PFLUGERVILLE, TEXAS — The Pflugerville ISD board voted Thursday night to move forward with plans to close four elementary schools beginning in the 2027–2028 school year. The board approved the closures of Dessau Elementary School, Parmer Lane Elementary School, Windermere Elementary School and Pflugerville Elementary School.

The district faces an $11 million budget deficit this school year and a projected $18 million deficit for the 2026–2027 school year. Declining enrollment and rising operational costs are driving the decision to close the schools, officials said.

District leaders have been examining solutions since October, developing 12 scenarios to reduce costs, officials said. More than half of those scenarios included school closures.

All four campuses have experienced enrollment declines, according to the district. Pflugerville Elementary School has seen enrollment decline every year for the past six years, and Windermere Elementary School is projected to lose about 150 students over the next five years, officials said. Many students attending Parmer Lane Elementary School are zoned to other schools, and Dessau Elementary School has seen more students transfer to charter and private schools than any other elementary campus in the district.

Officials estimate that Dessau, Parmer Lane and Pflugerville elementary schools combined have nearly 800 empty seats. Closing those campuses could save the district more than $7.1 million in the first year, officials said.

Several parents, teachers and community members spoke during public comment urging district leaders to reconsider and save the campuses from closure. Maria Luper, a parent, called for more openness from the district. "We need more transparency. I know the board has a very difficult job on their hands. They need to take their time before deciding," Luper said.

Trustee Renae Mitchell addressed the financial position of the district during the meeting. "We cannot operate on a running deficit. I am so sorry that no reprieve and no help is coming with no more money for us. It is a sad day," Mitchell said.

Trustee Charlie Torres voiced support for moving forward with the closures. "It's something that we got to do to save our schools. We got to save those programs that are beneficial to all our students," Torres said. He added, "I think we got to get it done, folks. We got to do, what we got to do."