A proposed Rockdale County Schools consolidation and rezoning plan would bring changes to five schools and move magnet students to different campuses. Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Johnson told parents the district has 2,000 fewer students than before the COVID-19 pandemic and 5,000 empty classroom seats.
Johnson attributed the enrollment decline mainly to decreasing birth rates and an aging community. The proposed changes involve Barksdale, Hightower Trail, Shoal Creek and Sims elementary schools, as well as Memorial Middle School.
Under the plan, fourth- and fifth-grade magnet students would move to Flat Shoals Elementary, while middle school magnet students would move to General Ray Davis Middle School.
The changes are proposals, not approved decisions, and require approval from the Rockdale County Board of Education. The district plans three community information sessions and two public hearings, but dates, times and locations have not been shared. Its Human Resources Department also plans to visit schools proposed for consolidation to meet with employees and answer questions.
Marcus Jones
News Now Georgia
