FAYETTEVILLE, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
The Fayette County School system needs to cut $15 to $20 million for the next school year.
The superintendent laid out the problem to hundreds of parents Thursday night. The parents then broke out into groups to give their input.
The district says revenue is down and there are too few students to fill all the available seats. To fix the problem, the school district says schools must close.
"The school system was building schools and buying land in anticipation of increased enrollment; hindsight being 20-20, we over-built," said Superintendent Jeff Bearden.
Bearden said since the recession, student enrollment has not reached projections. For example, Rivers Elementary is a new school and only 20 students attend that school.
"I moved here because this was a top of the line county - ahead of the class," said Erica Moreland, a mother. Moreland said the thought of deep cuts scares her.
Closing schools only solves part of the financial problem. There are two proposals that affect schools below the high school level.
"Nobody wants to close their schools, nobody. Especially in the county, parents are proud of their schools and rightfully so," said Bearden.
Thursday was the first of several opportunities for public comment. The superintendent said he expects the school board to make their decision by the end of the year.
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