SOS: Save Our School PCMS

PFISD Optimization Draft Proposals are located HERE.

SOSPCMS Website/One-Stop Shop is HERE.

By now you've probably heard, that the district's optimization drafts include the possibility of closing Park Crest MS and rezoning its students to nearby schools in the 27-28 school year. The PTO is working as hard and fast as it can to create a unified voice moving foward. Some people have started petitions, some have started writing to Board trustees, but it will take all of us to move things forward in a systematic way in order to have the biggest impact. Doing so will create the loudest, most aligned, passionate voice possible on behalf of our beloved school. There are many plans in the works, and we will call a virtual PTO meeting focused solely on Draft 7 of the Optimization Plan as soon as Spring Break is over. In this way, we can best organize ourselves and ensure our message is unified, consistent, and as strong as it can be. In the meantime, you can access our official petition using this link, or the QR codes on the flyer attached. Posters will be made and systematically distributed following our meeting right after Spring Break!

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1i3_jp_NSNKAmce7eJBtlAfLwY2-rtDNNyDfyoxeU09A/edit?usp=sharing

SOS: Save Our School

Park Crest MS Chapter

In response to PFISD Draft Proposal 7 for District Optimization

Monday evening at 6pm in the Park Crest cafeteria, many parents, students, teachers, campus, and district administrators gathered to discuss the recently released proposals regarding declining enrollment, district deficits and funding, and the possibility of closing schools (among other solutions) to best meet future student needs.

Unfortunately, Park Crest MS, in draft proposal #7, is being considered for school closure in the 27-28 school year. The district puts forth several rationales, but their rationale is definitely not without its opposition! You can read more about the draft proposals for district optimization in the link at the top of this article.

Many parents spoke passionately about their experience with Park Crest--it's unique culture, nurturing environment, academic achievement, extracurricular programs, and much much more! As one of the PTO representatives at the meeting, I took notes and put together the attached summary.

Obviously, I'm personally against the closure, and my bias will likely be reflected in the notes. Still, I hope I captured for anyone who couldn't be there, the general problems, key data points, and our plans moving forward.

This is a working document. Nothing is finialized and it desperately needs YOUR input and help. I should also note, that it is a PTO document and should not be considered in any way an official statement from campus employees. Of course, campus employees may support our efforts, but we respect that in their professonal capacity, they may be limited in what they can say to students.

The bottom line is that this draft proposal came as a surprise, and everyone is working through things while trying to be positive and determine the best course of action. We can't wait for you to join our SOS PCMS (Save Our School-Park Crest Middle School) effots too!

Read our SOS document HERE (in a separate window), or keep reading below:

OUR GOAL: By May 2026, convince the PFISD Board of Trustees to vote against Draft Scenario 7 (closing and re-zoning Park Crest Middle School) of the district’s optimization scenarios, as it aligns with 3 out of 4 of the district’s said priorities: Advancing Student Achievement, Student Persistence, Investing in People, and does not effectively take into account equity, social-emotional learning, transportation, diversity, and the potential loss of students in reaction to closure. This conviction will be achieved through data, qualitative stories and interviews, petition, and stakeholder presence and voice.

SUMMARY OF PROBLEM: Due to the way schools are funded in the state of Texas, as well as decreasing enrollment in public schools across Texas, Pflugerville ISD faces an approximate $18M deficit by 2026-27. This has led to the necessity of an optimization plan to reduce spending and ensure buildings are at full capacity in order to reduce costs.

For More Information, the following 3 articles give information about 1. The way Texas schools are funded 2. Why Texas school funding does not meet students’ current needs and why districts are filing deficit budgets 3. School vouchers and how it affects funding for public school students.

1. The way Texas school are funded.

2. Why districts are filing deficit budgets in Texas.

3. Texas School Voucher Explanation

DATA & EXPLANATION:

Building Capacity: PfISD projects that Park Crest enrollment will drop to 58% building capacity over the next 10 years. In addition Kelly Lane MS and Pflugerville MS will also drop in enrollment while Bohl’s MS is likely to be over capacity. At minimum, this will require some degree of rezoning to balance student populations.

