Responding to a ultimatum from the Norfolk, Virginia, City Council, the Norfolk School Board says it will start a school closure and consolidation process for the 2026-27 school year.
The Newport News Daily Press reports that board members have expressed a willingness to work with City Council members and other stakeholders on closing schools, according to a statement from Chair Sarah DiCalogero.
"The School Board of the city of Norfolk is committed to finding the best educational planning solutions for Norfolk Public Schools' students and staff," DiCalogero said.
The response comes after City Council passed a resolution Tuesday asking the school board to create a plan by Aug. 1 to close at least 10 schools.
The resolution asks for the Norfolk district to close and consolidate at least two schools a year until at least 10 schools are closed.
The push to close schools comes as Norfolk's student enrollment continues to decline. According to the resolution, student enrollment has declined by 22% since 2010, from 31,176 students to a projected 24,459 students in 2025.
City Council members say the school system has dragged its feet on creating a school closure plan. The resolution says failure to close schools has cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars in operating costs.
DiCalogero said the board is meeting with Woolpert, a educational planning and facilities consultant, to determine the feasibility of the City Council resolution.
Earlier:
The Norfolk, Virginia, City Council has passed a resolution asking the Norfolk school board to create a plan by Aug. 1 for closing and consolidating at least 10 schools.
The Virginian-Pilot reports that the move comes as enrollment at Norfolk Public Schools has been declining for years.
The resolution asks the school board to submit a plan that would call for the closure and consolidation of at least two schools a year starting before the 2026-2027 school year, and continuing until at least 10 schools are closed.
The Norfolk school system has more than 50 schools or centers open, ranging from pre-K programs to elementary schools, middle schools, high schools and alternative schools.
According to the council resolution, a 2023 Norfolk Public Schools consultant report said the school system had operated between three and 17 more schools than needed for the student population since 2013. The report said closing schools could have saved the system tens of millions of dollars in operational costs.
