DeKalb County schools could receive $3.5 million in state construction aid if it closed more schools, the Georgia Department of Education said on Tuesday.

A school system analysis found DeKalb could save $15 million a year by closing 14 schools and redistricting thousands of students. The bulk of that -- $13.4 million -- would be from staff cuts, not state construction dollars.

School officials have touted the redistricting plan by stressing that the district is losing out on millions of dollars in school construction aid by having 11,000 empty classroom seats.

The school analysis showed the district would gain only $500,000 more per year by getting rid of those seats.

However, that number is based only on cutting 6,000 seats, said Lynn Jackson, director of Business Operations for the Georgia Department of Education. The $500,000 figure could rise to much as $3.5 million if DeKalb got rid of 11,000 empty seats, Jackson said.

“If they did away with all 11,000, they could get as much as $3.5 million annually,” Jackson said The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “It’s a ballpark number. Nothing is concrete in this for years going forward because it can wax and wane based on your need and the needs of other systems.”

The state entitlement program looks at each district’s need for renovations and new buildings based on a facilities plan. That need is weighed against the amount of state money allocated each year and the needs of other districts, Jackson said.

This year, DeKalb received $9 million in state aid for facilities.

School spokesman Walter Woods said the district could capitalize on more dollars in the future. School leaders hope to close more schools over the next nine years, Woods said.

“Under the 2020 vision plan, the objective is to close that gap completely,” Woods said. “We can’t do it all in one year. It’s just too disruptive. As we move to close that gap, the savings will go up.”

Of the $15 million estimated annual savings, $13.4 million will come from cutting 180 school employees, including principals, counselors, custodians, secretaries, nurses and other workers. School officials insist no one will lose his or her job through layoffs.

“The student population does not change,” board chairman Tom Bowen said. “There is still a need for the same number of educators. If there were any over-staffing of administrative personnel, this would be addressed by attrition and reducing our annual hiring levels for the upcoming school year.”

The district hires between 300 and 400 people annually to fill resignations and retirements, Woods said. The district employs 7,002 school personnel.

“We’ll be able to educate the same number of kids for $150 million less over the next 10 years," Woods said. "If you are going to a DeKalb taxpayer for the next 10 years, that’s a good deal.”

To parents already upset about the redistricting, the savings don’t seem worth it. Parents have spent the past few weeks protesting, threatening lawsuits and complaining about the proposed plan.

Parents in north-end schools have said they don’t want students from apartments attending their schools, which caused others to cry racism.

In response, the Huntley Hills Elementary School Council sent a letter to the interim superintendent, saying it didn't want to lose students in its school who live in two nearby apartment complexes.

“We are greatly concerned about the negative impact this proposed redistricting would have on an already vulnerable and economically disadvantaged group of students, who have been shifted around, like dots on map, as they try to rebuild, once again, new relationships with peers, teachers, staff and other parents,” the council wrote.

On Monday, interim superintendent Ramona Tyson will unveil a revised redistricting plan. The school board icould approve the closures on March 7.

H. Paul Womack, the board’s vice chairman, has said the savings are needed to help with anticipated $50 million shortfall in next year’s budget.

On top of the disruption to about 15,000 of the district’s 98,000 students, it will cost $110,000-$140,000 to implement the redistrict, including moving and appraisal costs. There also might be some additional annual costs to accommodate bands and athletics at centralized magnet schools, Woods said.

Staff savings per school on the closure list:

Medlock: $868,211

Livsey $839, 740

Rock Chapel $816,141

Bob Mathis $1,028,955

Sky Haven $856,738

Gresham Park $824,205

Peachcrest: $907,080

Atherton: $932,162

Toney: $760,681

Glen Haven: $808,918

Wadsworth Magnet: $759,066

Avondale Middle; $1,416,907

Avondale High: $1,518,641

Kittredge Magnet: $1,051,378

Source: DeKalb County schools