Firm Suggests School Closures in Dougherty County

ALBANY, Ga. (AP) - A consulting firm hired by the Dougherty County school board is planning to suggest the district close schools because of declining enrollment.

Sources reported that an educational consulting firm is planning to make a presentation to the school board at a meeting Wednesday.

Interim Superintendent Butch Mosely says the firm will suggest the district close Dougherty Middle School - which is currently at about 67 percent capacity -and Sylvester Road Elementary School - which is operating at about 70 percent capacity. Mosely says the firm is also proposing the district repurpose Magnolia Elementary School.

School board chair Carol Tharin says closing the two schools and repurposing the elementary school would save the district between $3 million and $4 million annually.