Rezoning to a “Higher” Performing School:

*For purposes of this explanation “higher” and “lower” performing will be in quotations so that the reader understands it is in reference to STAAR test scores and therefore not a holistic indicator of school quality.

The district says that “Park Crest MS students moving to Kelly Lane MS would expand access to the district’s highest-performing MS campus.” The facts are Kelly Lane, according to the data the district presents, is only slightly “higher” performing while having a drastically different student population. Kelly Lane is approximately 20% economically disadvantaged while Park Crest is nearly 60%. In addition, only some Park Crest students would have access to this campus while the remaining students would be sent to 2 “lower” performing schools.

As the data below shows, Park Crest is the 2nd “highest” achieving school, and it’s STAAR growth is exceptional, speaking to the quality of care and instruction within its building.

Lastly, the district explains that older buildings in PFISD cost more money to maintain. It is important to note that, in the list below, Park Crest is a 30 year old building, but is not the oldest MS building.

PARENT QUESTIONS & CONCERNS:

Concerns

• Park Crest MS comes in 2nd according to the data presented and the priorities set forth by the optimization committee. It only meets the finance and operations priority, and several other schools meet that criterion in addition to other criteria.

• This plan takes away a diverse, centrally located school that is neither the “lowest” achieving nor the oldest building in the district. It likely would increase the economic divide between PFISD in east Pflugerville v. west Pflugerville.

• There are significant concerns about equity and the way Park Crest students and families will be supported in new schools, specifically 1 school without significant economically disadvantaged experience and another 2 schools that are not performing as well as Park Crest at this time.

• Park Crest has one of the strongest, most established, and unique school cultures in PfISD, already making it a school of choice for families both in and out of district as well as teachers looking for a close-knit faculty. Students are heavily involved in extra-curriculars, participate in a unique Den system geared towards social-emotional learning and college and career readiness, and report “feeling safe” in the school even if they come from a marginalized community.

• Park Crest is a community school. Many students walk and ride bikes enabling them to participate in before and after school activities. Families are supported through an active parent liaison, food pantry, and PTO. How would this continue?

• Closing a school purely on the presented data and without regard to its culture, community, social-emotional and psychological safety, and diversity sends the wrong message about the priorities of PflugervilleISD for its students. There is deep concern that the district will lose even more students as a result of this closing as opposed to a different scenario.

• Many districts overcome enrollment shortages by implementing magnet or academy programs in addition to a school's regular functions, but this isn't listed as a draft option for Park Crest, or any other MS.

• Lastly, while some students might gain access to Kelly Lane MS, others will likely be sent to “lower” performing schools, which is unacceptable.

Questions

• What stakeholder voices were included on the optimization committee?

• When and how were committee meetings communicated to district employees and to the public?

• What is the cost of transportation and increased bussing should Park Crest MS close?

• How will economically disadvantaged students, or students with transportation needs, access extra curriculars?

• Which students will attend “lower” performing schools?

• How did the committee determine Park Crest should be included in the draft scenario, when it only meets 1 of the 4 stated criteria?

• Will students who are re-zoned also face this process in 2 years, when High School closings may be discussed?

• What PR measures has the district taken to proactively recruit students to schools of choice within its district, like Park Crest MS?

• What PR measures has the district taken to promote its schools’ successes beyond STAAR test scores?

• What programming has worked in other middle schools in surrounding districts to attract additional enrollment? STEM? IB?

• What action can be taken by parents, students, and the district to influence legislative decisions that are hurting our public schools?

• What savings, if any, occurs if rezoning students occurs without closing a middle school?

• What is the district thinking in regards to rezoning criteria? Will geography, or diversity be prioritized?

ACTION TO BE TAKEN:

• Plans for Parent and Student Virtual Meeting: Date & Time TBD

• Plans for a petition against closing Park Crest MS

• Additional Data to be Gathered: Google form will be created to capture your stories, examples, and reasons about why Park Crest should remain open, as well as to gather alternative suggestions to help the district reduce its deficit

• Open Records Request will be sent to determine how the optimization advisory group was formed, whether or not parent and student voices were included in the draft recommendation process, and what other options and less drastic measures were explored.

• Plan for Presence at School Board Meetings against Optimization Scenario #7, and in favor of Park Crest MS remaining open.