Frisco School District sees 20 percent growth

by Brad Witty

The number of new students in Frisco is constantly rising, but district administrators can't always tell where they will end up.

The number of new students in Frisco is constantly rising, but district administrators can't always tell where they will end up.

On Monday, FISD board trustees discussed enrollment, saw a presentation on the new CATE Center, and discussed a transfer request from an art teacher who had received a parent complaint concerning a display of nude art.

A dozen of the district's 34 schools are nearing or have already hit their projected enrollments for October 1. For the ninth consecutive year, FISD has grown more than 20 percent duuring the summer months, to nearly 23,500 students. At least 500 more students are expected to arrive by the end of September.

Superintendent of Schools Rick Reedy said recent studies showed Frisco is the fastest growing school district of more than 4,000 students in the nation. Therefore, school officials are always prepared for more students but have trouble knowing in what part of the district the students will live.

The district has encountered a problem with Boals Elementary, where enrollment has already capped October's projection of 860 students. To solve the problem, administrators could move some students to Fisher and Corbell elementaries. Pink Elementary also has extra room, should those two elementary schools also hit their caps.

The school district is most crowded at the elementary level, due to younger students coming into Frisco. The district has 977 high school seniors, while boasting 2,588 kindergarteners. That number will probably continue to climb until school officials receive new yearlong projections in October.

Two high schools and four elementary schools opened this year, and although some came in less than opening projections, officials expressed confidence that they would meet those projections by the end of the year. Three new elementary schools and a middle school will open next year.

The architectural firm SHW Group, which designed other FISD facilities such as Wakeland High School, gave a presentation on the Career and Technology Education Center. CATE will be located near the Collin County Community College Preston Ridge Campus. The two-story facility will house space for the study of agricultural science, veterinary science, manufacturing, health science, architecture and engineering, and various marketing and media professions.

The artist renderings show a very modern building, inside and out, which combines the styles of traditional school architecture and corporate, professional design. The architects' intention was to create a space that would serve as a transitional setting for high schools students. CATE Center is expected to be ready for August 2008.

In another matter, trustees turned down a transfer request from Fisher Elementary art teacher Sydney McGee, whose principal found fault with her actions after a parent raised an objection about nude art on an April field trip.

McGee wished to change schools due to what she viewed as unfair treatment from principal Nancy Lawson. The teacher, who has taught in Texas schools for 28 years, said she visited the museum and spoke with museum staff before the trip to make sure that it was appropriate for fifth graders. McGee said she did not know which piece of art offended the parent, and the board also did not identify it.

Lawson said she received a complaint from a parent about the trip, and for that reason, she called McGee into a meeting the following day. Lawson later gave the teacher a series of directives about displaying student artwork and creating lesson plans.

Lawson, however, said that she harbors no ill feelings toward McGee, and would like her to stay at Fisher. Board trustees supported the principal.