College Station ISD adopts Plan 7 elementary boundary changes after debate over small student splits

The College Station Independent School District board of trustees voted 7–0 on Sept. 16 to adopt Plan 7, a set of elementary boundary adjustments scheduled to begin with the 2026–27 school year.

Miss Wilson presented the plan and outlined a timeline of demographer briefings and community forums held since March. She described grandfathering for current kindergarten through third-grade students and a sibling clause allowing families to keep children together while the district transitions boundaries. Miss Wilson also noted that small moves—such as shifting a boundary up to George Bush Street—can change free-and-reduced percentages at nearby campuses.

Community speakers urged caution and asked for support for affected campuses. Eleanor Su Keen said the plan increases the percentage of socioeconomically disadvantaged students at several campuses and requested "additional funding personnel and material resources to the schools whose percentages have increased due to plan 7." Jacob McFarland, a South Side resident, argued neighborhood integrity matters and said, "I firmly believe that our our kids in our neighborhood should be at their neighborhood school."

Trustees questioned the scale and timing of the changes. One trustee raised concern about several "one-off" grade-level splits that could leave a handful of students (board discussion referenced roughly 35 students districtwide, about seven per grade) attending an intermediate campus different from most of their elementary classmates. Board members sought split-by-grade data and a summary of community feedback; staff said they had posted materials and shared transmittal feedback. The board discussed that Title I funding increases on campuses with higher counts of economically disadvantaged students could be used to add resources.

After extended discussion—and following a procedural motion and more debate—Miss Simmons moved to adopt Plan 7; Dr. Payne seconded. The motion carried, 7–0. Trustees and staff clarified that specific grandfathering logistics and transportation for grandfathered students will be handled by administration consistent with board policy (FC Local) and that administration would notify families and collect grandfathering choices.

What the board approved: the boundary map labeled "Plan 7," grandfathering for current K–3 students (transportation for grandfathered students will be provided only as the district deems appropriate), and a sibling clause for enrollment continuity. The administration said it would provide parents a period to elect grandfathering and would return with implementation details as needed.

The board's action completes the formal adoption for elementary boundaries; intermediate and middle school boundary changes were tabled earlier and will be considered separately.

Next steps: administration will communicate rezoning notices to affected families and outline grandfathering and transportation options. Trustees said they expect staff to supply finalized lists of students affected and any follow-up data on intermediate-level splits when that discussion returns to the board.