School Board Considers Closures

Four Mobile County schools may be forced to permanently close their doors.

The Mobile County school board will meet Wednesday to discuss the fate of Hillsdale Middle, Fonvielle Elementary, Woodcock Elementary and Old Shell Road Magnet School.

School board member Levon Manzie, who represents district four, says the list of schools on the chopping block was emailed to board members by Superintendent Roy Nichols.

"It's important for the public to understand this is only a recommendation formulated by the superintendent or the staff of the superintendent," says Manzie, who opposes closing Old Shell Magnet.

Manzie tells News Five the school district is facing a $77 million budget shortfall, so the board will have to make some tough decisions.

Wade Perry of the Alabama Educators Association says closing schools is a better than having more layoffs. Perry says education funding from the state is based on the number of students in a school district not the number of schools. He believes the staff at schools forced to close will be transferred to other schools.

"We're okay with anything that helps keep teachers and custodians and cafeteria workers on the job," says Perry.

The school board is not expected to make a decision about the school closings at their Wednesday meeting. Instead, they will likely schedule a series of public hearings on the issue.