WESTLAND, Mich. (WXYZ) — Parents are now learning if their child’s school is slated to close. The Wayne -Westland Community Schools Board of Education Voted unanimously to close two, possibly three of its elementary schools.
It is a move more and more schools are expected to have to make.
A recent report from the U.S. government states that the nation’s birthrate fell for a fourth straight year in 2018. Approximately 3,788,235 people were born in 2018, the lowest number in 32 years. As a result across the nation school districts are facing declining enrollment.
In the Wayne Westland School District right now about 10,600 students are enrolled. In three to five years that number is expected to drop to 9,500 students.
“We have to make sure we right-size our district,” said Jenny Johnson, Director of Communications at Wayne-Westland Community Schools.
The Wayne Westland Board of Education voted six to zero for closing two, possibly three schools. The first school to close will be Marshall Upper Elementary in August 2020. Hoover Elementary School will close in August 2021. If trends don’t change, Walker-Winter Elementary will close in August 2022.
“We have some amazing things happening in the district and we are hoping that won’t take place,” said Johnson of the closure of Walker-Winter.
The district has also lost enrollment to competing charter schools and public schools through school of choice.
The district plans to save money by consolidating buildings. Money saved will go in the classroom and create new programs that will potentially encourage some students to return and prevent that third closure.
