Overview

• Interim Superintendent Roderick Richmond named Lucy Elementary for transfer to Millington and Ida B. Wells Academy, Frayser-Corning Elementary, Chickasaw Middle, and Georgian Hills Elementary for closure at the end of this school year.
• District leaders cited chronic underenrollment and high deferred maintenance, with the five buildings carrying more than $6.5 million in immediate needs and about $48 million projected over 20 years, against a districtwide repair bill exceeding $1.6 billion this decade.
• MSCS will hold at least two public hearings for each impacted school from October through December, and it plans to release detailed reports on conditions, finances, academics, and reassignment needs in October.
• The school board is slated to vote on the initial closures in February 2026 as part of a broader, multi-year facilities strategy.
• Rezoning and staffing proposals are expected next month, teachers may follow students if positions are available, and potential reuse includes the Ida B. Wells building for adult education or district services with transportation changes under consideration.