Lubbock ISD School Board Considers Major Changes Amid Budget Deficit

The Lubbock Independent School District (LISD) Board of Trustees is set to hold a special session on Wednesday evening, where they will discuss significant changes including potential school closures at local elementary and middle schools. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the LISD administrative office, located at 1628 19th St.

The primary agenda item will focus on recommendations stemming from the “Future Focus Committee,” which consists of more than 100 stakeholders. This committee was assembled to gather public feedback and propose solutions to address the district’s pressing budget deficit, estimated at $14.8 million.

During a recent standing-room-only meeting on November 21, various recommendations were presented that included the potential closure of Overton Elementary, with its students and staff relocating to Rush Elementary; redistributing staff and students from O.L. Slaton Middle School to Atkins and Dunbar middle schools; and the closure of Bean and Hodges elementary schools, directing students to O.L. Slaton.

Notably, Bean Elementary has been removed from the initial recommendation for the next academic year, while the plan to close Hodges Elementary remains under consideration. The school board has the option to approve these recommendations, propose alternatives, or take no action at all during Wednesday’s meeting.

Lubbock ISD Superintendent Kathy Rollo emphasized during the previous meeting that these consolidations could lead to substantial savings over the next decade, which would assist in balancing the district’s operational needs with its financial challenges.

As LISD navigates these proposed changes, it faces ongoing scrutiny from the public, particularly from critics who argue that the closures will adversely impact minority communities. Detractors assert that the decision-making process appears flawed and was predetermined, raising concerns about genuine community engagement.

In a related response, the Lubbock NAACP recently expressed a lack of confidence in Rollo and the school board, signaling the severity of community concerns surrounding the proposed changes.

In response to these criticisms, Rollo stated that changes would be made to engage the Future Focus Committee more effectively, including moving some meetings to various campuses for broader input.