During a November 9 board sustainability workshop, Frisco Independent School District (FISD) leaders recommended demolition of the former Staley Middle School campus. The recommendation follows a review of three possible paths for the property: renovation and repurposing, sale, or demolition.
Why demolition is favored
Deputy Superintendent of Business and Operations Kim Smith explained that renovation would require replacing aging underground plumbing and would add roughly $300,000 a year in maintenance and operations costs. “We don’t think selling the Staley building is the best option. We would lose control over anything that happens on that piece of property that’s surrounded by other district facilities,” Smith said, adding that demolition “would probably be the best option for the district long term.”
Smith noted that even while vacant, the building’s utilities must stay on to prevent mold, and any unexpected repairs—such as a burst pipe—would further increase expenses.
Background on the school’s closure
FISD voted on October 20, 2025, to permanently close Staley Middle School, citing a district‑wide decline in middle‑school enrollment and the need for costly underground plumbing replacement. Earlier, in April 2025, the board narrowly rejected a proposal to close the campus at the end of the 2024‑25 school year, directing staff to gather additional demographic data. A $102.33 million proposal to rebuild Staley was included in a 2024 bond measure that voters ultimately rejected, and students were rezoned to Hunt, Trent and Griffin middle schools.
Next steps
Before demolition can proceed, the board must adopt a resolution formally declaring that the former Staley building has no further educational use. Only after that declaration can officials move forward with a demolition contract and timeline.
The district is also developing a real‑property master plan to guide long‑term decisions about facilities and land assets that are no longer needed, according to board documents.
Original reporting: Community Impact — Frisco — read the source article.
