The video above is WAVY’s March coverage of the school closing and consolidation plan.

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – As the deadline nears for the Norfolk School Board to submit a list of ten schools to close and consolidate, the district is holding two informational sessions.

The community engagement sessions are on Thursday, June 26, 2025. The first session is at Booker T. Washington School from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m., followed by one at Granby High School from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m.

In March, Norfolk City Council tasked the school board with developing a plan to close and consolidate ten schools. The school board was given a deadline of Aug. 1, 2025 to create the list.

At Thursday’s “right-sizing” sessions, the community will hear the recommendations made by the School Board’s Educational and Facilities Planning Advisory Committee. The committee was formed earlier this year. The public will also be invited to provide feedback.

The School Board will review community feedback along with the Committee’s recommendations before making a final decision at a later date.

Outgoing Norfolk Public Schools’ Superintendent Dr. Sharon I. Byrdsong presented a $772.9 million proposed operating budget for FY2025-2026 to the City of Norfolk School Board on February 5, 2025. This proposal is $16.8 million less than the current operating budget. 

The budget proposal was developed with five priorities, including a focus on the right-sizing initiative.

As WAVY has previously reported, Norfolk Public Schools has seen a significant decrease in student enrollment, which has resulted in underutilized buildings.

According to NPS, in the past decade, they’ve seen an average annual enrollment drop of more than 400 students.

The right-sizing plan is expected to be implemented in phases.