Restructuring plan includes school closures in Dallas Co.

From the West Alabama Newsroom–

A major restructuring of schools is underway in Dallas County Schools — that school officials say will improve the district’s financial standing and make it much more efficient.

Bruce K. Craig and J.E. Terry elementary schools won’t reopen this fall.

Superintendent Anthony Sampson says the Dallas County School Board recently voted to close the two schools. He says the closures are part of a restructuring plan that aims to help the district become more efficient by consolidating its resources.

“So that now puts us in a position to now to really start working towards those long range financial sustainability goals of maintaining the state required minimum fund balance. And just putting our kids on a pathway to be able to take advantage of some of the resources that we have available,” said Sampson.

Dallas County Schools is now under the control of the State Department of Education.

The state board took over the district back in March — after a misstep handling federal funds put the school district in $12 million dollar debt.