The Parma (Ohio) District has unveiled a school consolidation plan to reduce the number of campuses from 15 to seven.
Fox 8 News reports that the district administration is recommending a "4-2-1" model-- four elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school. That would result in Parma, Normandy and Valley Forge High Schools being consolidated into one school.
“It’s a very difficult decision," said Superintendent Charles Smialek. "We’ve often said if there were one perfect plan, we would have enacted it decades ago,” said Smialek.
The other option the board could consider is four elementary schools with two secondary campuses.
Parm's facility plan must be approved by the board and presented to the state by March 31. Then the state will determine how much construction funding it will provide to the district. The school board has to decide by Jully whether it will place a bond request on the November ballot.
“We know that consolidation is part of our future," said Smialek "We want to consolidate into new schools, not consolidate into older schools with issues. It would cost $215 million just to fix the old schools."
Smialek said he remains optimistic despite the fact that Parma voters soundly defeated a proposed school levy less than a year ago.
