YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - The latest revitalization plan coming out of the Youngstown City School District touts more choices for students and building reassignments as the school system's saving grace.
In Dr. Connie Hathorn's revitalization plan, entitled "Increasing Student Achievement Through Choice", the superintendent calls for the closure of two of the district's four middle schools and a high school and the repurposing of another middle school and an elementary school.
The P. Ross Berry and Volney Rogers middle schools and the University Project Learning Center would be closed under the plan.
The Wilson Middle and Kirkmere Elementary schools would become alternative schools.
P. Ross Berry, Wilson and the learning center were declared "academic emergency" and Volney Rogers "academic warning".
The fourth middle school is on Chaney High School's campus.
Kirkmere would become the Discover Program for students in grades three through eight.
At the Discover Program, third through fifth grade students woul dhave the option to explore interest areas in spanish, math and engineering, visual arts, performing arts, creative communications, and investigative science. Sixth through eighth grade students would have to focus on a selection of the itnerest areas or go to another alternative program available to them.
The learning center program would move to Wilson High School.
The middle school students, sixth through eighth grades, would be dispersed between the elementary, high school and alternative schools.
The six remaining elementary schools would house Kindergarten through sixth grade and the seventh through 12th grades would have the choice of going to the East or Chaney high schools or one of the alternative schools for career and college prep.
The school closings and reassignments are to address critical issues the school has been having with lower school populations due to declining population in the city.
The hope is also that the reconfiguration of schools will save the district and tax payers money.
For more on the revitalization, find the "Increasing Student Achievement Through Choice" plan in its entirety under Associated Links.
A breakdown of choices available to Youngstown students grades two through 12 can be found on page 13 of the plan.
Stay connected to WFMJ.com and 21 News in the upcoming weeks as more details on this plan emerge.
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