KISD Schools Closing Next Year After Decades of Teaching

Basio badr

ago 3 hours

The Killeen Independent School District (KISD) is making significant changes by closing three schools, impacting the community that has relied on these institutions for years. During a board meeting on October 28, KISD’s trustees approved the closures as part of a broader initiative named District Optimization, aimed at addressing declining enrollment and reduced federal funding.

KISD Schools Closing Next Year

The following schools will cease operations at the end of the 2025-26 academic year:

Peebles Elementary School, established in 1960
Palo Alto Middle School, opened in 1995
Eastern Hills Middle School, founded in 1987

Peebles Elementary School Details

Peebles Elementary School, currently led by Principal Shakira Bodon, has an enrollment of 457 students for the 2024-25 school year. Over the years, it has improved its state accountability scores significantly:

2022-23: 59 (F)
2023-24: 68 (C)
2024-25: 81 (B)

Students from Peebles will be redistributed to several nearby schools, including Brookhaven and Killeen Elementary.

Palo Alto and Eastern Hills Middle Schools

Palo Alto Middle School, with 781 enrolled students, has not fared well academically, with the following accountability scores:

2022-23: 61 (D)
2023-24: 59 (F)
2024-25: 59 (F)

Eastern Hills Middle School, led by Principal Julie Sims, has similarly struggled:

2022-23: 63 (D)
2023-24: 57 (F)
2024-25: 58 (F)

This closure will save KISD approximately $19 million over the next five years. The board’s decision reflects pressing issues faced by the district, particularly its low-performing schools.

Community Support and Feedback

Before the vote, a survey conducted from August 26 to October 3 gathered responses from nearly 1,300 community members. Results indicated that over 60% favored closing Peebles and Hay Branch. Despite this, the board decided to temporarily delay Hay Branch’s closure after a proposal from Trustee Oliver Mintz, who emphasized the potential negative economic impact on the community.

Challenges from the Texas Education Agency

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has mandated KISD to formulate a turnaround plan by November 14 for its underachieving middle schools, specifically naming Palo Alto, Eastern Hills, and Manor Middle School, which has received failing grades for three consecutive years.

KISD’s interim superintendent, King Davis, highlighted that if these campuses continue a downward trajectory for five consecutive years, state intervention could lead to diminished local control.

Future Plans and Educational Models

KISD is exploring various models to improve its schools, including the ACE (Accelerating Campus Excellence) and SB 1882 partnership models. These would incentivize high-performing teachers to work at struggling schools.

Looking ahead, KISD aims to utilize the 1882 model at Manor Middle School while the faculty works to improve educational outcomes. The approach includes the possibility of partnering with a charter school to optimize the educational experience for students in struggling areas.

The Killeen Independent School District’s decision to close these schools reflects a larger effort to enhance efficiency, alleviate financial strains, and ensure quality education for its students amid shifting demographics and funding challenges.