State: Birmingham schools could close by summer

Dr. Craig Pouncey, the Chief of Staff for the Alabama Department of Education, tells FOX6 News that the state is in the process of determining whether to shut down and consolidate schools in the Birmingham system.

State-appointed CFO Ed Richardson says that even more money needs to be cut from the district's budget. An additional $9 million to $12 million will have to be cut by closing schools and making additional changes in personnel, energy contracts and maintenance.

According to Richardson and Pouncey, the district renovated or built new schools in areas that didn't necessarily need the work. Pouncey says that according to data he's reviewed, there are schools at every grade level that are not at full capacity.

Pouncey says the school board has hired a demographer to survey population trends in the district to help the board develop a plan for consolidation as well as future redistricting.

Pouncey hopes that the state will be able to make recommendations to the board based on the demographer's information by the end of the year.

Pouncey couldn't confirm when the closures would be announced, but he did say that next summer would be the ideal time to alert parents and staff of any changes.

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