The Norfolk (Virginia) School Board has approved a plan to close nine schools by the 2033-34 school year.
The Daily Press reports that the vote comes after Norfolk City Council asked the School Board in March to create a plan to close at least 10 schools, threatening to change how schools were funded if the board failed to do so.
“I know it will be difficult, but our kids are resilient, and they will bounce back quicker than the adults,” said board chair Sarah DiCalogero.
The plan calls for these schools to close: Ghent School, Tarrallton Elementary School, Willoughby Early Childhood Center, Granby Elementary School, P.B. Young Sr. Elementary School, Norview Elementary School, Berkley-Campostella Early Childhood Center, Southeastern Cooperative Educational Programs Center and Norfolk Technical Center.
Willoughby and Norview would close at the beginning of the 2026-27 school year. Tarrallton, P.B. Young, Granby and Ghent School would close at the beginning of the 2027-28 school year. The Southeastern Cooperative Educational Programs Center would close at the beginning of the 2028-29 school year. Berkley-Campostella Early Childhood Center would close at the beginning of the 2029-30 school year and Norfolk Technical Center would close at the beginning of the 2033-34 school year.
The Ghent School program will move to the Academy of International Studies space at Rosemont Middle School. The Southeastern Cooperative Educational Program will move into Chesterfield Elementary School, and students from Willoughby will move into Oceanair Elementary School.
Lindenwood Elementary School would be converted into a professional development center.
Under the plan, Lake Taylor High School, Jacox Elementary School and potentially one other school would be rebuilt, the plan lists the St. Helena Elementary School and Suburban Park Elementary School sites as possible locations for construction.
The Norfolk City Council will need to approve the plan.
