, and district priorities, to make assignment decisions.
When will I know my new location?
Will seniority be used to determine placement?
What if I don’t want to work at that location?
Assignments are determined based on district needs and staff input. While we strive to accommodate individual preferences, all staff members will be informed of their placements prior to the end of the school year. In accordance with the Texas Education Code, employees will have the opportunity to resign without penalty within the specified timeline.
If someone resigns from another campus during the summer, can I transfer to a different school?
If my current principal is moved to another campus, can I follow them?
Can I be moved to a department instead of a campus?
Will my child be allowed to attend that school with me?
If I am a coach or receive a stipend, will I receive it at my new location?
If I am required to change subjects, grade levels, or even levels of school (ES to MS, MS to HS, etc.), will I be required to obtain another certification?
Could teacher’s aides and/or paras be required to change school levels?
Will the district help me move my belongings?
When can I set up the classroom at my new location?
Can I choose the school where I prefer to work?
What happens if I choose not to transfer to the new campus due to culture, location from home, etc.?
What is the transfer process?
Will you tell me which school I am going to in time so that I can decide if I want to go or leave the district? (If a teacher lives in McKinney and works at a northern CFB campus, they may not want to travel to Irving.)
What support will be provided during the transition period?
Will there be training or orientation to understand the new campus procedures and culture?
When will staff meet their new principal, new team, etc?
If I am a receiving principal, when/how will we begin integrating new students, parents, and staff?
What will happen to our school building?
What will happen to our social media accounts and website?
Will our school name be memorialized in some way?
Will there be a closing ceremony or dedication?
Facilities Planning Committee
- Is there a committee meeting to plan for potential school consolidation?
- Why would CFBISD consider consolidating schools?
- How does consolidation save money?
- What would be the plans for the empty buildings?
- If we consolidate, what will our financial situation look like in the future?
- What would be the timeline of this process?
Is there a committee meeting to plan for potential school consolidation?
A committee named the Facility Planning Advisory Group was formed in October 2024 consisting of community members, staff members, business partners, and students. An invitation was sent to 86 people who were nominated by each campus, with 64 people attending the first meeting.
The purpose of the committee was to define the criteria for CFB to make decisions and recommendations to the board with the goal of positioning CFB among the most competitive districts via efficient use of District funds and facilities. Three meetings were held and the committee reached a consensus on the criteria on Dec. 4, 2024.
Why would CFBISD consider consolidating schools?
As you may know, many school districts across the state and nation are facing financial constraints, aging infrastructure and declining enrollment. Learn more by watching this video.
1. FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS
- Funding challenges: Schools rely heavily on local property taxes and state funding. When enrollment drops, funding decreases, making it harder to maintain operational costs for multiple campuses.
- Inflation and budget cuts: Rising costs for salaries, utilities, and materials, combined with reduced state or federal funding, strain district budgets.
2. AGING INFRASTRUCTURE
- Maintenance costs: Older campuses often require expensive repairs and upgrades to meet modern safety and technology standards.
- Efficiency needs: Consolidating into fewer, more efficient facilities can reduce overhead and better allocate resources to improve educational quality.
3. DECLINING ENROLLMENT
- Population shifts: Families moving to urban areas, suburban sprawl, or cities with lower living costs can lead to declining enrollment.
- Decreased birth rates: Lower birth rates result in fewer children entering schools, impacting long-term enrollment numbers.
How does consolidation save money?
Some primary factors behind school consolidation include:
- Cutting costs: Streamlining operations and leveraging economies of scale can help districts save money.
- Optimizing resources: Districts can utilize resources more effectively by getting the most out of their facilities and staff while improving student and family experiences.
- Enhancing educational outcomes: Boosting the learning experience by improving facilities and sharing resources is another consolidation focus.
- Upgrading Infrastructure: Consolidation can allow districts to modernize and maintain facilities more effectively.
What would be the plans for the empty buildings?
If campuses are closed, the future use of the empty buildings will be carefully evaluated to align with the district's strategic goals and community needs. Several options may be considered, including:
- Repurposing for district needs
- Leasing or renting
- Partnership opportunities
- Selling the property
- Temporary usage
Any decision will prioritize fiscal responsibility, community benefit, and alignment with the district’s mission and vision.
If we consolidate, what will our financial situation look like in the future?
What would be the timeline of this process?
- October-December - Facility Planning Advisory Group meetings
- December-January - Comprehensive report development
- Week of Feb. 6 - Notify principals at campuses identified for consolidation
- Feb. 6 - Board presentation for recommended consolidation (Information only - no vote)
- Week of Feb. 10 - Campus information sessions for parents and families
- Week of Feb. 17 - Campus information sessions for parents and families
- March 6 - Board presentation for recommended consolidation (Vote)
- March-April - Student registration/enrollment
The information on this page is a proposed plan that has not been approved. The Board of Trustees will vote on this proposal on March 6, 2025.