Columbus City Schools Superintendent Talisa Dixon announced plans to divide the district into six geographic areas starting next year.
Dixon said in a school board meeting Tuesday that the changes are meant to provide more localized management of Columbus City Schools.
Currently, the school district has five divisions: three for elementary schools, one for middle schools and one for high schools. Now, instead of being based on grades, schools will be grouped by their location.
“These divisions will have between 17 and 20 schools each and will cover the full pre-K through 12 experience," Dixon said.
Six area superintendents will oversee the new divisions. Those area superintendents will report to the chief academic officer and Dixon.
Columbus Council of PTAs president Lolita Augenstein says the district needs to make sure those superintendents understand their communities.
“Will they be culturally competent for their area, and how do we make sure of that?" Augenstein asks. "Because that is a problem in a lot of public education.”
Still, Augenstein says if done right, the changes will help leaders better focus on each school’s needs.
