“We want to tell them how we feel about these school changes,” Fort Worth ISD parent Erin Lynds said.
FORT WORTH, Texas — A concerned Fort Worth parent is working to amplify the voices of other parents in response to Fort Worth ISD’s proposed school closures.
Erin Lynds recently showed WFAA one of the yard signs from her grassroots campaign, aimed at making sure district leaders hear the concerns of families.
“We want to tell them how we feel about these school changes,” Lynds said, explaining the purpose of her efforts.
Lynds, along with other parents, was shocked to learn that two of her children’s schools—North Hi Mount Elementary and Stripling Middle School—are part of the district’s rightsizing options, which could ultimately lead to their closure. These schools, which had quickly become beloved by her family, are now at risk. Lynds has three children who attend the two schools.
“The idea of these schools not existing as they are now is just heartbreaking to me,” Lynds shared, reflecting on how her children thrived at schools where, “every person who worked in the building knew every single one of those kids, and we felt like we were joining a family immediately.”
Fort Worth ISD says it needs to close or repurpose some school buildings to operate more efficiently.
During a school board meeting on Feb. 11, trustees heard about the various options for restructuring. However, no final decisions were made at that time. The recommendations to the board include different scenarios for each middle, elementary, and high school they feed into.
At the Feb. 11 meeting, Fort Worth ISD Superintendent-elect Karen Molinar clarified, “No decisions have been made, no recommendations have been made, we are just showing you the work.”
It was also during this meeting that Lynds first heard about potential changes involving her children’s schools, including a proposal to possibly repurpose North Hi Mount for early education programs like Pre-K.
Despite the lack of definitive decisions, Lynds and her group, Save Heights Pyramid, have rallied support for their cause. They’ve gathered over 1,300 signatures on an online petition and created an Instagram page, which has already gained nearly 500 followers.
“Our ultimate goal is to remove the schools from Arlington Heights Pyramid from the proposed list of closures,” Lynds said.
As the debate continues, Fort Worth ISD parents like Lynds are determined to have their voices heard in the ongoing conversation about the district’s future.
