Leander ISD Weighs School Closures and Staffing Cuts Amid Budget Crisis, Community Pushes Back
“I want our district to invest in what we already have, improve that... There are other ways to do that without having to sacrifice the great communities that we already have.”
The Leander Independent School District (LISD) is confronting a sobering financial crisis: a projected $19 million budget shortfall for the 2025–26 school year, despite an infusion of new state funding. As district leaders weigh a series of cost-saving measures—including school consolidations and staffing reductions—parents and community members are mounting fierce opposition, warning that closing neighborhood schools would damage both student well-being and property values.
A Budget Gap Despite Historic State Education Bill
LISD’s budget deficit initially stood at $34 million, a figure reported in April 2025. The number was later reduced to $19 million after factoring in new state funds from House Bill 2, an $8.5 billion statewide education funding package that Texas State Senator Brandon Creighton (R–Conroe) called “the most transformative education plan that Texas has ever seen.”
But the reality for Leander ISD has been less dramatic. The district expects to receive $21 million from the package, and over 40% of that is mandated for pay raises for teachers, librarians, and nurses. The remaining funds will go toward modest raises for other staff to maintain equity. That leaves only about $9 million to offset the deficit.
“This didn’t help anything,” said Board Member Paul Gauthier during a recent budget meeting. “We were already on a tight budget.”
District CFO Pete Pape echoed the frustration, pointing out that the basic per-student funding increase amounts to only $55 per student. “That’s not an increase,” he said flatly.
(Leander ISD boundaries)
Falling Enrollment in the South Drives Cuts
One of the largest contributors to the budget gap is declining student enrollment, particularly in the southern parts of the district. Several elementary campuses are operating below 60% capacity, and enrollment trends suggest continued decline.
“Elementary kids are moving to the district at a slower rate than secondary students,” explained Jeremy Trimble, LISD’s Chief Operating Officer. He attributed the slowdown to rising home prices, fewer new developments, and aging neighborhoods where families stay long after their children graduate, leading to fewer young families moving in.
In 2024–25, enrollment data showed:
Steiner Ranch Elementary: 417 students
Faubion Elementary: 353 students
Cypress Elementary: 506 students
Each school was built to accommodate approximately 800 students.
Three Paths to Cuts—And a Hybrid Plan Emerges
To close the budget gap, the district has laid out three potential cost-saving paths, each with significant implications. A hybrid of these plans is gaining traction among trustees.
Path 1: Campus Consolidation ($4.15 million savings)
This plan would consolidate:
Faubion Elementary into Westside Elementary
Cypress Elementary into Naumann Elementary
Steiner Ranch Elementary into Laura Bush and River Ridge Elementaries
The vacated buildings would be repurposed for other district functions. For example, Faubion could become home to New Hope High School, an alternative campus; Steiner Ranch could host tuition-based Pre-K; and Cypress could serve as space for district police and professional development.
Board Member Francesca Romans acknowledged the difficulty: “I don’t like any of these... But for me, Path One makes the most sense because it handles the most of the issues.”
But parents voiced concerns about capacity and infrastructure at receiving campuses. “These buildings are full already,” said Lisa Wiser Cummings, a parent at Cypress. “Are we getting portables? We’re going to close schools, then buy portables for the ones that stay open?”
Path 2: Staffing Cuts at Under-Enrolled Schools ($1.78 million savings)
This plan would avoid school closures but reduce support staff—including assistant principals, instructional coaches, and office staff—at low-enrollment campuses. Schools impacted would include:
Steiner Ranch, Faubion, Cypress, Naumann, River Ridge, Laura Bush, and Giddens Elementaries
Staffing levels would be based strictly on student population.
Path 3: Hybrid Model ($3.55 million savings)
This emerging compromise combines selective school closures with targeted staffing cuts:
Faubion and Steiner Ranch would still be consolidated.
Cypress and Naumann would remain open but with reduced staffing.
“This hybrid is gaining traction,” said Trimble, noting that it addresses both the budget and community feedback.
No final decisions have been made, but if approved, any campus consolidations would not take effect until the 2026–27 school year.
(Image from Steiner Ranch Elementary School Facebook Page)
Community Backlash: “Don’t Close Our Schools”
The district’s proposals have ignited passionate opposition. Dozens of parents and students have packed school board meetings to plead for their campuses.
“All of our neighborhood schools are special,” said Michael, a student from Faubion Elementary. “And none of them should be closed.”
Parents argue that local schools serve as critical community anchors. Jillian Weiss, a Faubion parent, expressed frustration: “I want our district to invest in what we already have, improve that... There are other ways to do that without having to sacrifice the great communities that we already have.”
A petition opposing closures has gathered over 1,000 signatures, demanding more transparency and exploration of less disruptive alternatives.
There’s also skepticism about the financial logic. Kaycee Parker, another parent, warned, “Closing schools will cause neighborhoods to lose at least a million dollars in appraised value.”
Some questioned how a campus could be successfully repurposed for Pre-K if it couldn’t stay filled as a K-5 elementary.
District Response: “No Final Decisions Made”
To cut costs, LISD has already eliminated about 200 jobs and ended its International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Yet the district is moving ahead with the Early Childhood Center, funded through a 2023 bond, and is in the design phase for two new elementary schools in the northern area.
According to the district, this expansion is necessary due to rapid growth in those neighborhoods, contrasting with declining enrollment in the south.
A district statement emphasized its 10-year long-range plan, which includes “thoughtful rezoning, optimizing facility use, and exploring creative repurposing.”
“No decisions have been made at this time regarding the optimization of specific campuses,” the district stated, promising continued community meetings before any actions are taken.
School Board President Anna Smith underscored the importance of listening: “I want to ensure we truly listen to our community before the board provides any direction.”
Alternative Proposals and Internal Disagreements
Not all voices agree on the district’s proposed paths. Heather Tankersley, a member of the Long-Range Planning Committee, proposed an alternative: close Four Points Middle School, which is not in a residential neighborhood, and repurpose Laura Bush Elementary for 5th/6th graders, leaving Steiner Ranch and River Ridge as K-4 schools.
Tankersley argued this would preserve neighborhood campuses and reduce the need for extensive busing.
But COO Jeremy Trimble pushed back, citing “continued enrollment decline across all grade levels in the area” as a reason not to pursue the model.
Tankersley also questioned why the district is designing new schools while planning to shutter existing ones. “It’s hard to justify this expansion when we’re not investing in the schools we already have,” she said.
As the Leander school board weighs its next move, the community remains on edge. With budgetary pressure on one side and emotional appeals from families on the other, the final decision may shape not just school zoning—but the identity of entire neighborhoods.