DESTINATION PROGRESS: Optimizing Student Opportunities 

Fort Worth, Texas - The Fort Worth Independent School District has begun the process monitoring and evaluating fiscal efficiencies in school utilization. The District staff is reviewing the processes of other school districts to determine best practices and exactly what criteria for maximum facility utilization would be appropriate for the Fort Worth ISD. Any eventual action, ultimately, will be the decision of the Board of Trustees. 

“This is a very complex, involved undertaking that will be emotionally laden,” said Superintendent Melody Johnson. “So we want to do it right and we are at the starting with discussions about the process itself.” 

Destination Progress: Optimizing Student Opportunities is a plan that will address a primary goal of the Board of Education, operational and fiscal efficiency.  That is Goal 2 in the District’s Strategic Plan:  All operations in the District will be efficient and effective. 

Using input from the Board of Education, the District Advisory Council, best practices reviews and updated facilities assessments and analyses District staff will develop criteria by which facility use can best be evaluated. 

“By maximizing the efficiency of our facility use, we will be providing the district with the facilities necessary to pursue new and innovative choices so that we can provide our students with the best possible educational opportunities,” said Deputy Superintendent Patricia Linares.  

Some recommendations for consideration will include: 

·        School boundary adjustments

·        Campus reconfigurations

·        Campus consolidations

·        Repurpose of facilities

·        Affected impacts on the Capital Improvement Project 

Some of the “best practices” derived from such school systems as Chicago, Seattle, Oakland, Pittsburgh and Washington, D.C., include the following: 

·        Engaging the community early, often and broadly

·        Developing a detailed work plan

·        Indentifying key criteria and using date in analysis

·        Tasking a senior District leader to guide the work 

“Communication with all stakeholders has to be on-going throughout this process,” said Dr. Johnson. “The criteria we develop may actually tell us that closing small schools may be the last thing we need to do. We are committed to doing what’s best for kids.” 

A complete timeline is being developed. The Board of Trustees will likely vote on staff recommendations late January/early February.  

-FWISD-