On Tuesday, Selma City Superintendent Dr. Avis Williams held a community meeting to discuss her recommendation to close Cedar Park Elementary School and Byrd First Class Learning Center.

She referenced a feasibility study that stated the same problems of student population decline that Williams said is the reason to close the two schools.

Williams also stated numbers about not using the buildings in the system to their full capacity.

Williams emphasized that the Pre-K program would not be going away, and said it would be consolidated into other schools in the system.

“There is no evidence of future growth in the community,” said Williams. “It is past time we do something. A decrease in students is a decrease in funding.”

The Selma City School Board held a first reading of the recommendation last week, and some of the concerns included moving the Pre-K equipment and staying in compliance with the regulations of the equipment.

Williams said it would cost around $40,000 to move the playground equipment at Byrd to the appropriate school.

Look for more information from Williams in a story in Friday’s edition of The Selma Times-Journal.