Fast Growth School Coalition’s Dr. Greg Smith and Bob Templeton, with Strive Public Policy Resources, recently sat down with Austin Wood of the Dallas Observer to talk about what it means to be a fast growth school in a time when school districts across the state are facing budget deficits and shifts in enrollment.
One thing that bubbled up consistently and throughout the conversations with the Observer is fast growth isn’t a static state. Our districts evolve – from emerging early growth to rapid population explosions to later years with contracting or shifting population and demographics. And each and every step in that life cycle of fast growth presents varied challenges and opportunities.
Templeton explained the perfect storm schools are facing, “The affordability issue is why it’s kind of the perfect storm. It’s a little bit of the birth rates, it’s a little bit of this housing dilemma, and it’s the expansion of choice. And so when you put those things together, it really does put school districts in a very difficult position, because they are not seeing the normal growth patterns that they would have experienced.”
Smith emphasized to the Observer that there are still districts experiencing growth. Forney ISD added over 5,000 students from the 2018-2019 to 2023-2024 school years, according to TEA data, while Prosper ISD opened five new campuses at the start of the school year.
Smith said that even if districts face tough financial decisions, there is hope they can evolve sustainably with nontraditional school weeks or other models, especially if they engage with the community and “bring parents along.”
Fast Growth School Coalition districts are still very much “destination districts,” sitting at the heart of economic growth in our state, and these districts are often significant direct and indirect drivers of economic activity in their communities. All to say, there’s a strong case to be made for an increased investment by the Texas Legislature in ensuring Texas public schools are fully funded and the unique building and maintenance needs of fast growing districts are met.
Read the Full Article on the Dallas Observer Website
Our member school districts are “destination districts,” sitting at the heart of economic growth in our state and are often significant direct and indirect drivers of economic activity in their communities.
Our executive committee leadership are recognized leaders in their field, bringing gravitas, name ID, and relationships across business, legislative, and education organizations locally, regionally and statewide.
Our corporate partners are diverse and influential across key business and financial sectors in public education, finance, and infrastructure.
