Officials Optimistic, Parents Vigilant as Consolidation Becomes Reality

He explained how Merritt, which previously enrolled students from pre-kindergarten to eighth grade, had been transformed into a middle school for grades 6 through 8 with new staff and new education programs. He described how the building had been enhanced with new flooring, paint and drywall partitions to divide its open-space design into traditional classrooms.

"We've been going through plastic surgery," Pair said. "This is a new day at Merritt Middle School, and we're ready for your children."

The school board closed some schools because the system's enrollment had declined by 10,000 in five years and because it had been pressured by Congress and the D.C. Council to cut excess space.

The board agreed to close five schools: Fletcher-Johnson; Shadd Elementary and Van Ness Elementary, both in Southeast; Wheatley Elementary in Northeast; and R.H. Terrell.

The system will close McGogney Elementary in Southeast temporarily, transferring its students across the street to M.C. Terrell Elementary. When yet-to-be-scheduled renovations at McGogney are complete, M.C. Terrell will close.

Under the plan, the system also will make part or all of eight other school buildings available for leasing to charter schools. Janey said the system is reviewing several leasing proposals.

After spending $5 million on major renovations and cleanup work at the schools, officials said they expect the closings to save the system $8 million annually. This year, restrooms and roofs were fixed at Nalle Elementary in Southeast; abandoned cars and sofas were removed from a lot at Webb Elementary in Northeast; and carpeting was installed in the first-floor corridor at M.C. Terrell.

Armstrong was among the parents who got a sneak peak of the new Merritt on Friday morning.

She and her granddaughters visited classrooms, and the students met their teachers for this year. Tyeesha smiled and raised her arms when Tianni's science teacher told them about the school's ski club.

"Fletcher-Johnson was a good school, but this is a good school, too," Tianni said.

Armstrong, whose concerns about the distance had been reduced by the school's offer of free bus tokens, agreed, saying: "It's going to be a good year. I'm very pleased."