The Killeen Independent School District (KISD) board of trustees voted Tuesday evening to approve significant changes across the district. These changes include the closure of several campuses and the implementation of new educational programs, set to take effect at the end of the 2025-26 school year. This decision is part of a broader 'District Optimization' strategy aimed at addressing declining enrollment and a substantial loss of federal funding.
Key Takeaways
- Peebles Elementary, Palo Alto Middle, and Eastern Hills Middle Schools will close by end of 2025-26.
- Hay Branch Elementary will remain open for at least one more year after a board motion.
- KISD anticipates saving an estimated $106.6 million over the next five years through these changes.
- The district faces a projected loss of up to $31 million in federal Impact Aid funding over four years.
- New programs include an intervention model at Manor Middle and expanded bilingual services.
Addressing Declining Enrollment and Funding Gaps
KISD's Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services, Susan Buckley, presented the recommendations to the trustees. The District Optimization initiative seeks to better utilize resources and improve student outcomes. The district has seen a decline in federally connected students, leading to a projected loss of up to $31 million in Impact Aid funding over the next four years. This federal program supports districts near federal lands, like Fort Hood, which lose property tax revenue.
The district could face an annual loss of up to $50 million once 'hold-harmless' payments, designed to gradually reduce federal aid, are exhausted. These financial pressures, coupled with a decrease in enrollment, have prompted the district to take decisive action.
Enrollment Decline Facts
- Projected 1,800 vacant elementary school seats within five years.
- Middle school enrollment expected to remain stable for five years, then decline by 500 students over ten years.
- High school enrollment is projected to grow.
Campus Closures and Reassignments
The board approved the closure of Peebles Elementary School, Palo Alto Middle School, and Eastern Hills Middle School. Students from Peebles will be rezoned to Brookhaven, Cavazos, Clifton Park, and Killeen Elementary Schools. Palo Alto and Eastern Hills middle school students will be reassigned to other nearby middle schools.
After its closure, Palo Alto Middle School will be repurposed as a District Alternative Education Placement (DAEP) campus. This move aims to maximize the use of existing facilities within the district.
Hay Branch Elementary Spared for Now
Hay Branch Elementary School was initially on the list for closure. However, a motion by Trustee Oliver Mintz successfully delayed its closure for at least one additional year. Mintz voiced concerns about the economic impact on the northern area of the district, which he described as economically neglected.
"If you look at that area, there's nothing there. I think removing a school from there will have a deleterious effect on the community," Mintz stated during the meeting.
Skills aide Eric Madrid, whose youngest son attends Hay Branch, also spoke passionately at the public forum. He highlighted the strong relationships students have with teachers and raised concerns about student transportation if the school were to close.
New Educational Models and Future Plans
Beyond campus closures, KISD will implement several new educational models and programs. Pre-K 3 programming on Fort Hood will be eliminated. Manor Middle School will undergo significant changes, adopting an intervention program known as the 1882 model. Under this model, KISD will partner with an open-enrollment charter school. KISD will continue to manage the facility, while the charter will oversee staffing, curriculum, budget, and calendar.
What is the 1882 Model?
The 1882 model is an intervention program that allows a public school district to partner with an open-enrollment charter school. This partnership aims to improve outcomes at underperforming campuses by leveraging the charter's operational flexibility while keeping the school part of the public district.
Looking further ahead, KISD plans to consolidate Cedar Valley and Timber Ridge elementary schools at the end of the 2026-27 school year. Bilingual programming will expand at Willow Springs Elementary School starting in the 2027-28 school year. The district will also initiate a third-party study in 2027-28 to reimagine high school programming, focusing on expanding access to Career and Technical Education (CTE), Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), and dual enrollment opportunities.
Teacher Development and Special Education Initiatives
KISD will use the Accelerating Campus Excellence (ACE) model at identified campuses. This model provides significant stipends to high-performing teachers to encourage them to teach at historically underperforming schools. The district plans to apply to join the Texas Education Agency’s “System of Great Schools” Network in spring 2026, which could provide access to additional funding and state resources.
The district will also create a facilities conditions index to compare school facility quality. A new teacher pipeline initiative aims to reduce the number of uncertified teachers and unfilled positions. Additionally, KISD will evaluate special education programming to address past non-compliance issues with State-Performance Plan indicators.
Projected Savings
Civic Solutions Group, a consulting firm partnering with KISD, projects that the approved closures, consolidations, and program eliminations will save the district an estimated $106.6 million over the next five years. This amount is expected to offset the anticipated loss of federal funding.
Olin Parker, a partner with Civic Solutions Group, explained that the purpose of District Optimization is to improve outcomes by placing more students in higher-performing campuses. He noted that underutilized campuses face challenges in providing adequate opportunities and hiring staff.
"You can’t effectively run an elementary, middle or high school if you don’t have enough students there," Parker said. "It’s just harder to provide them with the same opportunities."
