The Caddo Parish (La.) school board has decided to close three elementary campuses in Shreveport as it copes with declining enrollment and a budget shortfall.
KSLA-TV reports that the schools to be closed are Arthur Circle, Jack P. Timmons and Mooretown.
"The difficult decisions made by the board today are an effort to ensure the future viability of our district and support students and teachers with access to programs and facilities not available at smaller campuses,” School Board President Mary Trammel says.
Mooretown students are being reassigned to Oak Park Elementary; Jack P. Timmons students will be transfered to schools closer to their homes; and Arthur Circle students will attend the newly created Broadmoor STEM Academy.
The action came in response to the shortfall projected for the school district’s fiscal year that begins July 1 because of coronavirus-related funding cuts and declining enrollment.
“When looking at the realities of losing 825 kids per year the last three years, the school board was put in a very difficult position," Caddo schools Superintendent Lamar Goree says. "When you are losing students at that rate, it makes you look to see if you are effectively running the business side of things as well.”
