Education
Frisco ISD o cials recommend closing Staley Middle School
Frisco ISD o cials have recommended the school board vote to close Staley Middle School at the end of the 2025-26 school year. District leaders discussed the campus closure and renovation options during a Sept. 15 board meeting. The closure of the school was only a discussion item and no o cial action was taken by the board. “This is not a shock that our recommendation as an administration to the board is for the retirement of Staley [Middle School],” said Scott Warstler, FISD’s chief operations o cer. Looking back Staley Middle School was built in 1973 and originally housed Frisco High School before being converted into the middle school in 1996. The middle school needs extensive plumbing repairs as it has a 52-year-old underground cast- iron plumbing system, which usually has a lifes- pan of 50 years, district o cials said. Replacing the system would take 18-30 months to complete, according to previous estimates from district sta . This would remove students from the school for two to three years. A motion to close the middle school at the end of the 2024-25 school year was denied by FISD board members in a 4-3 vote April 14. After the failed vote, board members directed district sta to get additional information from a demographer for a further consideration regarding the closure. District sta and the board of trustees discussed potential plans for Staley Middle during an Aug. 25 workshop. The options District o cials considered cost, student
displacement and student opportunities when considering the future of the middle school, Warstler said. Replacing the plumbing system is estimated to cost $3.5 million. Retiring the Staley campus has projected cost savings for the district. FISD could see operational cost savings up to $4 million annually and would save $20 million in bond funds, according to the meeting presentation. The plan Staley Middle School students would be rezoned to Hunt, Trent and Gri n middle schools, o cials said. These schools were selected because of their proximity to the Staley school zone and the cam- pus’s ability to accept the former Staley students, o cials said. Receiving campuses would meet with the Teaching and Learning Department to review incoming student data and needs, said Christy Fiori, FISD’s chief academic o cer. The depart- ment would also guarantee the needed resources are available for incoming students, she said. In honor of the campus, FISD o cials plan to host legacy celebrations for current and former students. This could include a retirement celebra- tion for the school, student and sta recognitions, a closing ceremony and a last day of school nal walk, according to the meeting presentation. Looking ahead The school board was expected to decide if Staley Middle School will close at the end of the year during the board’s October meeting.
Staley Middle School is located at 6927 Stadium Lane, Frisco.
COURTESY FRISCO ISD
Breakdown of options
The district would spend $3.5M on the plumbing and students could be temporarily displaced. $19.6M for a light refresh to modernize plumbing, update classrooms and update the school’s front entry. $24.54M for a full refresh of the campus. This would include ve additional classrooms and a new art studio. $85M for a new building. The district’s remaining 2018 bond dollars are insu cient to cover the construction costs.
No change
Option A
Option B
Option C
Close Staley May 30, 2026 , at the end of the school year.
Option D
SOURCE: FRISCO ISD COMMUNITY IMPACT
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