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GCISD parents say proposed cuts to GT and intervention positions unfairly target Title I campuses
Summary
Four parents and residents addressed the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Board of Trustees during the June 9 budget workshop, urging the district to reconsider proposed changes that would reduce gifted-and-talented (GT) and interventionist services at four Title I elementary schools.
Four parents urged the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD Board of Trustees on June 9 to reverse proposed budget changes that they say would reduce specialized services for students at Title I elementary campuses.
"On May 19 we were given an update on our school's budget ... our CFO let us know that we are $1,280,000 in the hole for next school year," said Dr. Laura Trevino, a Grapevine resident and parent. She criticized what she described as unequal cuts that target GT specialists and intervention services at the district's Title I elementary campuses.
Rachel Wall, a GCISD resident, told trustees the district's recent notice from the Texas Education Agency (TEA) led to a $508,000 drop in Title I, Part A funding and asked why revenue generated by interdistrict transfers was not reallocated to restore four interventionist positions. "Why is GCISD further punishing the students at the four Title I elementary campuses that have already lost funding?" Wall asked.
Beverly Mavis named the affected campuses and argued the changes would create "haves and have-nots" based on attendance zones. "This is a slap in the face to GCISD teachers on the four impacted campuses: Dove, Timberline, Bear Creek, and Silver Lake," she said, adding that GT teachers and interventionists have specialized training and are not interchangeable.
Hillary Benedetto, a Grapevine resident for 30 years, urged the board to involve teachers and staff in planning and to pursue outside grants and local partnerships to support programs. Benedetto also suggested exploring private and community grant options such as corporate education awards.
The speakers asked the board to reconsider the proposed delivery changes for GT pullout programs at three of the four Title I campuses and signaled they may pursue legal remedies. Wall said district parents were prepared to "pursue all available remedies to prevent these changes from being implemented in August." None of the speakers proposed specific alternative budget items or identified funding sources during public comment.
The board did not take formal action on the GT or interventionist staffing proposals at the June 9 workshop; the item was discussed later in the meeting as part of the district-wide budget presentation.
