Providence (R.I.) board decides to close 5 schools

From The Providence Journal: The Providence (R.I.) School Board, over the raucous objections of a crowd of 400 parents, teachers and students, has voted to close five schools. The schools that will be closed: Asa Messer Elementary, Messer Annex, Windmill Elementary, Flynn Elementary and West Broadway Elementary. The board also decided that Bridgham Middle School will be converted to an elementary school. Mayor Angel Taveras says the city faces a severe financial crisis and will save between $7.7 million and $10.4 million by closing the schools and cutting staff. He says the schools must shoulder a big part of the budget deficit because it accounts for about half of the city's budget.
MARCH 2011...from The Providence Journal: Officials in Providence, R.I., have recommended closing four elementary school buildings as part of an effort to save $12 million. Flynn Elementary, Windmill Street Elementary, Asa Messer Elementary and Messer Annex would close by June 30. Students and staff from the two Messer schools would move to nearby Bridgham Middle School, which would become an elementary school. In addition, the West Broadway Elementary School students would be moved out of the DelSesto Middle School complex and those students would have the opportunity to move to Bridgham. DelSesto would return to educating middle school students only.