NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The Norfolk school board listened to recommendations about a number of issues on Wednesday night, including declining enrollment in the district and what this could mean for the future of schools.
“The presentation is for discussion only,” said Tracy Richter, the president of Cooperative Strategies.
Back during the 2008-2009 school year, overall enrollment records show there were more than 34,000 kids enrolled districtwide.
“Enrollment, we’ve been in decline,” he said
During the 2017-2018 school year that number dropped to a little more than 30,000.
10 years from now, the projected enrollment declines to a little more than 28,000.
The recommendations also featured replacing Booker T Washington High, and renovating or replacing Maury High.
The presentation also mentioned converting Lake Taylor Middle and Ruffner into k-8 facilities.
The improvement project mentions creating two new elementary schools, and consolidating Larrymore and Tarralton into one, and consolidating Lindenwood and Willard model school into another.
This also suggests new feeder patterns which could change where your child goes to school.
“This is a big deal, this is huge and this will take time to do,” said Richter.
Richter says they have to go through these early planning steps in order to find out what works best for the district.
You can find out the recommendations for your child’s school here.