Shelby County votes to close 9 schools
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) – The school board in Shelby County has voted to close nine schools and merge two others which will uproot thousands of students.
The Commercial Appeal (http://bit.ly/1lly5qA) reports the board took the vote Tuesday evening after hearing emotional pleas from community members to keep the schools open.
Originally, 13 were slated for closure, but Superintendent Dorsey Hopson recommended removing two schools from the list and merging the others.
The closures were recommended after a district analyses found deteriorating buildings, declining enrollment, failing proficiency scores and a lack of resources to offer programs like music, athletics and art.
Some parents worried that students wouldn’t be sent to schools with better academic results.
