At a packed citizens-comment session at the Leander ISD Board of Trustees meeting, more than 40 people spoke in opposition to proposed school consolidations and closures, urging trustees to pause and demand better data and community engagement. Speakers included students, parents, PTA leaders and longtime residents who said proposed closures would disrupt students and neighborhoods.

Supporters of the schools repeatedly questioned the accuracy and stability of the district’s enrollment and capacity figures, and asked the board to consider alternatives before closing any campus. “Without that transparency, the so called community forums are ineffective at best and disingenuous at worst,” said Nicole Krause, a Cypress parent and PTA board member, referencing the district’s “thought exchange” public-feedback tool.

Why it matters: Closure would reassign students, move staff and potentially reduce services for vulnerable students, including those with individualized education programs (IEPs). Several speakers said district actions — moving programs off campuses and denying in‑district transfers — accelerated enrollment declines that are now being used to justify closures.

Speakers offered alternatives to immediate consolidation, including targeted staffing and scheduling changes, expanded open enrollment, and repurposing unused space for pre‑K or district offices rather than vacating a neighborhood school. At least three callers also asked for an independent review of the district’s demographic projections and the PASA consultant report cited by administration.

Highlights from public comments:
- Kyle Goldman, a Steiner Ranch resident, pointed trustees to the PASA 2024 demographic report and said tables on pages 32–33 project Steiner Ranch Elementary enrollment to remain higher than nearby campuses; he said the district should “closely review” those tables before acting.
- Several speakers alleged that district presentations used selectively low enrollment figures for Cypress and Naumann elementary schools; Maggie Detman, a Cypress parent, criticized sudden capacity changes and said, “Accuracy is more important than uniformity.”
- Parents and teachers warned of the effects on students with special needs: one parent said moving children would “disrupt years of progress” and asked for detailed transition plans if closures proceed.
- Community members proposed cost‑saving alternatives, including staffing and scheduling changes at secondary schools and central office consolidations that some said could save as much as or more than campus closures.

District context and board next steps: Superintendent Dr. Lisa Gehring has said the district will present a long‑range planning recommendation to the board on Sept. 18, with a decision opportunity on Oct. 9. At the meeting several trustees asked administration for clearer data and independent verification and signaled they expect more detailed enrollment, transportation and facilities impact studies before any irreversible action.

Ending: Commenters asked trustees to weigh neighborhood impact and student stability above short‑term budgetary gains, and to delay any closure votes until independent analyses and the district’s promised aggregated community feedback are released to the public.