Bibb school consolidation review focusing on enrollment below 450
Preliminary data identified 10 elementary schools below the initial enrollment mark.
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — The Bibb County Board of Education’s School Consolidation Committee plans to focus its initial review on elementary schools with fewer than 450 students enrolled in kindergarten through fifth grade, according to the district’s latest Board Brief newsletter.
The district is considering consolidation because the Board of Education’s fiscal year 2027 budget included a mandate to study closing or consolidating at least two elementary schools.
The district says preliminary data presented during a Thursday meeting identified 10 elementary schools below the 450 student mark.
No decisions were made about closing or consolidating any school during the Thurday meeting, according to the district.
The committee asked HPM, the district’s facilities planning partner, to separate Pre-K enrollment from K-5 enrollment in its elementary school data. The district says the standard Georgia Quality Basic Education funding formula for elementary schools uses K-5 enrollment and does not include Pre-K students.
According to the Board Brief, committee members and HPM also reviewed updated enrollment and building utilization figures, along with data showing how many students at each school live inside or outside its attendance zone.
The district’s presentation lists 9,745 elementary students, including Pre-K students and students attending magnet schools. That’s 169 fewer students than the previous year.
According to the presentation, elementary schools were using 75.7% of their available capacity with 3,130 available seats across the district.
The district says several consolidation or rezoning scenarios will be developed instead of one proposal. Each option will consider effects on students, academic programs, transportation, building capacity and facility costs.
During the early review, the district says schools will be identified by numbers instead of names. School names will be added when possible scenarios are ready for public discussion.
The district says enrollment, facility conditions and financial impact carry the greatest weight in the committee’s evaluation process. Other factors include space at receiving schools, transportation, effects on surrounding neighborhoods, reuse of school property and educational opportunities.
What happens next?
According to the district’s timeline, the committee will work on possible scenarios and collect public feedback during November and December.
The district says families and other residents will have opportunities to respond through surveys, small focus groups and Onflo, formerly known as Let’s Talk.
A final recommendation, Board of Education deliberations and a possible vote are scheduled for January or February 2027, according to the district. Any closure or consolidation would generally take effect during a later school year to allow time for staffing, transportation planning and family notification.
The committee includes Board members James Freeman, Sundra Woodford and Lisa Garrett-Boyd. Freeman serves as chairman. Incoming at-large Board member Amy Morton, Superintendent Dan Sims and Deputy Superintendent Katika Lovett also serve on the committee, according to the district.
41NBC previously reported that the district paused three earlier consolidation scenarios in September after Board members raised concerns.
Two of those options included closing Sonny Carter Elementary School, with one also proposing the closure of Hartley Elementary School. Another proposal called for discontinuing VIP Academy.
The district says its current process will develop new scenarios using updated data and public feedback before a recommendation reaches the full school board.
