FW Parents Worry About Top-Ranked Elementary School's Future

School district putting together bond package

Parents are concerned about the effects of a proposed bond program on Tanglewood Elementary in Fort Worth.

Concerns arose when the Fort Worth Independent School District board began discussing possible changes from a bond package to improve security, technology and classroom overcrowding.

"We think it's a great school," parent Amy Nettle said. "And the teachers and principal are great, and we just don't want that to change."

She is one of many parents who've commented on the Facebook group Save Tanglewood Elementary.

Tanglewood Elementary is overcrowded, as are several other schools that feed into Paschal High School.

But the elementary school, which is located off Hulen Street not far from Texas Christian University, often ranks as one of the top elementary schools in the state. In fact, the Fort Worth school district announced Thursday that the school was one of seven in the district to receive all three distinction designations from the Texas Education Agency.

Rumors that the school would close, move locations or split its kindergarten through fifth-grade students with another school have spread.

"There does seem to be a lot of confusion and been a lot of possibilities out there being discussed, and we're hoping Tanglewood will stay where it is," Nettle said.

No bond program decisions have been finalized yet, Fort Worth ISD said. The district posted this statement on its website this week to try to relieve parents' concerns:

The Fort Worth ISD is looking forward to sharing more information about the proposed 2013 bond election for our schools in the days ahead. Although the budget is not yet finalized, there are a few statements we can make with absolute certainty about the Capital Improvement Agenda for this project.

  1. Tanglewood Elementary will not be closed.
  2. It is very likely an addition will be designed for the existing Tanglewood campus.
  3. The District is committed to meeting with citizens in each board member's attendance zones and any other organizations that wish to know more about these plans.

Board member Judy Needham, who represents the area, told NBC 5 by phone that she would recommend the addition if it's what most parents want. She said she hopes an informational meeting on Thursday night at the school would help provide some answers and put an end to misnomers out there.

Nettle said she's absolutely in favor of the bond and district investment in its schools across the city, but she doesn't want the board to rush. She said she wants every neighborhood to have a chance to weigh in on the proposals.

"The community hasn't had enough chance to give our input into this bond package, and we hope tonight to be able to do that," she said.

But the Fort Worth ISD board is under a tight timeline. The deadline to get a bond package on the November ballot is Aug. 26. The only board meeting scheduled before that date is Tuesday.

A bond package workshop is scheduled for Monday, during which board members will direct staff and staff will write up the final bond proposal.

Thursday's meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Tanglewood Elementary auditorium.

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