Several hundred Fayette County residents turned out for a school district informational session Thursday night to hear a proposal to close some schools to save money.
The district needs to cut $15 million to $20 million from next year’s budget. Teachers and paraprofessionals also could lose their jobs, schools spokeswoman Melinda Berry-Dreisbach said before the meeting.
At the meeting covered by Channel 2 Action News, Superintendent Jeff Bearden said that several years ago, the district relied on studies showing thousands of people would be moving into the county when it embarked on a building plan. The district opened new schools, but with the recession, the expected new residents didn't show.
“We overbuilt,” Bearden said. “We have more schools than we need for the students we have.”
There are two school closure plans, Channel 2 reported. Fayette Middle School would close under both plans. One plan also calls for closing Hood Avenue Primary and Fayetteville Intermediate.
At the meeting, parent Irma Harris said, “I don’t like it because the classes are going to be a lot bigger than they are now, and that’s not good.”
Bearden said the school district hopes to make a decision by year’s end.
Comments on the issue also can be posted on the school board’s website.
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