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Parents, community react to LRSD's new school blueprint

LRSD announced this week which schools are headed for changes in the next five years, and tonight, superintendent Michael Poore opened up those plans for comments from parents.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) – The Little Rock School District is looking to for input from parents about the new blueprint that brings changes to schools in the next five years.

The 21-page report indicates the changing landscape will be most apparent in the southwest part of the city. Three of the city's current five high schools are going away or shedding programs. The blueprint also means the closing of some schools.

Superintendent Michael Poore said the district has an urgency to remodel and revitalize these schools.

"Many people don't realize the buildings in this district average 56 years of age,” Poore said.

The district is preparing to open Southwest High School in 2020. This means the student bodies from J.A. Fair High School and McClellan High will fill the new school.

"This actually isn't something that all of a sudden has emerged over the last three months,” Poore said.

From there the plan calls for Fair to convert to a K-8 school. McClellan would follow.

"The action for moving forward on McClellan, this would not come into effect at earliest 2022,” Poore said. "We've got to find a funding source. We're going to tear the building down other than keeping the gym."

Poore said Cloverdale Middle and elementary schools Baseline and Meadowcliff would fill the new McClellan.

Valencia White says the blueprint concerned her because it led to schools closing down. She came to the meeting to clear up her confusion and said she is happy the plans are simply updating school facilities in Southwest Little Rock.

"They're going to repurpose them for different things. That's better than just leaving them just closed,” White said.

A survey has also been posted on LRSD’s website for additional input for those who could not make the meeting. It is open until Wednesday, Dec. 19.

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