Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

TUCSON - The Tucson Unified School District has received approval from the U.S. District Court to close 11 schools.

The closures are subject to court-adopted conditions that were put forth by the special master appointed by the Court to oversee TUSD's desegregation, known as the Unitary Status Plan.

TUSD'S governing board began the school closure process back in December, pending approval from the Court.

The district is facing more than a $17 million shortfall in fiscal 2013-2014. The school closures are one way to help offset that shortfall.

The district says closing eleven schools will cut $4.2 million from next year's budget and provide an annual savings of $4.5 million.

But, the district still has a long way to go to close the $17 million shortfall. It's also considering several other options, including cuts in central administration, salaries, furlough days, and medical insurance contribution levels.

The governing board recently approved a modification of school site funding formulas that will reduce the budget by $4 million.

Court approval of school boundaries and construction projects related to the school consolidations is still pending.

Schools that will be closed include:

Brichta Elementary School, 2110 W. Brichta Drive

Carson Middle School, 7777 E. Stella Rd.

Corbett Elementary School, 5949 E. 29th St.

Fort Lowell-Townsend K-8, 2120 N. Beverly Blvd.

Hohokam Middle School, 7400 S. Settler

Howenstine High School, 555 S. Tucson Blvd.

Lyons Elementary School, 7555 E. Dogwood St.

Maxwell Middle School, 2802 W. Anklam Rd. (Maxwell will be reopened next year as a new K-8 school)

Menlo Park Elementary School, 1100 W. Fresno St.

Schumaker Elementary School, 501 N. Maguire

Wakefield Middle School, 101 W. 44th St.