Latest news with #schoolclosures
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Murkowski: Trump administration funding freeze could result in ‘closing schools'
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) fears the Trump administration's multibillion-dollar education funding freeze could cause schools in her state to close as districts struggle to keep employees without the money. The administration originally froze a total of $6 billion in funding to schools, affecting after-school and summer programs, along with classes for adult and English learners. Last week, the president released about $1 billion that was aimed at after-school programs, but $5 billion is still held up. 'Many of our school districts have already made really hard decisions about closing schools,' Murkowski told ABC News. 'Both in Fairbanks and Anchorage, we've seen layoffs,' she continued. 'If your literacy skills are weak, if you're working on your English skills, I mean, these are all things that are keeping people out of the workforce at a time when we're trying to get people into it,' Murkowski added. 'So I am very worried.' She was one of nine Republicans to sign a letter to the Office of Management and Budget last week demanding the funding be released and rejecting the administration's claim the money is going toward 'woke' programs. The letter prompted the office to release the about $1 billion in funding for after-school and summer programming, prompting a sigh of relief for parents. But the rest of the money is still in limbo, with no timeline on when it will be given to schools. 'I'd like to see some of the other programs released, but, you know, we haven't heard one way or the other,' Sen. Shelley Moore Capito ( who led the Republican letter, told ABC. While Murkowski is hesitant to say the money is cut, she stresses the funding needs to be released before the school year begins. 'I don't want to call it cuts yet, because my hope is that they're just unpaused and that they are going to materialize,' Murkowski told ABC News. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
CBS News
22-07-2025
- General
- CBS News
Pittsburgh Public Schools holds first of several state-mandated public hearings to discuss proposed school closures
The first of several state-mandated public hearings on planned school closures for Pittsburgh Public Schools was held on Monday night. The district wants to close as many as a dozen schools and the hearings are giving parents, families, and faculty members the chance to weigh in on each proposed closure specifically. Monday night's hearing focused on the Baxter School. It's known as the Student Achievement Center, providing credit recovery and other alternative education programming. "This program and staff has helped so many students, and I really hope it can continue to help these students, but that won't be possible if this plan is passed," said Lily Allman. "Please do not give up on our most vulnerable students like so many others have," said Donnese Tyler. Not only in this district, but in their lives in general. They deserve to be believed in and they deserve to have the tools necessary to enable them to succeed." A hearing on the Friendship Montessori School is scheduled for Tuesday evening at 5 p.m. and following that, there will be a hearing on the Morrow School at 7 p.m. All of the public hearings are being held at the district's administration building on South Bellefield Avenue in Oakland and will also be streamed virtually. Those wishing to speak must register online. The proposed closures are part of the district's Future-Ready Facilities Plan, which aims to address declining enrollment, aging infrastructure, and underutilized buildings, saving more than $100 million in the coming years. If you're not able to attend the hearings in person or virtually, written testimonies will be accepted through email.
CBS News
21-07-2025
- Business
- CBS News
First of several public hearings being held tonight on proposed PPS school closures
The first of several public hearings on the proposed closure of several Pittsburgh Public schools is being held tonight. The public hearings will give parents and families a chance to weigh in on the proposed school closures and reconfigurations expected to be coming for Pittsburgh Public Schools. Tonight at 5 p.m., the Student Achievement Center, formerly known as the Baxter School, will be up for discussion and following that hearing, a general public hearing will be held at 6 p.m. Public comment registration for this evening has been closed, but another hearing will be held tomorrow on the Montessori School in Friendship at 5 p.m. and the Morrow School at 7 p.m. The hearings are being held in person at the Pittsburgh Public Schools administration building on South Bellefield Avenue and will also be streamed virtually. Those wishing to speak must register online. The district's proposed plans include closing nine school facilities and reconfiguring a number of others. The changes could come next June. The proposed closures are part of the district's Future-Ready Facilities Plan, which aims to address declining enrollment, aging infrastructure, and underutilized buildings, saving more than $100 million in the coming years. If you're not able to attend the hearings in person or virtually, written testimonies will be accepted through email.
