Families in Pflugerville ISD said they are still searching for answers after trustees voted last week to close four elementary schools beginning in the 2027-202
Families in Pflugerville ISD said they are still searching for answers after trustees voted last week to close four elementary schools beginning in the 2027-2028 school year.
District leaders say the closures at Dessau, Parmer Lane, Pflugerville, and Windermere elementary schools are part of efforts to address ongoing budget challenges. Superintendent Dr. Quintin Shepherd told CBS Austin the district has been discussing possible changes for months as it works through a $20 million deficit.
“It’s just kind of heartbreaking with everything else that’s going on in public schools,” said Chris Brown, a parent at Windermere Elementary School. “It was very shocking because my oldest daughter went here all the way through 5th grade, and then my youngest daughter is in 3rd grade, and I just wanted to make sure that she would get all the way through the 5th grade at this school,” Brown said.
“Kind of sad all of the teachers I ever had were so nice to me and very sweet,” said Lucy, a third grader at Windermere Elementary School. “I wouldn’t be able to see my friends because I don’t have their numbers yet. ” CBS Austin sat down with Shepherd to ask about some of the concerns families have raised since the vote, including complaints from some parents who said they felt caught off guard by the final decision.
When asked whether communication with families could have been handled differently, Shepherd pointed to months of meetings and public discussions leading up to the vote.
“I think the school district reached out and communicated early on in September, and every month we kept a conversation going either through work sessions or board meetings and communications with our communities,” Shepherd said. Some parents also told CBS Austin they still have concerns about whether district leaders relied on accurate data and provided enough transparency throughout the process. Others said they want more details about how much money the district expects to save from the closures.
When asked how confident the district is in those numbers and whether families will see a more detailed financial breakdown, Shepherd said more information will be shared as the district works through the next phase of the process.
“Yeah, when it comes to what the next steps are, we have a whole series of action steps that now need to take place, so things like working out the final transportation scenarios and working out enrollment boundary changes that need to take place, and of course, public accounting for what the dollars saved and realized within the district,” Shepherd said. Shepherd also said Pflugerville ISD is not alone, arguing districts across Texas are facing similar financial challenges because of what he described as a state funding system that no longer works for public schools.
“I think what comes next for all of us is to engage the legislature in a meaningful way about the crisis that they’re creating within the school districts and these impossible decisions that no community wants to find themselves in,” Shepherd said. Brown said he understands the district is facing difficult circumstances, but still believes families deserve clearer communication.
“They’re handling it okay, but I think they could have done a little bit better at letting everybody know what was going on,” Brown said. The school closures will not take effect until the 2027-2028 school year. Shepherd said families can expect more updates in the months ahead.
Austin police released new details Monday, including the mugshot of the 17-year-old suspect connected to this weekend’s string of shootings, stolen vehicles andThe owner of Central Texas Gun Works, Michael Cargill, admitted the gun used in the spree of 12 shootings in Austin over the weekend was stolen by a teenager. HFour Austin barbecue restaurants earned spots on Yelp's newly released list of the top 100 BBQ restaurants in the United States, with Franklin Barbecue landingTwo suspects are in custody and a third remains at large Sunday afternoon following at least 10 shootings across South Austin that left four people injured.
A man died in a single-vehicle crash in North Austin early Monday morning, according to police. Around 4:46 a.m., officers responded to the 9000 block of East Dr
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