Wichita Falls superintendent presents consolidation case study: sales, repurposing and communication

Donnie Leachington, superintendent of Wichita Falls Independent School District, presented a detailed case study of his district’s handling of long‑term enrollment decline and facility consolidation during a Nov. 4 training for Grapevine‑Colleyville trustees.

Leachington said WFISD experienced years of enrollment decline and undertook difficult steps including closing three high schools and multiple elementary campuses while using bond proceeds to open two new high schools. He said the district sold surplus property to recoup capital—one middle school went to the Wichita Falls Police Department for about $1.2 million and other surplus sales totaled roughly $4.7 million.

On communications, Leachington described a multi‑channel strategy: scheduled local TV appearances, a community advisory council, teacher advisory council, and mobilized community members to correct misinformation online. He summarized the rationale: “Say your story or someone else will,” and recounted that, after closures, many former opponents became champions once they saw completed projects.

Leachington also cautioned trustees that consolidations can temporarily affect performance metrics (e.g., CCMR and graduation rates) and that districts should prepare public explanations and appeals when ratings fall because of transition timing.

He closed by offering a practical checklist for implementation (zoning votes, bus routing reviews, specialized program placement, staffing letters and furniture/fixture logistics), and by stressing that while closures are politically painful, they can create capacity to reinvest in classroom instruction and long‑term sustainability.