“Things were happening in the office areas, such as cracks in the walls. Doors were beginning to shift, and tiles began popping off the walls,” Kellie Spencer said.
”Things were happening in the office areas, such as cracks in the walls. Doors were beginning to shift, and tiles began popping off the walls,” Kellie Spencer said.
“Things were happening in the office areas, such as cracks in the walls. Doors were beginning to shift, and tiles began popping off the walls,” Kellie Spencer said.
FORT WORTH, Texas — Fort Worth ISD has announced the permanent closure of S.S. Dillow Elementary School due to significant structural issues, leaving parents and students with concerns and questions.
Kellie Spencer, Deputy Superintendent overseeing district facilities, reported that the school exhibited structural problems, including cracks in walls, shifting doors, and tiles detaching in hallways. In response, structural engineers were called on to assess the building’s integrity.
“Things were happening in the office areas, such as cracks in the walls. Doors were beginning to shift, and tiles began popping off the walls in the hallway,” said Spencer.
The engineering assessment concluded that while the building remained structurally safe, there were indications of potential leaks, possibly from the nurse’s area sewer line.
Subsequent investigations ruled out this source, leading to further examinations over spring break. The team identified a 2,000-square-foot area of concern but has yet to determine the exact cause of the structural defects.
“We believe now that we’ve isolated that area to a 2,000 square foot area, but we’re not certain that that is what has happened. Something is happening within that area that is causing this structure. These structural concerns are defects to begin happening in that area,” Spence said.
Given the uncertainty and potentially high costs of necessary repairs, Spencer and her team recommended closing S.S. Dillow Elementary for the 2025-2026 school year.
Stephanie, a Fort Worth resident whose siblings attend the school, expressed her sadness and apprehension about the school’s shutdown. She voiced concerns about the impact on families, especially those with working parents who may face challenges with transportation and safety.
“It’s really sad in a way,” Stephanie said. “I don’t know if that’s a really good idea for kids coming here. Parents who work and can’t travel that far. I mean, even with buses, I don’t know if that’s safe.”
Students will be transitioned to new facilities in the upcoming year.
Fort Worth ISD emphasizes the importance of community and parent input during this transition. Teachers were informed of the closure during an emergency meeting, and the district plans to hold a community meeting Tuesday evening to address parents’ questions and concerns.
Stephanie reflected on her family’s connection to the school, noting, “My parents and my siblings have come to the school.”
“I’m gonna be sad because I’m gonna have to make new friends,” 10-year-old Bria told WFAA after she heard the news. “I’m gonna miss my reading teacher because I’ve been knowing her since third grade,” Bria said.
“And my math teacher, because she teaches us good math.”
Andrea Benson has put four children through the school, including one who is still enrolled and would have been next year with the closure had not come down.
“The school’s been around for a very long time, just knowing it’s not gonna be there anymore is heartbreaking,” she said. “These teachers have known them since they were little, going to teachers who don’t even know them, and know how their thinking or their processing is, is going to be a bit more difficult.”