Overview
- Parents, students and educators urged Jefferson County Public Schools to abandon proposed closures at a public forum as Superintendent Brian Yearwood argued the district has run out of time to avoid deeper financial strain.
- The plan would close Liberty High School and Zachary Taylor Elementary, merge King Elementary into Maupin, and relocate Waller-Williams Environmental and the Georgia Chaffee Teenage Parent Program.
- JCPS cites an estimated $4 million in annual savings before any property sales and says it serves more than 94,000 students with over 17,000 empty seats that need to be realigned.
- District leaders said recommendations were guided by a Facility Profile Index focused on building condition, operating costs and enrollment, acknowledging that student outcomes were not considered.
- After winter weather forced an NTI day and canceled activities Tuesday, one forum was moved to Thursday, and board member Taylor Everett said he remains undecided ahead of the Dec. 9 vote.