FORT WORTH, Texas — After a months-long feasibility study and community input, the Fort Worth ISD school board voted to approve combining the two schools to save money at their meeting on Tuesday. Right now, the district is dealing with declining enrollment, and school leaders see closing the McLean 6th Grade Center as a win for students.
Noe Rebollar's son is one of the students at McLean 6th Grade Center. Rebollar believes a decision to go through with it would have an impact on his son and classmates at the sixth-grade campus.
Rebollar said, "Coming out of fifth grade, going into this grade. That's a big change, right? How we have it over here, I like it like that."
Kellie Spencer serves as the Deputy Superintendent of Operations for Fort Worth ISD. In her role, she plays a significant part in overseeing the district's operations, supporting educational initiatives, and working on strategies to improve student achievement.
With a background in education, Spencer has held various roles within the school district, contributing to her understanding of the needs of students and educators. Her focus often includes promoting equity in education, enhancing instructional practices, and fostering a positive school environment, along with analyzing facilities use across the district.
"Combining this instance, the sixth grade with seven and eighth expand students' opportunities to campus-based programs and support services, including career and technology classes, increased academic opportunities," Spencer said.
During the Tuesday board meeting, Fort Worth ISD Trustees heard from Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker. She sent the board a letter saying the district must urgently adopt a governance model that drives a clear, actionable turnaround strategy with measurable outcomes. Parker received signatures from nearly 50 city, county, business, and community leaders in Fort Worth.
The two school buildings are one block from each other in southeast Fort Worth. Right now, McLean 6th Grade Center has 384 students enrolled at the school. McLean Middle School has an enrollment of 762 students. The district is spending thousands of dollars operating both buildings.
"Reducing the number of campuses does allow us to operate more efficiently," Spencer said.
Fort Worth ISD does have money from previous bonds to remodel or add on to McLean Middle School, something the district believes is a plus.
"We do have the advantage of having Bond 2021 funds to renovate the facility to impact those campus-based programs and support services that we provide to kids," said Spencer.
Fort Worth ISD closed Wedgwood Sixth Grade Campus last school year for efficiency. Now, with McLean 6th Grade Center closing, no more sixth grade campuses will operate in the district.
"I don't like. I don't want it to be combined," said Rebollar.