Despite residents’ objections, Grapevine-Colleyville ISD board members voted to close two elementary schools.
The board voted 5-2 on December 10 to close Bransford and Dove Elementary schools, citing funding shortfalls and declining enrollment.
“This is painful,” said Board President Shannon Braun in the meeting. “The truth is that there is no viable alternative.”
Officials will merge Bransford with Colleyville and O.C. Taylor Elementary schools, and merge Dove with Cannon and Silver Lake Elementary schools. They will also rezone part of Colleyville with Glenhope Elementary and part of O.C. Taylor with Heritage Elementary.
The closures come as the district sees a “very limited” funding increase from the state legislature, and a 1,500-student decline in enrollment since 2019, according to the board agenda.
“The District is facing a significant fiscal challenge,” the agenda reads.
Braun said the board members were elected to “make hard choices” and protect the district’s long-term health.
“When districts avoid hard decisions about fiscal discipline, the consequences – they eventually catch up,” she said. “Every step that we’ve taken has been about stabilizing this district and positioning it for the future.”
Numerous families objected to the closures, sharing memories and close connections to Bransford and Dove Elementary schools.
Bransford parent Maggie Taylor questioned why officials would consider closing the school, which she said has “the district’s only innovative, cost-effective arts integration program.”
“I’m confused why the board believes closing campuses will change the district’s financial state,” she said. “How many more students are about to leave? How much more of a deficit will the closures cost?”
Jacqueline Weilmuenster, a former teacher in the district, objected to closing Dove. She called this the result of a “rushed non-representative committee.”
“You say, we’ve got to do this regardless,” she said. “We say, we must do better for our students.”
Dove parent Matthew White appealed to the famous TV show Mr. Rogers, which pointed to “helpers” in hard times.
“The building is full of helpers tonight. The community, anxiously watching this from home, are the helpers. The parents who are at home right now, putting our future leaders into their pajamas and getting them into bed, are the helpers,” White said. “I’m asking you guys to stop, vote no, let us come to your side and help. We can do this together.”
Grapevine Mayor William Tate sent a letter to the board, asking members to pause the closure and rebuild community trust, according to Fox 4. He suggested raising $1.2 million across the next two months to fund Dove through the upcoming school year, buying the district more time.
Ahead of the vote, Board Member A.J. Pontillo said he understands people who disagree.
“It’s incredibly difficult, but consolidating schools at this time is the right answer to right-size this ship,” he said. “Everybody has a heavy heart when we’re doing this; this isn’t something that anybody wants to be doing. But true leadership is doing things that aren’t popular because it’s the right thing to do.”
Pontillo said he was “deeply sorry” for what the closures might mean for students and families.
“I hope that we can all continue to move forward for the best of the community and for GCISD,” he said.
Amid growing tensions over finances and the potential closures, Tate emailed Braun in September – admitting “I tried to reason, I tried to offend you, and I tried to intimidate you to get your attention,” as The Dallas Express reported at the time. He later denied claims he “threatened” Braun. Tensions between Tate and district officials had been growing since mid-September.
