Mark your calendar: The DeKalb County School District will soon release an updated plan for potential school closures and redistricting.

In February, the district released an initial plan that included the possible closure of 27 schools, expansion of 11 and conversion of eight to serve different grade levels. The plan isn’t final and was meant to start conversation — and it had its intended effect.

Parents and community members took to group chats, social media, in-person and virtual feedback meetings and an online survey to weigh in about the early version of the plan. Many are anxious about the potential changes.

At 8 a.m. March 20, the district will make public a second round of possible plans, called a “scenario.” They’re expected to include more details about specific clusters, potential grade band configurations, more clarity around alternative uses for buildings that could close and more information about capital improvement plans, including rebuilds.

Interim Superintendent Norman Sauce said at a board meeting this week that he knows the redistricting process is tough for the community.

“In order for us to get to the place of clarity, consistency and coherence ultimately for the long term, we have this temporary moment of perceived incoherence that we know the community feels,” he said.

Feedback so far has come in the form of questions from parents and opposition to individual school closures.

People are worried about how the initial plan was made. They want to know where students will go if their school is closed. They wonder whether the final impacts will be equitable across the northern and southern portions of the county. They’re thinking about traffic impacts, finances, jobs, academic performance and more.

“You kind of, like, know you’re doing it right if people on both ends of the spectrum are unhappy,” said board member Whitney McGinniss. “I think that we have gotten the feedback that we’re moving too fast and we’re moving too slow and we released too much information and not enough.”

Some board members have been critical of the redistricting process so far. The board hired HPM, a consultant, in 2025 to manage its capital improvement program, and renewed its contract in January.

But several board members have questioned why HPM employees have been leading community input sessions and giving media interviews rather than district staff. Others have questioned whether it makes sense to slate some schools for possible closure when they are slated for renovations in the near future.

In addition to those concerns, board member Tiffany Hogan questioned the timing of it all. Former Superintendent Devon Horton started the redistricting process, but he resigned in October after he was indicted on federal charges in Illinois related to a kickback scheme in his old job. Hogan said she doesn’t think it’s appropriate to decide about potential school closures without a permanent leader in place.

“I don’t agree with how we went about doing this,” Hogan said in February. “I know we want to continue on as if everything is normal, but it’s not.”

The school board won’t vote on any final decisions until the end of the year. The district will be collecting feedback through May. Over the summer, it will use the feedback to refine options for closures, attendance boundaries and program placement.

More feedback opportunities

With a new round of scenarios comes new opportunities to let the district know your thoughts.

Virtual community meetings — Staff will present information relevant to the entire district.