The Leander ISD board of trustees are taking steps toward repurposing Faubion Elementary, approving Pfluger Architects as the architecture firm to provide design services for the repurposing in a 6-1 vote Jan. 22. Trustee Paul Gauthier was the dissenting vote.

How we got here

The board voted Dec. 17 to close Faubion in 2026-27 due to the campus’ projected low enrollment and LISD’s budget shortfall. The school will be consolidated with Westside Elementary and its campus repurposed.

The board did not vote on what Faubion would be repurposed for at the time of the vote, but district officials said they could consider utilizing the campus for New Hope High School‘s expansion, the Leander Extended Opportunity Center or the Early College High School, in line with LISD’s long-range plan.

The update

Per district documents, Pfluger Architects will help establish the most appropriate campus use based on identified needs and provide full design services necessary to support construction.

In August 2023, the architecture firm was awarded as an architect as part of services tied to LISD’s 2023 bond including design services for the ECHS, Chief Operations Officer Jeremy Trimble said.

Looking ahead

As the repurposed campus could be used for secondary education, trustee Sade Fashokun suggested keeping the name Faubion for an early childhood center instead.

“Since [Ada Mae Faubion] was an elementary educator I thought we still want to preserve her name within the district; however, instead of keeping it at that building, … I was wondering if for early childhood center that it’s more appropriate for her name to be used to name that building,” Fashokun said.

Interim superintendent Chris Clark said administration will look toward LISD’s “legacy committee” to consider name changes. The legacy committee will act as a subcommittee of the district’s transition committee which will help the Faubion and Westside communities blend.

“It’s part of the whole repurposing process,” trustee Anna Smith. “That name change, they’re going to hold onto it. … I’d like to see administration take that to the legacy committee. When we talked about consolidation our big goal was ensuring that that community and that legacy stays attached to the culture of this district.”