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Brazosport ISD trustees approve closure of Rasco Middle School amid sustained enrollment decline
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Summary
The Brazosport ISD Board of Trustees voted to close Rasco Middle School and reassign students to nearby campuses as part of a reconfiguration meant to align facilities with declining enrollment and reduce operating inefficiencies; the administration said no attendance boundaries will change and no layoffs are expected.
The Brazosport ISD Board of Trustees approved an administration recommendation to close Rasco Middle School and reassign affected students to existing campuses.
Administration cited years of declining enrollment and the resulting financial impact as the driving factors. "Overall, we are serving fewer students in our community," the district's presenter said, noting the district has dropped from 12,441 students to 10,872 and that the decline represents roughly $10 million in reduced funding. The presentation recommended redistributing fifth- and sixth-grade students to nearby elementary and intermediate campuses to better align capacity and maintain program stability.
Board members and the superintendent emphasized efforts to minimize disruption. The administration said attendance zones will remain unchanged, current transfer statuses will not be revoked and "all current Rasco staff members will have district positions next school year." A board member added: "The fact that we're still not having to lay anyone off … I think is a great thing," expressing relief that the district could avoid reductions in force.
Several residents spoke during public comment. Rhonda Isaben Clavin Rivera, introducing herself as a parent and founder of a local transparency group, pressed for clarity about staffing, timelines and public notice about the recommendation. District officials answered procedural questions about sign-in for public comment and repeated that the agenda item under consideration was the Rasco closure.
The motion to approve the closure was moved by Mr. Dodge and seconded by Mr. Schwartner; the board carried the motion by voice vote.
Next steps, as described by administration, include implementation of grade reassignments (fifth graders remaining on current home campuses where applicable and sixth graders relocating to Lake Jackson Intermediate), transfer of prekindergarten placements as detailed in the recommendation, and coordination of parent and staff communications to manage start times, bus routes and transition events. Officials said they will continue to provide updates and keep families informed as implementation timelines are finalized.
