Gadsden board approves temporary relocation plan for James A. Shanks students

The Gadsden County School Board voted unanimously to accept the superintendent’s recommendation (Option A) to temporarily relocate students from James A. Shanks Middle School while the new K–8 is completed.

Superintendent (speaker 7) presented two relocation options and recommended Option A: transfer approximately 182 students to Havana Magnet, about 25 to Greensboro Elementary and roughly 207 to West Gaston Middle School, with George W. Monroe Elementary losing about 113 students to Havana Magnet. The superintendent said the recommendation was based on facility readiness, student capacity, transportation efficiency and instructional continuity.

Board members pressed for more operational detail before the vote. Miss Hannigan (speaker 3) and others said the packet lacked specifics about how staff would be reassigned, how many teachers would move and the budgetary line-by-line effects. The superintendent answered that staffing conversations are underway and that principals have been consulted; she said an individual will be assigned to build the master schedule and that districts commonly move principals or administrators into planning roles for new schools.

Community members and at least one board member warned that families could exercise school choice and leave the district, reducing FTE funding. Public commenter Tracy Stallworth (speaker 6) highlighted the risk: “Every student that we lose means that we lose FTE funding,” and supplied district per-student figures used when discussing potential revenue loss. Board member Scott (speaker 9) said he expects enrollment to fall next year and urged more public engagement on major changes.

Despite requests for more granular numbers, the board member who moved the recommendation (speaker 2) emphasized the district had to act now to move students rather than delay; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The superintendent said families will be notified by mail of final assignments and staff placements will be finalized through principal-level conversations and the district staffing plan.

The board framed the vote as a temporary operational step to allow demolition and construction at the James A. Shanks site; the superintendent said recent weather and prior internal delays have pushed the project timeline, and the district now expects the new school to be ready later than initially planned. Next steps: district staff will finalize staffing placements, send assignment notices to families and return with details about budgetary impacts as they become available.