COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- The school closure conversation continues for Colorado Springs District 11 Thursday night as they hold another public meeting outlining their 12 options that include the possible closings of Mann Middle School, Wasson High School and several elementaries.
"Declining enrollment and budget reductions we've had to get creative and look at some ways we can prioritize some of our capital improvements," Devra Ashby, spokeswoman for Colorado Springs District 11 said.
The district taking a number of things into consideration before placing a school on the chopping block or integrating two schools, like open seats, achievements of the building, and age.
The average age of a building in D-11 is 45 years old and 80 percent of the taxpayers don't have students in the district.
"All my friends and I and the 6th graders are really looking forward to finish this year and then another two years," Hayle Pitzer, a 6th grade student from Mann Middle School said.
The district has lost 4,400 students over the past 10 years, so one option they're looking at is redefining Wasson High School and turning it into a 6-12.
It's a change that has some teachers worried about their jobs.
"If we close a school in neighborhood X and those students go to another school, those areas would get more teachers because the teachers follow the students and were funded that way by the state of Colorado," Ashby said.
No decision has been made by the board but the district said they could be voting as early as February 2013.
If you would like to attend a public meeting and share your thoughts, here are the times and locations:
Dec. 17 Mitchell H.S. 1205 Potter Dr., 6 p.m.
Dec. 18 Coronado H.S. 1590 W. Fillmore, 6 p.m.
Dec. 19 Wasson H.S. 2115 Afton Way, 6 p.m.
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