Even though Shirley had some information on the potential expense increases, he told board members the idea was “for discussion only.”

“The idea here is to get the conversation started,” Shirley said. “I don’t expect for you to make a decision, just think about it.”

The thought though, for some board members, was not one they wanted to have.

“What has changed? What has changed in the past few months,’ board member Dr. Udo Ufomadu asked Shirley. “Months ago we heard reports, information on how we needed to close this school for good. So, I ask again, what has changed?”

Board member Brenda Randolph-Obomanu said the initial projected savings in closing the school were “never realistic.”

Board president Henry Hicks Sr., who also questioned the need for the school to be reopened, asked Shirley to continue gathering information on how much it would cost the system to reopen the school the rest of the year and how the system could absorb the additional expense.