News Summary
Norfolk Public Schools is seeking a deadline extension from the City Council to finalize plans for closing and consolidating ten schools. The request aims to allow more community input before a vote scheduled on September 17. Mayor Kenny Alexander supports additional engagement amid concerns over the impact of these closures on local neighborhoods. Public input sessions have highlighted the community’s mixed responses as enrollment declines spur discussions on operational efficiency, with plans to close at least two schools annually until the district’s capacity is addressed.
Norfolk, VA – Norfolk Public Schools officials are formally requesting a deadline extension until September 19 from the City Council to finalize their plan for closing and consolidating ten schools. This request is aimed at allowing more time for community input regarding the impact of these closures. The initial deadline set by the Norfolk City Council was August 1, following a resolution passed in March that included potential punitive measures for the school board if they were unable to present a viable plan.
Norfolk School Board Chair Sarah Dicalogero and Interim Superintendent James Pohl submitted the request in order to better engage the community in discussions relevant to the proposed changes. The district has been actively developing a strategy for consolidation for several months, yet public input sessions have revealed substantial criticism from community members who are concerned about the ramifications of school closures on affected students and the neighborhoods surrounding these institutions.
Among the ten schools on the preliminary list proposed for closure are Ghent School, Tarrallton Elementary School, Willoughby Early Childhood Center, P.B. Young Sr. Elementary School, Lindenwood Elementary School, Granby Elementary School, Berkley Campostella Early Childhood Education Center, Norview Elementary School, the Southeastern Cooperative Educational Programs Center, and Norfolk Technical Center.
Support for the extension has been voiced by Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander, who believes additional community engagement is essential. However, the City Council will not convene to discuss this request until August 26 due to the summer recess, sparking urgency around the situation as the School Board plans to vote on the closure proposal on September 17.
In addition to the school closures, there is a concurrent discussion concerning the fate of Ghent School, which may be closed and demolished to make way for a new 4,000-seat football stadium as part of a larger reconstruction plan for Maury High School. The City Council has also postponed a vote on a significant design and construction agreement involving Maury High School, valued at $214.9 million.
To facilitate further dialogue, two additional public input sessions are scheduled for this Saturday at Norfolk Scope, coinciding with a Unity in the Community back-to-school event. These sessions are aimed at gathering community feedback on the proposed school closures and other related changes.
The backdrop of these proposed school closures is a concerning trend of declining student enrollment within the Norfolk school district, which has seen a decrease from a peak of 31,176 students in 2010 to an estimated 24,459 by 2025. This 21% drop in enrollment has prompted discussions about the district’s operational efficiency. A consultant’s report indicated that the district could potentially be maintaining 3 to 17 more schools than necessary and could save approximately $20 million annually through the closing of excess facilities.
Community responses to the potential consolidation have been mixed, with various stakeholders advocating for their neighborhoods’ needs to be prioritized in the planning process. As Norfolk Public Schools aim to implement the consolidation plan before the 2026-2027 school year, there is an identifiable goal of closing at least two schools per year until excess capacity within the district has been appropriately addressed.
Through this comprehensive engagement and revisiting of the plan timelines, Norfolk Public Schools seeks to not only close schools but also to foster an educational environment that reflects the evolving needs of its community. As the discussions continue, the outcome will greatly affect the educational landscape in Norfolk for years to come.
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Additional Resources
- Pilot Online: Norfolk School Closure Update
- Wikipedia: Norfolk, Virginia
- 13 News Now: List of Norfolk Schools Closing
- Google Search: Norfolk Schools Closure
- WAVY: Norfolk School Board Proposed Closures
- Google Scholar: Norfolk School Closures
- Virginia Mercury: Norfolk School Board Action Plan
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Public Education
- WTKR: Norfolk Schools Closure Plan Unveiled
- Google News: Norfolk Public Schools
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