JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Duval County School Board will vote Monday evening on whether to change high school boundaries and consolidate several schools across Jacksonville.
The proposed changes are part of the district’s plan to address a major budget shortfall.
The consolidation proposals have sparked strong pushback from many families who say they worry about what this means not only for students, but also for their communities.
“Why get rid of them? Why consolidate them? It hasn’t worked. So why now? And then if it doesn’t, what are we gonna do next?” April Hall Lloyd, who is against consolidation, said.
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The district’s consolidation plan, which has been in place for more than a year, is set to help close its $1.4 billion budget gap.
The school board is looking at changing boundaries for these high schools:
Atlantic Coast High
Mandarin High
Englewood High
Sandalwood High
Terry Parker High
The board will also consider merging two elementary schools:
R.L. Brown Elementary with Long Branch Elementary — even though R.L. Brown already went through a consolidation earlier this year.
Another proposal would combine Anchor Academy with Mayport Elementary.
Last year, the board unanimously voted to merge four schools with others.
District leaders said the goal is simple: cut operating costs by reducing the number of schools.
This is just one of several consolidation proposals made by the district.
Monday’s meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the DCPS headquarters on the Southbank.
It is open to the public.
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