The Columbus Board of Education on Tuesday unanimously approved a reassignment and consolidation plan that closes nine under-enrolled schools and realigns student attendance zones geographically, 10TV's Tanisha Mallett reported.

Elementary schools closing are the Literature-Based Alternative at Hubbard; Douglas Alternative; Fair Alternative and Deshler.

The middle schools closing are Clinton; Indianola Math, Science and Technology; Eastmoor; Franklin Alternative; and Beery.

When Jennifer Reed and her husband went to a community meeting last month to discuss the plan, they thought there was a chance their daughter's school Fair Alternative would stay open.

"I was hoping they would consider keeping it open and using this particular school as a feeder school for AMES and into Fort Hayes," Reed said.  "They don't have a chance now."

Reed said that Fair, like some of the other schools slated for closure, offered an alternative curriculum plan.

"I would like to find out exactly what they are going to do because if they do not have a feeder pattern for the type of curriculum she has, I am going to pull her from Columbus Public Schools."

Board members said they considered those concerns, but in the end each member voted in support of the consolidation plan, Mallett reported.

Some teachers said they understood the situation and the board's decision.

"When we lose enrollment, which we have across the board, schools have to be closed," said Deborah Williams, who has taught for 16 years at Franklin Alternative Middle School.  "You just never want it to be yours."

The school district said it will hold meetings at the affected schools to discuss the plan with parents.   The dates of those meetings have not been set.

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Additional Information:

• Columbus City Schools

Previous Stories:

December 15, 2009:  9 Columbus Schools To Close
December 2, 2009: Panel Explains List Of Columbus School Closures
December 1, 2009: Columbus Closer To Closing Schools

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