Grapevine mayor asks GCISD to reconsider plans to close elementary schools amid declining enrollment

GRAPEVINE, Texas — The Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District is weighing the potential closure of elementary schools, leaving parents like Patty Thompson anxious about their children’s futures.

Thompson’s daughter attends Dove Elementary, one of 11 district elementary schools now under consideration for closure. The uncertainty has left her questioning the permanence of her daughter’s educational home.

“My biggest concern is the district hastily making decisions that can’t be undone,” Thompson said.

Superintendent Dr. Brad Schnautz acknowledged the emotional weight of the process. He said that when you take emotions out of it, the current financial situation is unsustainable. He goes on to say the district currently has around 1,900 empty seats across its elementary schools combined. 

He points to recent school data showing 978 seniors will graduate in 2026, with only 692 kindergarteners in 2025. The decline in enrollment will have a big impact on school funding, he said.

“It hurts my heart and I recognize the emotional toll that it takes to walk through this process,” Schnautz said.

Grapevine Mayor William D. Tate sent a letter to the school board Monday, urging officials to explore alternatives before moving forward with closures.

“It’s the school district’s responsibility to prove to the public that they’ve exhausted other alternatives and closing a school is the only one left,” Tate said.

Both Tate and Councilman Leon Leal emphasized that school closures carry broader community implications, including student reassignment and traffic concerns.

“We need to be involved because it’s more than just closing a school,” Leal said.

School Board President Shannon Braun called the mayor’s letter surprising, noting that city officials were invited to participate when the committee process began in January, but declined. She sent a response to Mayor Tate. She said it addresses all of his concerns.

“When we started our committee and our process, they were the first invitation we offered to the city manager,” Braun said.

Braun emphasized that the financial challenges are not new and that the district has been developing solutions for several years. While school closures appear inevitable, officials have not determined which campuses will be affected. A decision is expected in November.

Thompson said the lack of clarity has been particularly troubling for families.

“That’s part of the problem — the story keeps changing,” she said.