Board accepts free facilities review of Scribner and Hazelwood middle schools to examine enrollment and equity
Summary
The school board approved a free facilities and program review focused on Scribner and Hazelwood middle schools to investigate enrollment decline and equity of programs; the vendor will hold focus groups and report findings for board consideration.
The New Albany‑Floyd County school board voted to accept a free facilities and program review focused on middle schools (Scribner and Hazelwood) aimed at exploring enrollment decline and options for reconfiguration.
District staff said the review will go beyond prior Schmidt building assessments by focusing on programmatic equity — curriculum delivery, enrollment patterns and community input — and will include focus groups with teachers, administrators, parents and students. The consultant offered the initial review at no cost and would later propose options should the board wish to pursue changes.
Board members noted declining enrollment at Hazelwood and discussed possible models — for example reconfiguring grade spans — but stressed that the review is exploratory and could also conclude that no structural changes are needed.
The board approved moving forward with the free consultation. “It may make recommendations that we stay the same, but here’s some things we need to really tackle,” a district official said.
Next steps: consultant to present a scope of questions and schedule focus groups; staff to report findings to the board before any formal reconfiguration decisions.
