Hiram H Belding Elementary School

To be honest, I’m pretty frustrated with the situation at Belding right now. My kid’s class is consistently packed, and it feels like when one bug hits the room, everyone is out for a week because they're practically on top of each other. The school’s chronic absenteeism is hovering around 26%, which is a huge red flag for how they’re managing student health. It’s hard for the kids to stay healthy when the attendance is that low and the environment feels reactive rather than proactive. Plus, seeing reports about the school needing to troubleshoot basic safety stuff like the fire pump system doesn't exactly make me feel like the building maintenance is a top priority. It's a 'vibrant' school, sure, but it feels like the wellness side is really slipping through the cracks.

Honestly, Belding has been pretty great since my youngest started in preschool here. The classrooms are surprisingly clean for such an old building in Old Irving, and you can tell the janitorial staff really puts in the work. I appreciate that the office is super quick to send out emails if there’s a spike in strep or something going around in a specific grade—it helps us keep a lookout at home. My only real gripe is that the nurse isn't there every single day of the week, which can be stressful if your kid has an allergy or needs regular meds, but the office staff is usually pretty helpful and steps in when needed.