One former student said he’d like to see “something for the kids, something for the community.”
PLANO, Texas — In Plano, Carpenter Middle School is preparing for its final chapter.
After serving the community for nearly 47 years, the school—one of four campuses closed by Plano ISD last year due to declining enrollment—is now surrounded by fencing as demolition is set to begin.
To many, this will always be Carpenter Middle.
“I drive once a day at least and check up on it,” said one local resident and former student.
Ged Usher, a longtime neighbor, added, “Once it’s gone, it’s probably not gonna come back again.” Carpenter was built during the late 1970s when the city’s population was just starting to surge.
“We did not take the decision-making lightly. It was the hardest thing that we’ve ever done,” Superintendent Dr. Theresa Williams told WFAA last week about the decision to close the schools.
Now, with the building soon to be gone, the community is focused on what comes next. Former students and neighbors alike are hopeful that the space will serve the neighborhood. One former student said he’d like to see “something for the kids, something for the community.”
“I don’t want more apartment blocks there. There’s enough traffic on the roads,” said Usher.
The district has retained ownership of the land and emphasized that community feedback has shaped its short-term plans. “Do not leave old buildings in my neighborhood to be graffitied or broken into,” school board President Dr. Lauren Tyra recalled learning from residents during the public meetings held by the district.
A statement from Plano ISD confirmed that the property will remain under district ownership:
“The district intends to demolish the building and hold the property long-term for potential future use. The tennis courts and parking lot immediately adjacent will remain intact for the community to use. This area will be fenced off temporarily for approximately one and a half months as a safety measure while crews work through the demolition and complete the project.”
While plans for the Carpenter site are still undecided, a similar shuttered campus—Forman Elementary—may become a training facility for first responders, according to a spokesperson with the city. Three of the four properties have letters of intent drafted and are currently being processed by the district and the city. Dr. Williams tells WFAA the city and the district have been “great partners” in the past and will continue to be great partners.
“We want to see those [properties] be resources for the neighborhood,” said Dr. Tyra. “It makes the neighborhood more vibrant, makes the neighborhood safer, it makes the neighborhood a better place to live,” the board president said.
For now, demolition signs and fencing mark the beginning of a transition. As one resident put it, “When you see the demolition equipment, it starts getting real.”
Once the fences come down in a few months, the land will be ready for its next purpose—whatever that may be.