Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Closure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pasadena ISD board authorizes closure of McMasters Elementary; trustee abstains citing conflict
Summary
Trustees voted to authorize closure and consolidation of McMasters Elementary and gave the superintendent authority to carry out zoning and transition actions; administration cited a nearly $16 million facilities repair estimate and nearby capacity at Parks Elementary.
The Pasadena Independent School District board voted May 26 to authorize closure and consolidation actions for McMasters Elementary and to authorize the superintendent or her designee to take necessary steps, after administration outlined facility and enrollment concerns.
Jeremy Richardson, presenting the district’s facility assessment, said McMasters faces roughly $16 million in needed repairs — including more than $5 million in immediate needs — and reported current enrollment around 330 students, about 100 below the campus’s 430 capacity. Richardson noted Parks Elementary, a modern campus less than a mile away, has capacity and updated safety systems that could accommodate McMasters students.
Richardson emphasized preserving McMasters’ traditions and relationships during any transition, committing that “every staff member at McMasters elementary will have a position in Pasadena ISD next year” and that the district would create a consolidation committee and legacy celebrations if the board approved the measure.
Community speakers sharply contested the proposal during the public‑comment period. Parents and former students said McMasters is an A‑rated campus and warned that closing a high‑performing, small school could harm student outcomes and community cohesion. Emmanuel Guerrero, identified as a Pasadena city council member, criticized the timing and said families and staff were informed too close to the end of the school year.
During board discussion a trustee disclosed a personal conflict (an ex‑spouse employed by McMasters) and said he would abstain from the vote; the motion carried with six votes in favor and one abstention. The motion authorized the closure/consolidation, attendant zoning changes and administrative actions needed to effectuate the plan.
The administration said it would prioritize preserving staff–student connections, communicate placement plans for employees, and work with families on transportation and special services during the transition.
Next steps include formation of a consolidation committee, individual staff placement communications and coordinated transition planning for August move‑in to minimize disruption.
