Bibb County Schools seek input on rezoning options. What to know

Bibb County school officials are weighing rezoning scenarios they say could curb declining enrollment in elementary schools and avoid closing campuses.

During the April 16 board meeting, HPM Leadership presented three preliminary rezoning options that would shift hundreds of students among schools and, in two scenarios, convert LH Williams Elementary School into a districtwide Early Learning Center for Pre-K students.

“These options are not final recommendations, but rather starting points designed to help us evaluate how we can better align enrollment, improve utilization of our facilities, strengthen feeder patterns and ensure long‑term sustainability of the school district,” Deputy Superintendent Katika Lovett said during the presentation.

The rezoning work follows last year’s school consolidation efforts, after which leaders agreed to look for alternatives to closing schools, including a boundary study and an operational efficiency review.

Addressing enrollment decline, empty seats

Current utilization at the district's elementary schools averages 77.6%, with more than 2,600 empty seats, the presentation showed. Nine of the schools have enrollment below 450, a minimum number tied to state funding for staffing and programs.

Consultant Scott Leopold of HPM said districtwide enrollment has fallen from a little over 21,000 students in 2020‑21 to 20,776 in 2025‑26, a loss of about 644 students. Projections show a continued decline to just under 20,000 students over the next decade.

The presentation highlighted elementary school has fewer than 450 students, the state funds a principal and half of a nurse position, while many support roles must be paid with local dollars.

“If we can get our enrollment over 450 at more schools, we get more bang for the buck from the state,” Leopold said. “We’re not spreading our resources among so many schools.”

Option 1 would redraw attendance zones across the district to reduce the number of elementary schools under 450 students from nine to seven.

Leopold added that this option reduces enrollment at “well-enrolled” elementary schools and eliminates overcrowding at Howard Middle School, which is now at over 100% capacity.

Leopold said the option improves feeder alignment but does not raise overall elementary utilization above the current 77.6%, and may not be sufficient over time as enrollment continues to fall.

Two alternative options both assume converting Williams Elementary into an early learning center, a move HPM said would allow the district to concentrate pre-K capital-improvement grant funding, though the campus would need upgrades.

In those scenarios, Williams’ students would be reassigned to neighboring schools to increase enrollment and bring preschoolers, who don't receive state funding, under one roof.

Option 2A cuts the number of elementary schools with less than 450 students from nine to six.

Option 2B reduces the number of under‑450 schools from nine to seven.

In both scenarios, districtwide utilization at zoned elementary schools would rise to 80.8%, but the options are also not long-term solutions.

LH Williams Elementary was among the schools considered for closure last year, a proposal that drew public opposition. The district opted to consider a rezoning study.

Board members press long-term impact

Board members raised questions about how the options would affect families, school choice, finances and transportation.

Daryl Morton, board president, said he needed additional information about the budgetary impact of the presented options.

“On either the scenarios, we’re still going to have six to seven schools that are underpopulated,” Morton said. “I worry ... that we have, at best, a partial solution.”

Transportation costs also surfaced as a concern, with board member Myrtice Johnson noting that any savings from rezoning may offset higher busing expenses. She also voiced concerns about impact on student achievement.

“... To move those little babies out of that neighborhood to another neighborhood, I’m just wondering the effect it will have on them academically, even though you say they’re going to fare better because we are saving some money, but are we saving the children?” Johnson said.

Board member James Freeman also asked for numbers on how much money the district would actually gain by pushing more schools over the 450‑student threshold. District leaders said they would provide the calculations at a later date.

Community input ahead

The district is entering a community engagement phase, not seeking board approval on any specific map yet.

A town hall is scheduled for 5 p.m. Monday, April at the Professional Learning Center. A virtual session will follow on April 21.

An online address locator and survey will allow families to enter their home address and see how each option would affect their school assignments.