TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) \u2014 School consolidation took center stage at Tuesday\u2019s Leon County School Board meeting as members discussed ways to address under-enrolled schools, budget pressures, and teacher pay.<\/p>\n
Board Member Alva Smith presented data showing consolidation could reduce operating costs and redirect funding toward teacher salaries and classroom resources.Other board members raised concerns, saying consolidation would not be a permanent fix and stressed the need to explore additional funding options.Watch the video below to hear board members explain their perspectives on consolidation<\/p>\n
Leon County School Board debates school consolidation amid budget concerns<\/p>\n
BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT: <\/p>\n
School consolidation back in the spotlight during Tuesday night\u2019s Leon County School Board meeting. <\/p>\n
I\u2019m Tatyana Purifoy in Southwest Tallahassee. Board Member Alva Smith has advocated for the change for years as a way to save money. But other members raised concerns about the consequences.<\/p>\n
During Tuesday\u2019s meeting, Smith presented data showing several under-enrolled schools across the district. <\/p>\n
She argues merging campuses could reduce operating costs, adjust to declining enrollment, and free up funding for teacher pay and classroom resources.<\/p>\n
Smith said, \u201cI\u2019ve been talking about it for almost 2 years now, waiting patiently. It\u2019s a very emotionally charged topic. It\u2019s very controversial, but we are not growing as a district. We are consistently declining.\u201d<\/p>\n
Board members agreed consolidation could ease some budget pressure. But some argued it would not provide a permanent solution and said it could lead to other problems.<\/p>\n
Member Rosanne Wood said closing a school would hurt families and the communities it serves. <\/p>\n
She called for a different solution.<\/p>\n
Wood said, \u201cI think we\u2019re going to have to ask our community to support us like they always have, and we\u2019re going to need to ask for a millage increase. A one mill increase would generate almost 30 million dollars. Like kind of increase\u2014not closing a school here, closing a school there\u2014that kind of increase would be a complete game changer.\u201d<\/p>\n
Member Wood added she expects the district to have to make cuts in the future.<\/p>\n
Board Member Laurie Cox said consolidation might be an option, but she argued it should not be the only approach. <\/p>\n
She believes the board needs to explore other ways to bring more money into the budget.<\/p>\n
Cox said, \u201cI don’t think we can say we\u2019re not going to have this conversation, because I think it needs to be a huge comprehensive approach. I don’t think closing schools is the first thing we should absolutely look at.\u201d<\/p>\n
Smith says she\u2019s talked to neighbors in the community about this plan, and she hopes the board won\u2019t take this option off the table.<\/p>\n
In Southwest Tallahassee, Tatyana Purifoy, ABC 27.<\/p>\n
Want to see more local news? Visit the WTXL ABC 27 Website.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n Stay in touch with us anywhere, anytime.<\/p>\n Like us on Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n Follow us on\u00a0Instagram\u00a0<\/a>and X.<\/a><\/p>\n