RICHMOND, Va (WTVR)--The Rezoning committee recommended the school system do away with at least four elementary schools.
Option One: Close Summer Hill
Option Two: Close either Bellevue or George Mason.
Option Three: Close Fisher or Southampton
Option Four: Close John B. Cary
"Some areas will be impacted more than others," says Rezoning Committee Chairm Shonda Harris- Muhammed. Harris-Muhammed tells CBS 6, they targeted elementary schools for closure because many of those buildings are underutilized with fewer students.
However, school board member, Dr. Normah Murdoch- Kitt tells us, she wanted the committee to look at the reorganizing the city’s middle schools as well.
"Looking at the numbers that are there, we could have done without at least one middle school on the southside” says Murdoch-Kitt.
"We feel, as a committee, we did not get the accurate data that we needed to move forward with closing a middle school , Harris-Muhammed tells CBS 6.
So, instead only a few middle and high school students may be shifted to a different school because of rezoning, in order to alleviate overcrowding in certain buildings.
Now that the rezoning committee made its pitch, Hass is encouraging you to make yours.
"It cannot just be just a couple of people telling the school board what they would like to see “ says Hass.
The Richmond City School Board will hold public hearings on May 29 at George Wythe High School and on May 31 at John Marshall High School.
Both public hearings will begin at 6:30 p.m. The School Board is expected to vote on the Rezoning Plan June 18 at its 7 p.m. meeting in City Hall.
