- The Alachua County School Board approved zoning changes to begin school closures and consolidations starting this fall.
- Stephen Foster and Joseph Williams Elementary Schools will close, and Lincoln Middle School will become a K-8 by August 2028.
- Oak View Middle School will consolidate to a Pre-K-8 incorporating students from Newberry Elementary, which is converting to a charter school.
- The board postponed the Irby and Alachua Elementary consolidation decision, scheduling further review and community input before May 5.
After a nearly five-hour special meeting on Thursday night, the School Board of Alachua County (SBAC), in a split vote, approved zoning changes that will see school closures and consolidations begin as early as this fall.
For elementary schools, the board favored revised Map D, which would close both Stephen Foster and Joseph Williams Elementary Schools and make Lincoln Middle School a K-8 by August 2028.
Meanwhile, Oak View Middle School will consolidate to a Pre-K-8 to incorporate students from a revised Newberry Elementary School (NES) zone, as NES is converting to a charter school this fall.
The board’s approval of map D came with the exception of the consolidation of Irby and Alachua Elementary Schools. The board has requested that staff bring back updated recommendations and community input regarding the schools to an April 29 workshop before making a final decision at a May 5 meeting.
Board Chair Thomas Vu and Board Members Tina Certain and Sarah Rockwell voted in favor of the zoning changes, while Vice Chair Leanetta McNealy and Board Member Janine Plavac voted against it.
The vote came after the Gainesville City Commission and the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners, in a joint meeting on Monday, requested that the vote be delayed. The Alachua City Commission sent a letter to the SBAC on Wednesday, also asking for a postponement on the vote.
This is a developing story.
Nick Anschultz is a Report for America corps member and writes about education for Mainstreet Daily News. This position is supported by local donations through the Community Catalyst for Local Journalism Fund at the Community Foundation of North Central Florida.