WFISD will keep transfer policy, add appeals process

Lynn Walker, Wichita Falls Times Record News
Updated ·2 min read

Despite complaints from some parents, the Wichita Falls Independent School District Board of Trustees will forge ahead with a new transfer policy in the 2023-24 school year. The policy covers how students may switch schools within the district.

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Considering anticipated changes wrought by the construction of two new high schools, the board voted in September to limit transfers to extenuating circumstances to limit overcrowding at some schools. The issue was revisited Monday because the board has empaneled four new members since the previous vote.

The matter had been reconsidered by a seven-member transfer committee, which recommended against any changes Monday.

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“Now, that doesn’t mean everyone is locked into that because we have an appeals process to allow some flexibility,” Executive Director of School Administration Debbie Dipprey said.

The appeal would be a two-step process. Under it, families could first appeal to Associate Superintendent Peter Griffiths on which school their student is assigned and if they get no satisfaction there they can appeal to the school board.

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“We don’t want to make it hard on our families,” Superintendent Donny Lee said. “At the same time, we want to get everybody back to their neighborhood school.”

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Dipprey said the district will send letters to every family with students in WFISD telling them where their children are expected to report this fall. The families must sign the forms and return them to the district.

“Frankly, time is of the essence,” Dipprey said. “We need to do this as quickly as possible.”

“We are Wichita Falls ISD and we shouldn’t look at one campus as got better services or academic program over here or better opportunities over there. Wherever you’re zoned at, that will be the best neighborhood elementary that can serve their student,” Lee said.

Two parents spoke against the new transfer policy prior to the board getting down to business.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: WFISD will keep transfer policy, add appeals process