GREENSBORO, N.C. — Guilford County School leaders are working on a plan to address the problem of old and dilapidated buildings across the district.
A 127-page January study by MGT Consulting Group showed just how bad the conditions were at many schools. It also showed the $1.5 billion price tag that could come with repairs.
Following that, GCS Superintendent Sharon Contreras testified before Congress where she referenced the need to improve the schools and the infrastructure.
Now as leaders have delved further into the study. A recent report from that study has raised the issue of redistricting as part of a way to work toward the larger picture solution.
One section of the report showed color-coded grids to indicate the quality of key elements. One grid made up of 25 schools showed mostly red, with school only scoring the higher green code when it came to technology.
"The report really focused on the facility side of that and the work that they did in some primary key areas such as the facility condition, the education suitability technology, and the site, and our technology is actually pretty good which is our infrastructure so a lot more of the focus was on the facility condition and the education suitability," said Scott McCully, Chief Financial Officer at Guilford County Schools.
The consultants recommended closing 10 schools and rebuilding 27 over the next 10 years because they are not conducive for learning.
This means students who would ordinarily be assigned to certain schools would have to go to different schools in order for this suggestion to be implemented.
"Student assignment is a key piece to that but we want the community to see that as a win for their student and even though they may be assigned to a new school, that new school is going to have a much better school and a better learning experience," added McCully.
They also say redistricting may be necessary to make learning environments more equitable.
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But the subject of redistricting is a touchy one for many parents who plan and build their lives around the schools they intend to have their children attend.
"It's the 100% and everybody's job to make sure every single child has a safe place and not just the people that are fortunate enough to go to the places that they know are good places," said Corrina Huffines, a mom of two. Huffines recently enrolled her 4-year-old son in school and is looking towards her 2-year-old daughter also starting school.
"Moving children that have been going to certain schools for a long time and moving their homes and community can be hard for them, but for the children that are going to school in a place that isn't a safe place for them is absolutely unfair," she added.
As school leaders continue to review the recommendation they hope to involve the community to help tackle this issue. They also hope a November 2020 bond referendum will fund the upgrades.