WTOC, Savannah, Georgia, news, weather and sports | What will happen to Hodge Elementary School?
Member Center:
This is education reporter Brooke Kelley from the WTOC newsroom. There's a big school board meeting to decide what is going to happen with Hodge Elementary school at 3pm today. See Hodge Elementary school might stay open.
Superintendent Dr. Thomas Lockamy will be making a recommendation to keep the school open, but what will the school board decide? Stay tuned we will have the decision later tonight on THE News at 5.
Recommendation from the Savannah Chatham School Board:
Hodge Elementary was identified for closure and demolition during the ESPLOST / facilities planning process. The property where Hodge Elementary is currently located was to be combined with the existing Beach High School campus to provide space to build the new Beach High School while allowing the existing Beach High to continue to operate unimpeded during the construction process.
As Superintendent, I believe it is in the best interest of the District for children to attend school as close to home as possible. Upon further review, I am now recommending that Hodge remain a neighborhood elementary school serving students residing in the current Hodge attendance zone. We are committed to serving the Hodge Elementary attendance zone students in as close a proximity to the current school site as practical. Because of the age and condition of the current Hodge facility, I will continue to explore all potential facility options for serving students zoned to Hodge consistent with my desire for children to attend school in a suitable academic environment as close to home as possible.
Staff is working with URS / Pat Mathis and Hussey, Gay, Bell, and DeYoung (the project architect) on requisite plans to allow for the construction of the new Beach High School with as little interruption of educational services as possible to Hodge Elementary. Additional information will be forthcoming as the Superintendent, School Board and administration work together to provide the best educational services for all students.
I am also recommending that the previously approved K-12 redesign plan, which we are calling Passport to Excellence, be modified to include Hodge Elementary as part of the Medical Sciences Pathway with open enrollment for school year 2010-2011. DeRenne Middle School's Math and Science Academy would serve as the middle school for this pathway, and Beach High School's Medical / Allied Health program would serve as the pathway's high school.
THUS,
BE IT RESOLVED, upon the recommendation of the Superintendent, that Hodge Elementary School remain operational with the same attendance zone; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the previously approved K-12 redesign plan (which we are calling Passport to Excellence) be modified to include Hodge Elementary as part of the Medical Sciences Pathway with open enrollment for school year 2010-2011.
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