By R.J. Morales | TX3DNews
McKinney — After months of debate and a tense meeting filled with tears, applause, and frustration, the McKinney ISD Board of Trustees voted Wednesday night to close and repurpose three elementary schools — Eddins, McNeil, and Wolford — ahead of the 2026–27 school year.
The decision followed nearly an hour of public comments from parents, teachers, and community members, most pleading with trustees to delay or reconsider. The vote was unanimous, with officials citing financial strain and long-term enrollment shifts.
District Cites Financial Strain and Enrollment Decline
Superintendent Shawn Pratt called the decision one of the hardest of his career. “It’s not something we want to do. It’s something we must do,” he said, noting that MISD has operated with a deficit for five years.
Officials said closing the three campuses will save about $3 million annually and help preserve academic programs without additional layoffs. All affected employees will be reassigned at their current pay under a “hold harmless” plan that includes counseling and transition support.
Assistant Superintendent Dennis Womack said enrollment in southwest McKinney has fallen by roughly 1,500 students over the past decade, leaving 13 schools built for 9,500 students now serving about 6,000. “We simply have more seats than students in this area,” he said.
Parents Question Data and Process
Parents disputed how the Educational Facilities Alignment Committee — or EFAC — reached its recommendation, arguing that Wolford, McNeil, and Eddins performed well in district assessments and didn’t meet the criteria for closure. The committee evaluated 13 campuses using five “Critical Indicator Criteria”: Building Design Capacity, Historic and Projected Enrollment, Financial Efficiency and Stewardship, Building Age and Facility Condition, and Geographic Location and Redundancy.
A member of the EFAC told TX3DNews the committee faced difficult decisions but believes the process lacked fairness. “I don’t think it’s lost on anyone that due to the state legislature, the lack of funding, and declining enrollment, hard choices to close elementary schools had to be made,” the member said. “But the committee was tasked with evaluating 13 campuses based on data and unbiased criteria. Under no matrix does Wolford Elementary fit in the top three of any of those criteria, but due to overrepresentation of certain elementary campuses within the 13, bias and favoritism played a part. It felt like the entire thing was calculated, by the third-party facilitator, to give the district exactly what they wanted.”
Other speakers voiced similar objections. One said, “Wolford is an A-rated school and one of the most distinguished in the district. It’s thriving, not struggling.” Another added, “You can move people, but you cannot move a culture.”
After public comments, the board recessed for nearly an hour before returning to hear the final proposal and vote. During the closing discussion, several parents booed and called out in frustration, underscoring the emotion in the room.
Community Reaction and Special Education Concerns
Some parents said they understood the district’s reasoning but still felt the loss deeply. Jared Tye, of Tye Realty Group and a former Wolford parent, said his family was heartbroken.
“We are so sad to see the news,” Tye said. “It’s a tough situation. Southwest McKinney is far more expensive than it was two decades ago, and we simply have fewer elementary-age students. I can understand why the district needs to close some schools, but many families were intentional in buying their homes in these zones. My sons went to Wolford Elementary, and it was wonderful.”
Parents of special education students voiced concern about Wolford’s Developmental Social Skills and Structured Teaching programs, which took years to build and serve children with autism and other learning needs.
Wolford parent Kipp Salisbury said the impact goes beyond numbers. “Wolford is more than a building — it’s a community that supports every kind of learner,” he said. “My son, who has autism and ADHD, started here struggling to feel confident. Over time, the teachers and staff helped him build routines, friendships, and trust.”
Salisbury said closing Wolford feels like losing more than a school. “For families like ours, it’s a lifeline,” he said. “Taking that away isn’t just a logistical change — it’s a loss for the entire neighborhood.”
Board Defends Process, Points to State Funding
Trustees said the decision followed two years of community-based planning and three separate committees. Board President Amy Dankel noted that each campus had parent representation on EFAC and that legal counsel confirmed the board’s authority to define the committee’s composition.
Several trustees expressed sympathy but pointed to state-level funding constraints. Dankel said, “Public funds should go to public schools. We simply cannot continue down this path with such limited funding.”
Next Steps and Remaining Questions
EFAC will now begin redrawing attendance zones across elementary, middle, and high schools. New boundary maps are expected soon, with family notifications to follow. District officials said students from the three campuses will be reassigned to nearby schools, with transportation, counseling, and special-education support provided.
Parents asked whether class sizes, walkability, and special-education continuity would be preserved, and whether the full data behind the decision would be released. Those questions were acknowledged but not directly answered before the vote.
As the meeting ended, several parents lingered in the room or spoke outside, many wearing T-shirts with their school names. Some hugged teachers; others voiced frustration that their concerns had gone unanswered. One parent, addressing the board earlier, asked a question that still hung in the air: “Why did you take office? What legacy do you hope to leave? Was this the legacy you wanted to be remembered for — the closing of three beautiful, strong elementary schools?”
For families at Eddins, McNeil, and Wolford, the next step is waiting for the new maps — and clarity on what comes next.