No school closures for now, Bibb County school board decides

The Bibb County school board decided Thursday that it will not close any schools, halting a yearlong process of studying the possibility to save money. 

Instead, it plans to balance enrollment by rezoning some students to schools where enrollment is below the state’s minimum of 450. Seven of the district’s 22 elementary schools fall below the state’s minimum, according to March data from the Georgia Department of Education.

Factors driving the discussion included a yearslong trend of declining student enrollment, aging facilities and a need to cut costs to remain fiscally sound. 

Deputy Superintendent Katika Lovett told the board declining enrollment is not yet “severe” enough to warrant closures and the district can instead “rebalance” enrollment by rezoning students to under-enrolled schools before considering other options.

Deciding to pass on school closures avoids disrupting “community identity and neighborhood ties,” Lovett told board members, noting criticisms gleaned from community meetings last month.

“Consolidation is always a possibility, but we did thorough analysis to say that it’s something we don’t want to pursue,” Lovett said.

Though the need to close schools to save taxpayer money has been discussed for years, the district began exploring the possibility in August when it formed a steering committee and began hosting town halls at schools it considered for closure. 

L.H. Williams, Hartley and Porter elementary schools were the three identified by the school district for potential closure. Other options included rezoning students at John R. Lewis and Taylor elementary schools.

“We had an opportunity to take a deep dive,” board president Myrtice Johnson said. “It puts us a step further ahead of what to do in the future and maximize student achievement.”

Bibb County board member James Freeman said the process showed the solution is not as simple as merging one school with another. 

“The scenarios didn’t make sense until we looked at rezoning,” Freeman told The Melody.

Closing any one of the three elementary schools would have saved the district about $900,000 annually, while the other options presented offered “no significant cost savings,” Lovett said.

While the district is facing a financial deficit, Bibb County Schools CFO Eric Bush said school closures are not imperative but “one of many tools” that can be used to save money.

Thomas Duvall, who has advocated to keep L.H. Williams Elementary open, said the board’s decision to not close one or more schools was like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He said he was grateful to the district for listening to the community’s pleas to keep schools open.

Lovett recommended the district hire a consultant to conduct an organizational efficiency study to find ways to cut costs. The request for proposals would be published in May and completed in July. 

The board also approved buying new chromebooks and 10 buses. It also approved a contract with SP Design Group to begin working on a new gymnasium for Northwoods Academy.

The school board is set to vote on its budget for next fiscal year in May before hosting two public hearings in June.