The decision was announced during the school board meeting Tuesday night.
) - Lowndes County Schools is moving forward with plans to close three schools after district leaders said a sharp drop in enrollment and ongoing financial challenges have made it too costly to continue operating all seven campuses.
District leaders said Lowndes Middle School, Hayneville Middle School and Jackson-Steele Elementary School will close as part of a broader effort to reorganize the system and better use its limited resources. According to Superintendent Dr. Daniel Boyd, the district’s enrollment has fallen dramatically over the years, dropping from nearly 3,000 students to just 1,007. Boyd said that decline has had a direct impact on the school system’s finances, leaving the district in a deficit and forcing leaders to make what he described as difficult but necessary decisions. “It doesn’t make sense cost-wise to run seven schools for only 1,007 students,” Boyd said during the meeting. District leaders pointed to Jackson-Steele Elementary as one example of the strain the system is facing. Officials said it currently costs more than $300,000 to operate the school, even though only 97 students are enrolled there. School officials said the closures are part of an effort to make the district more financially sustainable while continuing to serve students in existing facilities that already have available classroom space. According to the superintendent, there are already empty classrooms at the schools where the displaced students will be reassigned. District leaders also said teachers will move with the students, a step they believe will help maintain stability and reduce disruption in the classroom. While school officials say the plan is intended to make better use of resources, the closures represent a major change for families and staff across Lowndes County. The district has not only seen a steep decline in student enrollment, but school leaders say that reality has now reached a point where operating several underfilled campuses is no longer financially practical. The transition will affect students currently attending Lowndes Middle School, Hayneville Middle School and Jackson-Steele Elementary, though officials say they are working to make the shift as smooth as possible. The closures come as school systems across rural Alabama continue to face challenges tied to shrinking enrollment, staffing pressures and rising operational costs. For Lowndes County Schools, leaders say this decision is about matching the district’s footprint to its current student population and trying to prevent deeper financial problems moving forward.Court documents reveal details about Prattville teacher’s arrest in online predator stingMontgomery mom says ceiling collapse left her family without safe space; city leaders push for inspections, accountability ‘She was more than a case in a courtroom’: Father of Aniah Blanchard feels ‘peace’ after her killer is found guiltyIran rejects US ceasefire plan, issues its own demands as strikes land across the Mideast
WFSA WSFA 12 News Education Montgomery Lowndes County Schools Enrollment Decline Budget Lowndes Middle School Hayneville Middle School Jackson-Steele Elementary School School Closures District Financial Finances Local
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