State announces closure of 4 MPS schools, other cuts
Matt BosterViewed: 4050
Posted by: Matt Boster
Date: Feb 09 2018 12:15 PM
MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - Interim State Superintendent Dr. Ed Richardson gave an update on the intervention of Montgomery Public Schools and specifically the school district's finances.
Richardson shared his plan to improve the school system's finances and said it's "not going to be easy." The plan includes:
- 17 positions cut at the central offices, which will save $1.1 million.
- Deleting all travel costs for school board members, saving about $51,133.
- Closing four schools for next school year: Floyd Elementary School, Chisholm Elementary School, Dozier Elementary School and Georgia Washington Middle School. This will save $1.4 million.
- All unused properties will be up for sale.
- All nine central office buildings will be closed for next school year and up for sale.
- Georgia Washington Middle School will be sold to the Pike Road School System for $9.75 million. MPS will also receive the $1.5 million that was accidentally given to Pike Road Schools. PRS will pay this all at once, when the sale closes.
The sale of the historic Georgia Washington school has been controversial. The deal fell through once, but Richardson said the school must be sold to prevent hundreds of MPS teachers from being fired.
Richardson said public hearings will be held on the school closings and there will be revised attendance zones and bus routes.
<- back