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ALBANY, GA --
Dougherty County Board of Education members met Wednesday afternoon to hear a presentation regarding rezoning and repurposing of several schools throughout the system.

Reports indicate that eight elementary schools are below 85% capacity with five middle schools also below that line.

Officials recommended to the board that Magnolia Elementary School be repurposed to house Pre-K, Elementary Alternative Education, the Oaktree Center, and Gifted Education Program. All students currently attending Magnolia would be rezoned to Alice Coachman Elementary, boosting their occupancy from 66% to 91%.

Also recommended to the board was closing Sylvester Road Elementary School with those students being rezoned to Radium Springs. Those living north of Sylvester will attend Turner Elementary.

On the middle school level, a recommendation was made to close Dougherty Middle School and move those students to Radium Springs Middle School.

These moves would reportedly boost the overall occupancy of the system from 87% to 97%.

Board members did not make a decision at the meeting, however, they plan to review and evaluate the proposal in the coming weeks.

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