Board reaffirms Nethercutt repurposing; district says families will be transitioned to Freeman and staff will be asked to support smooth moves

At its regular meeting the Flint Board of Education reiterated that Nethercutt will be repurposed and said the district will support families and staff through the transition to other schools, primarily Freeman Elementary School.

A board member said the repurposing decision was made by the board in October 2023 and apologized to families who received conflicting information. The board member said Nethercutt is operating at about 63% capacity and that families will have the opportunity to transition to Freeman, which the board said is approximately 2.5 miles away.

The board and superintendent addressed community concerns about communication and transition logistics. The transcript indicates some community forums scheduled to explain the repurposing were canceled due to weather; the board asked staff to ensure families receive clear information and to direct individual questions to district staff for follow-up.

Superintendent Jones urged district staff, principals and partners to present a positive front during the transition and to make supports available for students and families, saying staff are charged with ensuring the move is handled with sensitivity to minimize emotional disruption for scholars.

Board members thanked staff who attended community meetings at Nethercutt and recommended that the district continue to route questions to district staff for processing. No formal vote to change the October 2023 decision was recorded; the board’s remarks at the meeting reiterated and affirmed the previously stated decision to repurpose the building.