Vote on P.B. Ritch Phase-out Slated for January

Update: We've attached to this story a copy of the PowerPoint presentation shown to attendees at the public meeting.

Parents and community members learned Thursday that the 2011-2012 school year could be the last one for .

The school Thursday night was the site of a community meeting aimed at informing the public about the school’s impeding phase-out. Though Paulding County School Board members in April , the vote did not put a definitive time on closing the school.

But those who attended Thursday’s meeting learned that district officials would seek in January a board vote on phasing the school out once the current school year ends.

Attendees also learned that , and elementary schools would be likely to absorb P.B. Ritch’s student population should the phase-out plan be met by board approval. Associate Superintendent Brian Otott said a plan to redistrict in the wake of a P.B. Ritch closure would be similar to the process the district is currently undertaking .

More meetings on the future of the district are set for next week. Following the release this week of the —a move necessary —parents and community members’ first official chance to weigh in on the maps will be Monday at 7 p.m. Three high schools—, and —are hosting this second series of public hearings regarding the middle school redistricting process.

Officials at the hearings are slated to review the district’s progress to date, introduce the currently proposed redistricting plan and offer attendees a chance to take part in small-group facilitated discussion on the plan, with input used to revise the proposal into a draft plan or plans. The plan(s) will then be the center of discussion at a Jan. 12 forum at East Paulding High School.

School board members are set to gather for their last scheduled meeting of the year Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. at the central office That meeting will feature .