JPS Board of Trustees Votes to Approve the Superintendent's Optimization Plan

December 20, 2023

On December 19, 2023, the JPS Board of Trustees voted to pass the revised Optimization Plan presented by Superintendent Dr. Errick L. Greene during their regularly scheduled meeting. This plan, initially introduced in 倬勘, addresses the need for strategic measures due to a significant decline in district enrollment, amounting to approximately 9,500 students lost between the 2015-16 and 2023-24 school years. According to the Optimization Plan, the following schools will be closed effective during the 2024-2025 school year:

Dawson Elementary
Lake Elementary
Lester Elementary
Marshall Elementary
Raines Elementary
Sykes Elementary
Shirley Elementary
G.N. Smith Elementary
Chastain Middle
Whitten Middle
Wingfield High

"Our decision to close and consolidate schools was not an easy decision, but it was a necessary one, and I want to express my sincere appreciation to the Board of Trustees for their thoughtful deliberation and ultimate endorsement of the Optimization Plan," said Dr. Greene. "During these challenging times of financial constraints and difficult decisions, the significance of unity and understanding cannot be emphasized enough. I express gratitude to those who supported the plan and recognize the voices of community members who did not support the proposed initiative. Let us unite as we persist in building and maintaining a fiscally sound school system for the improvement of our capital city."

The consolidation of Obama IB Elementary and Wells APAC Elementary with their respective middle schools—Northwest IB and Bailey APAC—will be postponed until 2025. This delay allows for the completion of renovations at Bailey APAC Middle School.

The plan also includes the establishment of a Facilities Repurposing Advisory Committee. This committee, overseen by a consultant, will make recommendations to the Board for each closed building. The consultant will actively pursue private and public funding to support redevelopment efforts, categorizing closed school buildings into sale/lease, redevelopment, or demolition.