County officials chide Seminole County (Fla.) school district over glut of classroom seats

From The Orlando Sentinel: The Seminole County (Fla.) Commission is criticizing the School Board, saying poor planning and overbuilding has created a glut of classroom seats and unnecessary expenses that now is forcing the board to consider closing schools. A debate on whether to close two schools to cut expenses is angering the public and damaging the county's prospects for economic development, commissioners say. Commissioners chided school officials for running up a construction debt that is costing $23 million a year to repay. A state projection estimates that enrollment in traditional Seminole public schools might drop to 49,000 students over the next 10 years — a loss of nearly 15,000. The district already has more than 10,000 vacant seats. Superintendent Bill Vogel says the state is projecting a huge shift to charter schools and private school vouchers.