Changes slated for WFISD middle schools
The Wichita Falls ISD School Board and Dr. Donny Lee, superintendent, middle, recognized At-large Trustee Katherine McGregor, far right, with a service award. McGregor served as School Board president for two years. WFISD School Board members elected Place 3 Trustee Mark Lukert, far left, to be the new president earlier in December. George Svoboda/Times Record News
George Svoboda
For the Times Record News
Dec. 13, 2024, 5:02 p.m. CT
The Wichita Falls ISD Board recently addressed concerns regarding the closure of the McNiel Middle School campus.
To revamp the district and improve middle school academic performance across the board, WFISD is shutting down McNiel after the 2024-2025 school year and moving its students to Rider Middle School.
Rider will be opened after a roughly $2.3 million refresh project. District officials expect the project to be complete for the 2025-2026 academic year.
During a Dec. 10 special session, School Board members also discussed redistricting school attendance zones to streamline students’ progression from elementary to high school.
Assistant Superintendent of Operations Scot Hafley said redistricting attendance zones will alleviate Barwise Middle School’s overcrowding and move kids into newer, cleaner facilities.
“Transitions are tough — not just tough on kids and parents. It can be tough on board members when community members don’t always understand why,” Hafley told trustees.
The new feeder pattern would also bring Barwise’s attendance down to approximately 969 students, a nearly 200-student decrease.
Hafley said the attendance numbers across Wichita Falls middle schools will “take, probably, two school years to balance out.”
Incoming sixth- and seventh-grade students will be required to attend the newly designated middle schools as laid out by the new zones.
However, the district will allow incoming eighth-grade students to apply for a transfer so they can finish at the same middle school. Any eighth-graders who transfer will still attend the high school assigned to their new zone.
Trustees also recognized outgoing School Board President Katherine McGregor with a service award.
McGregor served as president for two years, helping WFISD navigate to better ground financially, build two new high schools and hire a new superintendent.
“Everything starts and stops with leadership,” Dr. Donny Lee, WFISD superintendent, said. “[McGregor] came in at some pretty tumultuous times. . . . Ms. McGregor, you came in and led the board and steered the board in the right direction.”
Place 3 Trustee Mark Lukert replaced McGregor as the School Board’s new president in December.
“It’s been a privilege to work with everybody and staff and teachers," McGregor said to the audience. "We have the highest respect for all of you."
