Mobile County school leaders said in March 2009 that some proposed campus closures and consolidations could be reconsidered after public hearings and new information about federal stimulus funding.
Superintendent Roy Nichols had proposed possible closures of Hillsdale Middle School, Fonvielle Elementary and Woodcock Elementary. His plan also included consolidating Old Shell Road, Dunbar, Chickasaw and Clark Magnet schools.
Public hearing on Fonvielle
More than 150 people attended a hearing focused on the future of Fonvielle Elementary. Parents and community members described the school’s academic role, transportation challenges and the long-standing need for building repairs.
Some speakers argued that the school’s condition reflected years of neglect. Others said a closure would create practical burdens for families, especially those concerned about travel costs and getting children to school while also maintaining work schedules.
Funding and final decisions
Nichols said he might remove some schools from the list, but did not identify which ones. He said public comments and the expected effect of the federal stimulus package would factor into the decision.
He was scheduled to meet with the state superintendent in Montgomery to learn more about how much stimulus funding Mobile County might receive. The school board was expected to vote on the proposed closings and changes at its April 24 meeting.
The March 2009 hearing showed how school-closure decisions extended beyond budgets and enrollment. Families, students and community leaders raised questions about equity, facility investment and the impact of consolidation on neighborhoods across Mobile County.