“Since 2019, we have lost over 3,600 children, and that represents about $22.6 million annually,” Grand Prairie ISD Spokesperson Sam Buchmeyer said.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas — Mariah Rosalez picked up her children from school on Thursday afternoon, only hours before Grand Prairie ISD announced its new consolidation plan.

“It kind of makes me a little off the edge,” said Rosalez, who has children at two different Grand Prairie campuses. “I feel like it’s not a good idea because the schools are going to be overly crowded now.”

This comes soon after Grapevine-Colleyville ISD trustees voted to close two of its elementary schools.

Grand Prairie ISD has been dealing with declining enrollment over the past three years, and as School Board members prepare to share recommendations on which schools to keep open, consolidate or close, they expect to hear from even more parents.

District Spokesperson Sam Buchmeyer stressed that the parents play a key role in the district’s success every school year.

“The parents are the ones who interact with our schools every single day, obviously with their children there as well, so their viewpoints and their opinions are valid,”  Buchmeyer said.

The concerns come after an emotional Grapevine-Colleyville ISD school board meeting, as that district faces the same issues along with several other districts across North Texas. In Plano, Carpenter Middle School is already being demolished as part of the district’s consolidation effort. Davis Elementary School has also been torn down. Like Grand Prairie, those decisions are tied to balancing the budget.

“Since 2019, we have lost over 3,600 children, and that represents about $22.6 million annually,” Buchmeyer said.

The consolidation plan affects families differently. Lori Espanoza shared that her family is in a position to adjust with more flexibility.

“Because I am a stay-at-home mother, going to different schools would not really bother me too much,” Espanoza said. “But I know it’s harder for others.”

The final vote on the consolidation plan is scheduled for January. People interested in speaking during the school board meeting can sign up online or in person before the meeting starts. Each speaker has 3 minutes to address the board with their concerns.

“My only encouragement would be to offer grace and understanding,” Buchmeyer said about those who plan to attend.