The Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS) has recommended the closure or consolidation of five schools next year, with the possibility of further shutdowns. The decisions were guided by the district's Facility Profile Index, which ranks buildings based on condition, operating cost, and enrollment. The index, developed by the operations department in February, aims to track the return on investment in facilities.
Four of the ten schools labeled 'critical' on the list are included in this round of cuts. However, one school flagged for closure, Liberty High School, is not even in the top 20. JCPS explains that Liberty is set to close because other schools offer credit recovery, which is the primary purpose of the school.
Western High School, ranked at the top of the index but untouched in this round, is facing low enrollment at just 27 percent capacity. JCPS chief operations officer Dr. Rob Fulk suggests that the school's enrollment needs three years to grow, so no changes are planned for the building.
Other schools high on the list but not part of this round of cuts include:
- McFerran Preparatory Academy (No. 5): JCPS recommends rebuilding on the same site due to low enrollment and an aging building.
- Breckenridge-Franklin (No. 6): Despite high operating costs and poor building condition, it is still considered necessary within its cluster.
- Churchill Park (No. 8): With costs exceeding $120,000 per student, no changes are planned.
- Olmsted Academy South (No. 10): JCPS is considering consolidating it with Olmsted North.
The schools that are part of this round of cuts include:
- TAPP (No. 2) and Waller Williams (No. 3) will be moved to different facilities.
- King Elementary (No. 7) will move into Maupin's building.
- Zachary Taylor Elementary (No. 9) will close entirely.
Other schools, such as Newburg, Wellington, Hawthorne, and Coleridge-Taylor, remain under review as the district works to reduce costs. For Hawthorne, the recommendation is to monitor building conditions for improvements.
The Jefferson County Board of Education will vote on the proposed closures and consolidations at its December 9 meeting. The full Facility Profile Index list is available for reference.
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