ORLANDO, Fla. – A workshop in Orange County on Tuesday discussed a plan to potentially consolidate seven public schools to deal with falling enrollment.
The school board shared rezoning maps with the public, and surveys collected from the community about the consolidations. A large number came back opposed of the consolidations. However, several board members said this wasn’t something they wanted to do but had to because of the low enrollment numbers.
“Today is really about the rezoning of these schools that we are closing and showing them the maps and where those new boundary lines will be. If parents had a different suggestions and we as a board could look at those and decide what would be best for the community as a whole,” said Alicia Farrant, Board Member.
[WATCH: ‘Potential use’ plans unveiled for 7 Orange County schools up for closure]
Orange County Public Schools is considering a plan to close six elementary schools and one middle school starting next school year:
- Bonneville Elementary School
- Chickasaw Elementary School
- Eccleston Elementary School
- McCoy Elementary School
- Meadow Woods Elementary School
- Orlo Vista Elementary School
- Union Park Middle School
The district says the school closures are necessary because of declining enrollment. In August, the district said enrollment fell by 7,000 students, far more than originally expected.
[WATCH: Orange schools face $25M shortfall after enrollment drops nearly 7K students]
The school board shared rezoning maps with the public, and surveys collected from the community about the consolidations. A large number came back opposed of the consolidations. However, several board members said this wasn’t something they wanted to do but had to because of the low enrollment numbers.
“Today is really about the rezoning of these schools that we are closing and showing them the maps and where those new boundary lines will be. If parents had a different suggestions and we as a board could look at those and decide what would be best for the community as a whole,” said Alicia Farrant, Board Member.
[VIDEO: More Orange County school closures might be unavoidable, superintendent says]
School officials also mentioned that a lot of the electronic submissions of people’s opinions about the consolidations came back unverified because of a missing address. However, they said those would be re-available for members of the community starting Wednesday.
“It is going to disrupt a lot of students and for that I am sad,” said Board Member, Angie Gallo.
Although early in the discussion with the public comments parents did not speak, a man from a local organization that affordable housing said he was concerned the rezoning could create an undercrowding issue for the areas they help.
Last week, Superintendent Dr. Maria Vazquez told school board members that more school closures may be needed.
“I wasn’t going to say this, but we are projected, I believe, for another 5000 students next year, so while I wish I could say this is the last of the consolidations,” Vazquez said.
According to a spokesperson for OCPS, the district is expecting projected enrollment to continue falling over the next two years, and then rebound through the 2036-2036.
The district is currently working on rezoning plans. The school board will not come to a final decision on the closure plan until the spring.
The district says birthrates, immigration policy, aging neighborhoods, and the state’s expansion of taxpayer-funded vouchers are factors in the enrollment decline.