Steiner Ranch schools are on the chopping block this time around. One of our middle schools is slated for the next round (CRMS or FPMS)

Leander ISD is working to push through a $762.8MM bond measure that will close schools in the 4 points neighborhood. ($40M is earmarked to repurpose a school into a district building… aka NOT a school) These schools meet their goals of teacher/student ratios, are upheld as benchmarks by the superintendent for their measures to become ideal schools, and have some of the lowest costs per student across the district and state.

The elementary and middle schools of this area are aligned with the neighborhood school objective. The students have engaged parents, engaged PTAs, an engaged community that supports fundraising efforts, and engaged teachers & administration who either choose to live within the neighborhood or take the time out of their lives to drive to our out-of-the-way neighborhood schools every day.

They have already removed funding for improvements on the middle schools and have their targets set on taking Canyon Ridge or Four Points Middle school next go around. They do not have a clear purpose and their demographer's report is simply incorrect. 

We, the community of four points, will not stand for this closure threat. We are schools that are achieving all that the board objectives require, and yet they are on the chopping block with a thought towards “repurposing” but those new purposes are not yet identified. 

The total current year expenditure for all 8 schools combined totals approximately $47,001,552 according to the TEA website as of 2/25/2023. Using an average of $10,000 per property (excluding apartments) and 5192 homes that feed into Four Points Middle and 5,453 homes that feed into Canyon Ridge, Four Points brings in over $100,000,000 to the district in just residential property taxes (this is a conservative number and does NOT factor in the apartment buildings, commercial space, etc. For example, HEBs proposed tax bill ALONE is $376,000!)

These vague new uses are not the answer nor are they enough to constitute this massive bond measure. Instead, they will need around $40 million dollars of the new bond request to make this repurposing happen (turning functioning, newer, schools into NON-school facilities), when the use and utility of these schools are undervalued. We do not have any idea of what the cost will be for the middle school repurposing phase and need to let the board know that we will not stand for this. 

As long as they refuse to consider the actual enrollments from the current school year, and instead look to use projections that under-represent our attendance, and look to make long-term plans based on theory and not reality, we can not let these measures pass.

Tell the Leander school board that we want more schools that meet the benchmarks for the success of low cost per student enrollment, favorable teacher-to-student ratios, and “ideal” state environments as shown by the Superintendent. Not fewer. 

Take these high-performing schools OFF of the chopping block, and let's welcome more of our district to learn and be a part of these highly functioning neighborhood schools. 

We need to stand up against this NOW or there will be no turning back if the bond passes.