‘DIFFICULT DECISIONS’ | GROUP MUST DETERMINE HOW TO CONSOLIDATE 11 ELEMENTARIES TO CURB OVERCROWDING

Currently, seven of 11 elementary schools enroll fewer than 300 students. The smallest is Bryant school, where 212 students attend. District officials say the number of small schools is financially inefficient and limits students’ access to specialized staff, such as gym teachers, counselors and nurses. In order to solve overcrowding problems, the district is seeking to enlarge or consolidate at least some elementary schools so each can hold around 500 students. Two schools — Four Georgians and Rossiter schools — are currently built to that size.