News Summary
Norfolk Public Schools has requested an extension from the City Council to finalize its school closure and consolidation plan affecting ten schools. With community concerns mounting about the impact of these closures, the school board is seeking to push back the deadline from August 1 to September 19. While the Mayor supports the request for further community engagement, a decision from the City Council will not occur until after their summer recess. The consolidation is part of a strategy to address declining enrollment and financial sustainability.
Norfolk – Norfolk Public Schools officials are requesting a deadline extension from the City Council to finalize their school closure and consolidation plan, which affects ten schools, as community concerns continue to mount. The school board has asked for an extension until September 19, pushing back the initial deadline set for August 1.
The request was formally made in a letter from Norfolk School Board Chair Sarah Dicalogero and Interim Superintendent James Pohl. The letter underscores the need for additional community input before the school closure plan is finalized. Under a resolution passed by the City Council in March, punitive measures could be imposed on the school board if they fail to submit a plan by the agreed-upon date.
The proposed closures stem from a broader strategic consolidation effort that has been in the works for several months, with the aim to address declining student enrollment and financial sustainability. A preliminary list of schools slated for closure includes:
- 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
- Norfolk Technical Center
Community engagement has been a significant focus, with public input sessions held where residents expressed their dissatisfaction with the proposed closure plan. Many community members voiced concerns about the impact of the closures on affected students and neighborhoods, emphasizing the need for a thorough evaluation of the plan.
Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander has expressed support for the extension request, highlighting the importance of facilitating further community dialogue. However, the City Council will not convene to address the request until August 26 due to the ongoing summer recess. Meanwhile, two additional public input sessions are scheduled for Saturday at Norfolk Scope during a back-to-school event titled “Unity in the Community.”
In addition to the closures, the school district is exploring plans to demolish Ghent School and replace it with a new 4,000-seat football stadium as part of the reconstruction of Maury High School. A vote on a related $214.9 million design and construction agreement for Maury High School was recently postponed by the City Council.
The school’s consolidation plan emerges against a backdrop of declining student enrollment, with projections indicating a drop from 31,176 students in 2010 to an estimated 24,459 by 2025—representing a decrease of over 21%. A consultancy report also highlighted that the Norfolk school district manages between three to 17 more schools than necessary, suggesting potential annual savings of $20 million through facility closures.
As planning moves forward, community members have conveyed mixed feelings regarding the impending school closures, with many advocating for their neighborhoods’ needs to be taken into consideration. The consolidation plan is set to begin implementation before the 2026-2027 school year, with the objective of closing at least two schools per year until excess capacity issues are resolved. The School Board is expected to conduct a final vote on the school closure plan on September 17.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
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Community Opposes Proposed School Closures in Norfolk
St. Louis Public Schools Proposes Historic School Closures
Norfolk City Council Delays Decision on High School Project
Norfolk City Council Postpones Vote on Maury High School Plan
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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