Yahoo
17-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Rural county 'haemorrhaging' young people
A county's young people are "haemorrhaging away" from the area amid concerns about dwindling rural populations, a former council leader has warned. Pembrokeshire's schools have seen pupil numbers fall by more than 2,000 since 1996 and the council is planning to consult on closing two others. Councillor John Davies said the trend was "unsustainable", with schools getting emptier but doctors' surgeries getting more crowded. The Welsh government said it recognised the challenge of demographic change and was continuing to monitor trends. Island hopes the beach and home working will lure young back World fertility rates in 'unprecedented decline', UN says School with just eight pupils appeals for more Davies is part of a working group looking at the future of Pembrokeshire's schools. Council figures show the number of primary school pupils in the Preseli area had fallen by 19% between 2015 and 2024 and 6.6% in Tenby over the same period. He said: "For the first time in 30 years we're spending more on social care than we are on education. The demographics are becoming an unsustainable challenge." Davies said investment in rural areas needed to happen "sooner rather than later" and could be a "catalyst for economic renewal". "We're seeing investment in town regeneration and cities, and we've seen investment in rail infrastructure in south-east wales. "But there's never a mention of what's happening in investment terms in rural north Pembrokeshire or not even in west Wales." He warned rural areas could face decline similar to that experienced by industrial communities in south Wales in the 1980s. Pembrokeshire council is consulting on closing Ysgol Clydau in Tegryn and Manorbier VC School in Tenby. Caroline Farnden's two children are among 34 pupils at the Ysgol Clydau, and she said she lived in fear at its possible closure. "You'll lose the community feel because it's taking everything out of the community," she said. "What else are they going to do? Are they going to close the hall as well? The pub? There'll be nothing for people in the village." Fellow parent Steven Chambers said the closure would only accelerate the trend of an ageing population, discouraging younger families from moving in. Welsh government projections show the number of pupils could drop by almost 50,000 across the country by 2040. In Pembrokeshire, numbers have fallen 12% since 1996 and a further 11.7% fall in the population aged 15 and under is predicted over the next 10 to 15 years. Carmarthenshire council confirmed it had 17 schools with fewer than 50 pupils. Laura Doel of the school leaders' union NAHT said: "When birth rates fall and families move in search of employment opportunities, this inevitably has an impact upon school rolls. "With funding allocated on a per pupil basis, this further reduces school budgets which are already under severe pressure after years of under-investment." Amanda Hill-Dixon, of the Wales Centre for Public Policy, said the age profile of rural areas was "really changing". "So what we have in rural Wales is younger people, and families and children moving out of rural Wales to cities in Wales or outside of Wales altogether," she said. "And then there's in migration of older people to Wales, and especially to rural Wales." She said there were a "range of implications" for public services, culture and language, with more spending needed on health and social care, leaving less for children's services and schools. "We can get into a doom loop where, because there's fewer services for children and families and young people, children and families don't want to stay in that area, and children and families don't want to move to that area." She said a population taskforce, like one taken up by the Scottish government in 2019, may be needed in Wales. Alongside monitoring the trends of demographic changes, the Welsh government said local authorities had to comply with the School Organisation Code when proposing "significant changes to schools", which includes a presumption against the closure of rural schools. Why are so many young people leaving rural Wales? Why are so many young people leaving this place? Wales facing unrecognisable future, warns commissioner
BBC News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Norfolk schools under threat because of falling birth rate
A mother says she fears closing schools because of falling birth rates will prove to be a "short-sighted" County Council has warned that with the number of children being born is falling significantly, with more schools likely to be shut down."The reality is that with nearly a third fewer pupils, we will likely need fewer schools," said Penny Carpenter. the cabinet member for children's Amira Stallion, who has campaigned against the closure of her sons' primary, said school places would be needed with major housing developments planned for the county. "I think this is a quick decision that's going to have a long-term effect," she said. The drop in the UK's birth rate is a growing concern for authorities and education 591,072 babies were born in 2023, fewer than in any year since Norfolk, a county council report explained that almost 9,500 children started secondary school at the beginning of this school at the start of next term, around 7,500 will be joining primary school. 'Surplus places' That number is expected to fall even further – to 7,000 – in 2027."We are going to see a large number of surplus places in our primary schools," said problem for schools is that the bulk of their funding depends on how many pupils they have - fewer children means less money."The financial situation in schools is very tight anyway," explained Sarah Shirras, the executive headteacher of The Hive Federation – which runs two primary schools in Norwich and Brundall."If we have a class that has only 26 children, it still needs a teacher, it still needs a teaching assistant – and that doesn't cost me any less than a class with 30 children in it."But those four children would mean you're down about £16,000 a year. So it's a huge difference as they work their way through the years." The falling pupil numbers mean that schools are more likely to be closed down for not having enough children - like Great Dunham Stallion's two sons attend the school and she has campaigned against plans to merge it with Beeston Primary, more than three miles campaign was unsuccessful and the school will shut at the end of this said it was particularly hard on her older son who has additional needs and felt more comfortable in a small school "with a family feel"."It's had a huge impact on his mental health," she said."All he's doing is worrying about where he's going to be."The Unity Education Trust, which runs Great Dunham, said it projected pupil numbers to fall from 42 to just 13 in five years."The decision to amalgamate was driven by several factors, including declining pupil numbers, the long-term financial sustainability of the school, and our commitment to providing the best educational opportunities," said the trust's chief executive Glyn Mrs Stallion believes there will be a need for a school in the area in years to come."I feel like it's short-sighted. "I know there's massive developments planned around Great Dunham that will be housing families who will need schools." Penny Carpenter said the council would be working with school leaders on how to address the problem of a falling pupil population."It won't be easy," she admitted.A spokeswoman for the Department for Education said it was "increasing school funding to £69.5bn by 2028-29, with record levels of per-pupil funding.""We have awarded 300 primary schools £37m to repurpose their spare space, as part of our school-based nurseries roll out which will increase access to early education from this September," she added. Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
