District outlines proposed school consolidations, cites facility needs and projected savings

Facilities staff presented preliminary impact reports on Oct. 21 detailing multiple proposed school consolidations and a planned transfer of Lucy Elementary to the Millington municipal district. The proposals identify receiving schools, utilization changes, deferred-maintenance costs, projected fiscal savings and personnel impacts and set community meetings to gather public input.

Summary of major proposals (as presented) - Chickasaw Middle into Westwood High (create a 6–12 structure): Chickasaw and Westwood are about one mile apart and are underutilized (Chickasaw ~54% and Westwood ~41% reported in packet). Staff said moving Chickasaw students to Westwood would raise projected utilization to about 75%. Fiscal impact: $954,012 in cost avoidance; net personnel impact: seven positions (net reduction); routing impact: elimination of one bus.

- Frasier Corning into Whitney and Westside elementaries: Five elementary schools within a five‑square‑mile area have an aggregate utilization of about 61% (1,335 students in five schools; roughly 840 excess seats). Frasier Corning would be rezoned to Whitney and Westside; projected fiscal savings quoted: $1,066,093 and a net reduction of 11 positions; elimination of one bus.

- Georgian Hills into Whitney and Hawkins Mill: Proposed consolidation with projected savings of $910,267 and net reduction of 11 positions; proposed utilization for receiving schools was 75% (Whitney) and 72% (Hawkins Mill); elimination of one bus.

- Ida B. Wells Academy (choice program) consolidation: Ida B. Wells — which the presentation noted has no attendance zone and enrolls students by choice from 18 different zones — currently enrolled 84 students (across multiple grade levels) and shows a 16% utilization. The district reported an estimated $5.8 million in 10‑year facility needs for the Ida B. Wells building. Staff proposed that students continue to exercise choice at other district schools with available seats or attend their zone schools; fiscal impact reported as $2,128,378 in savings with a net reduction of 21…