TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Amid state budget cuts and school choice, talk of consolidating Leon County Schools has made its way into the public.
School Board Member Alva Smith said data from the Department of Education (DOE) shows multiple schools in Leon County are being utilized at less than 70% capacity. Smith said that’s the mark where inefficiency creeps in.
However, School Board Chair Dr. Marcus Nicolas said talk of consolidating schools is premature until Superintendent Rocky Hanna presents his plan for cost-saving measures to the board. Nicolas said he would block an agenda item on consolidation until the plan is revealed, though Smith vowed to bring it up anyway during “member time.”
Both acknowledged a natural tension between the school board, which oversees legislative responsibilities, and the superintendent, who operates as a chief executive. Both Nicolas and Smith said they respect each other while disagreeing on this issue.
Data provided by Smith showed that, for example, W.T. Moore Elementary School is operating at just 64% total capacity. However, Nicolas pointed out that at some schools, class sizes have been intentionally kept low, leaving open the option to increase capacity.
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Smith said school choice or “vouchers” makes it difficult for the district to plan how many students will attend each school, as the numbers consistently fluctuate. She added that LCS does not have enough data on school choice to tweak its formula, but she believes the capacity data and birth rate data show school consolidation would boost teacher salaries while saving money on empty or underused spaces.
Nicolas said the superintendent’s plan could include “co-location” of schools, but he called talk of closing schools premature. WCTV also reached out to the superintendent, though a spokesperson referred us to Nicolas, the chair of the board.
School Board Member Rosanne Wood responded to WCTV’s request for comment on the consolidation conversation in an email on Tuesday afternoon.
“Neighborhood schools are essential hubs for each community they serve. Consolidating schools means that suddenly, school communities are broken apart, causing children to be bused out of their neighborhoods. Most underenrolled schools are Title I schools, where parent involvement is crucial. As a school board representative, I believe that consolidation should be a last resort. Figuring out how to better utilize the school’s space to benefit the children is the right approach. I’m thrilled that we are looking for innovations, like bringing Head Start and other preschool programs into our taxpayer-funded schools. Research shows that early intervention will benefit our children throughout their school experience,” Wood said.
WCTV also reached out to all of the other school board members, including the student member, but has not yet heard back. The school board will next meet on Jan. 12 but will then hold a yearly retreat on Jan. 26 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m..
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