IRVING, Texas — Irving ISD has seen some big changes this school year, including the state-wide phenomenon of campus closures.
As part of a consolidation effort to rebalance enrollment and prevent budget shortfalls, Britain Elementary and Elliott Elementary were closed for the 2024–2025 school year.
This has forced students to start somewhere new and parents to rearrange their day accordingly.
Irving is not alone. Plano ISD voted to close four buildings next fall, and Richardson ISD took a similar step this year by shutting down four schools.
Irving ISD is also experiencing some necessary readjustment, including the way students are picked up and dropped off at school.
This week, Irving ISD introduced a new traffic flow outside Otis Brown Elementary School. During morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up, two-way traffic turns into one-way traffic.
Irving ISD said the new traffic route did not have to do with campus closures, and Irving Police did not speak on the effects of campus closings. However, parents we spoke with said they noticed the increase in cars and students.
A few days in with the new traffic rules, parents shared mixed feelings.
Ely Velez has one student at Otis Brown. She said she’s already noticed improvement since the new flow of traffic, especially after a rough first day back to school in the carpool lane.
"It was bad. People getting mad at each other, almost hitting each other with the cars,” Velez said.
Velez said she gets in line to pick up her child as early as 2:30 p.m. despite the 3:15 p.m. school release time. She said it's worth the wait if it keeps everyone safer.
A few cars down in line, Debbie Villanueva said the traffic change was "dramatic" and she preferred the old way of pickup when the street was two-way traffic. She said because of the increase in carpool lane vehicles, she instead opts to park by a curb and pick up her granddaughter on foot.
“There’s so much commotion with the traffic. So I kind of have to be really careful when I’m walking her across," Villanueva said.
In a statement to WFAA, Irving ISD said:
"Irving ISD is grateful for our partnership with the Irving Police Department (IPD) to ensure a safe environment for our students - not only while in our schools but also as they arrive and leave for the school day. The narrow streets surrounding Brown Elementary School have historically posed a traffic flow issue in the neighborhood surrounding the school at morning dropoff and afternoon dismissal times. Following a traffic study last year, IPD and Irving ISD identified the need to install signage to ease traffic issues for parents and the school community. The installation of signage was not due to the closure of campuses. Directional signage has been in place for many years at other elementary campuses throughout the district, and it is likely directional signage will be posted at additional campuses as the need is identified. We appreciate the understanding and support of our Irving ISD community as we do all that we can to ensure the safety of all stakeholders."
Irving Police Sergeant Michael Gibbs said he recently took it upon himself to understand the traffic issues outside Otis Brown Elementary School. He told WFAA he witnessed students darting between cars and drivers improperly driving through the carpool lane.
"I don't want to see a child get hurt when his day should be the fun of getting to go to school," Sgt. Gibbs said.
Sgt. Gibbs works with schools and said this new traffic pattern was made with children's safety in mind. He said he understands change is hard, and not everyone will be happy with it, but he and his team are working to do what helps "the most people through this."