Bibb County School District once again considers shuffling students

The Bibb County School District is still exploring options for redrawing its student attendance zones, including plans that would move most pre-K enrollees to a centralized location.

But district officials stressed they will consider community feedback before finalizing any plans.

The district and hired consultants have laid out three options to pull more students into schools with declining enrollment, which will allow the district to capture more state funding. 

One plan calls for shifting boundaries districtwide. Another would convert L.H. Williams Elementary School, on Pursley Street in Pleasant Hill, to a preschool for the district and leave middle and high schools unaffected.

A third plan would shift pre-K students to L.H. Williams as well, but would also move some students from John R. Lewis Elementary, Weaver Middle and Westside High schools to the attendance zone containing Southwest High School.

Preschoolers at Alexander II, Burdell, Heard and Vineville Academy for the Arts would not be assigned to  L.H. Williams if it becomes an early learning center. But all other public school pre-K students would attend classes at the centralized location. 

Rezoning talk has riled parents and school alumni in the past.

At a town hall meeting organized Monday by the district, three dozen or so people — including elected officials, school board candidates, teachers and the mayor — listened to rezoning proposals and gave their input.

It was a tune familiar to Pleasant Hill residents, who attended similar consolidation meetings last year. Then, community members pushed back and ultimately held off any action.

Several of the same people voiced concerns Monday.

Thomas Duval, who spoke up for L.H. Williams at a community meeting in January 2025, was present again Monday to argue for keeping the school as it is.

“We are not a growing community because our school has problems,” he said. “If we solve all those problems and get our kids reading at grade level, we won’t have enough schools for all the people who will move to Macon, Georgia.”

Ronnie Miller, an L.H. Williams alumnus, came with his wife to object to the district’s proposal to repurpose his alma mater. He said low enrollment can be attributed to the many kids living near downtown Macon and Washington Park who are zoned for Williams, but attend magnet programs instead.

Attendees were again asked to write down their concerns, questions and suggestions on poster boards for district officials to note down and use to inform their final recommendation to the board of education.

Among the thoughts added to the board were concerns about losing local pre-K programs and the cost of transportation. Someone also noted the benefits that come with proximity to services for students, such as after-school and health care programs.

The district held an online town hall meeting Tuesday and are asking for feedback via their online survey.

“This is just an initial look at what’s happening in terms of the data, but it does not exclude anything that you said,” Katika Lovett, deputy superintendent of the Bibb County School District, told the people attending Monday’s meeting.

Scott Leopold, one of the consultants with HPM Leadership, said he expects pushback because parents want pre-K in their neighborhood elementary schools.

The solutions initially proposed by HPM have not passed unfettered by other school boards in the past, he said. The district has yet to note the cost savings associated with each of its rezoning proposals.

Allison Roberts, who has worked as a teacher for 11 years, said any decision made shouldn’t just be about money, but also about ensuring students receive the resources they need and the best possible education, regardless of attendance zone.

While still wanting to see more options, Roberts said she prefers redrawing school zones for all students and not just elementary schoolers.

“I think a more strategic look at balancing across all districts is in everyone’s best interest,” she said.