Anniston School Board schedules forum on school consolidation

The Anniston Board of Education has scheduled A public Forum for April 17 at 6 p.m. to give Anniston residents a chance to voice opinions regarding plans to consolidate the city school system.  The Anniston Board of Education made the announcement Thursday and said the forum is scheduled  to discuss possible school consolidation as well as strategic planning for the future of the school system. The board will include public input in its final decision on whether it closes at least one school due to declining enrollment.  The forum will be held at Anniston High School.  The board and the Anniston City Council are already scheduled to meet jointly April 1 at 6 p.m. at the City Meeting Center, at which time the board will publicly present and discuss its several school consolidation proposals. The board started discussing possible school consolidation more than a year ago to address declining student enrollment and saving money. The board developed a plan that involved closing Anniston Middle School and selling it to the city. However, that plan fell through when the city decided in January it didn't want the site, saying it would be too expensive to redevelop.