Guilford County Schools proposes closures, consolidations and new boundaries for underused elementary schools

Guilford County Schools staff on May 13 presented recommended attendance‑zone changes and consolidations for several underutilized elementary schools, saying the proposals follow a 2019 facilities master plan and recent enrollment studies that project continued declines in some attendance areas.

The recommended changes would move some students into rebuilt or receiving schools in staged phases: Madison, Vandalia and Washington closures and consolidations are proposed to take effect for the 2026–27 school year, while the Southern Elementary consolidation would take effect for 2027–28. Staff said the proposals are designed to increase utilization at impacted clusters of schools and to concentrate resources so receiving schools can sustain full‑time staff and a stable schedule.

Staff presented historical enrollments, school capacities and projected utilization if the board adopts the recommendations. Examples given: Southern Elementary has a capacity of 344 but an average daily membership (ADM) of 202 this year (about 59% utilization); staff estimated consolidation with Allen J. and Sumner would raise utilization among the affected schools to about 89% by the 2029–30 projection year. Madison’s capacity is also 344 with a current ADM of 207 (about 60% utilization); staff projected consolidated utilization of about 73% in 2029–30. Vandalia (capacity 310, ADM 219) and Washington (capacity 514, ADM 215, 42% utilization) were highlighted as sites where enrollment declines led staff to propose closure and zone redistribution.

District staff stressed a long public engagement timeline. The board opened a public comment period from May 14 to June 10 and scheduled a public hearing for the board meeting on June 10; the board will consider the recommendations after that hearing (scheduled action on June 16). Staff said families would receive individualized notices once the board approves new boundaries, and emphasized supports for receiving schools to preserve music, art, physical education and library services.

Board members asked a range of operational and equity questions: whether savings estimates include emergency or unscheduled maintenance; how surplus school properties would be reused or disposed; and how consolidations affect staffing and the district’s ability to offer stable full‑time specialists (PE, art, social work). Staff said projected savings focus on operational costs such as utilities, maintenance and capital outlay; staff also noted that personnel would be reassigned to vacancies across the district rather than facing layoffs.

No vote was taken on May 13. Staff will continue community engagement and provide additional materials online, including maps and a neighborhood school locator. The district reiterated that the timeline allows multi‑year planning before closures would take effect.

Speakers

- Dr. Whitney Oakley — Superintendent, Guilford County Schools (government) - Dr. Monk — District staff (presenter on facilities and consolidation; role: staff member) (government) - Tyler Beck — Chief Financial Officer (government) - Board members who asked questions: Diane Bellamy Small, David Coates, Chrissy Pratt, Linda (board members) (government)

Authorities

- policy: "Guilford County Board policy 41 50 (School assignment)" — referenced_by: ["Dr. Monk","presentation"] - report: "2019 Facilities Condition Assessment and Facilities Master Plan" — referenced_by: ["Dr. Monk","presentation"]

Actions

- motion: "No board vote; the board opened a public comment period (May 14–June 10) and scheduled a public hearing on June 10 with consideration to follow June 16." mover: null, second: null, vote_record: [], outcome: "no_action", notes: "Board will consider boundary changes after public hearing and staff outreach."

Discussion vs. decision

- discussion_points: ["Enrollment decline district‑wide since 2018; charter enrollment growth contributes to district declines.","Specific schools (Southern, Madison, Vandalia, Washington) have low utilization and projected continued declines.","Projected operational savings largely reflect utilities, maintenance and capital outlay; personnel would be reassigned rather than laid off."], - directions: ["Public comment window May 14–June 10; public hearing at June 10 board meeting; consideration after hearing on June 16.","Staff to continue community meetings, targeted outreach and individual family notifications once boundaries are final."], - decisions: []

Clarifying details

- {"category":"Southern Elementary","detail":"Current capacity and ADM","value":"Capacity 344; ADM 202; utilization about 59%","units":"students","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Dr. Monk"} - {"category":"Madison Elementary","detail":"Current capacity and ADM","value":"Capacity 344; ADM 207; utilization about 60%","units":"students","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Dr. Monk"} - {"category":"Vandalia Elementary","detail":"Current capacity and ADM","value":"Capacity 310; ADM 219","units":"students","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Dr. Monk"} - {"category":"Washington Elementary","detail":"Current capacity and ADM","value":"Capacity 514; ADM 215; utilization about 42%","units":"students","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Dr. Monk"} - {"category":"projected_utilization","detail":"Projected consolidated utilization for affected schools","value":"~77%–89% by 2029–30 across recommended clusters","units":"percent","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"Dr. Monk"}

Proper_names

[{"name":"Guilford County Schools","type":"agency"},{"name":"Southern Elementary","type":"school"},{"name":"Madison Elementary","type":"school"},{"name":"Vandalia Elementary","type":"school"},{"name":"Washington Elementary","type":"school"}]

Community relevance

- geographies: ["Guilford County","Allen Jay cluster","Sumner cluster","Reedy Fork area"], - funding_sources: ["bond deferred capital projects","local operating funds"], - impact_groups: ["students at affected elementary schools","families in affected attendance zones","school staff"]

Meeting context

- engagement_level: {"speakers_count":10,"duration_minutes":75,"items_count":1}, - implementation_risk":"medium","history":[{"date":"2019-03-01","note":"Facilities master plan recommended consolidations; staff referenced the 2019 assessment."}]}

Searchable_tags

["attendance boundary","school consolidation","Southern Elementary","Madison Elementary","Vandalia","Washington","facilities master plan"]

Provenance

- topicintro: [{"block_id":"block_6722.2397","local_start":0,"local_end":480,"evidence_excerpt":"Yes. Okay. Doctor Munk and I will kinda tag team this 1. But we have been, starting a series of family meetings, community meetings, staff meetings with a very long runway..." ,"tc_start":"6722.2397","tc_end":"6747.58","reason_code":"topicintro"}] - topicfinish: [{"block_id":"block_7899.515","local_start":0,"local_end":480,"evidence_excerpt":"So we're gonna present those recommendations tonight... The board will consider the proposed boundary recommendation following the public hearing on June 16.","tc_start":"7828.67","tc_end":"7857.6","reason_code":"topicfinish"}]

Salience

{"overall":0.78,"overall_justification":"Large operational and fiscal implications across multiple schools with multi‑year implementation timelines; affects staffing and facility planning.","impact_scope":"local","impact_scope_justification":"Impacts specific clusters of Guilford County elementary schools and many families in those attendance zones.","attention_level":"high","attention_level_justification":"Board engaged in extended discussion and set public hearing and comment period.","novelty":0.40,"novelty_justification":"Consolidations were in a master plan but timing and affected schools are newly recommended.","timeliness_urgency":0.66,"timeliness_urgency_justification":"Public hearings and comment period are near term; implementation years are 2026–27 and 2027–28.","legal_significance":0.20,"legal_significance_justification":"Standard policy/procedure under board policy 41.50; statutory requirements for notification and hearing apply.","budgetary_significance":0.55,"budgetary_significance_justification":"Projected operational savings and capital project planning are material to district budget and bond use.","public_safety_risk":0.05,"public_safety_risk_justification":"No immediate safety risk identified.","environmental_impact":0.00,"environmental_impact_justification":"Not applicable.","affected_population_estimate":3000,"affected_population_estimate_justification":"Aggregate affected student counts across proposed consolidations (staff projection).","affected_population_confidence":0.5} ,