Closure of some schools may be coming: Closing of some underutilized schools is being considered even as the district continues with an ambitious construction program.

Byline: Tania Deluzuriaga

Aug. 21--The Miami-Dade school district opened nine new schools and added enough space to accommodate 20,000 more students in high-growth areas Monday, but declining enrollment overall and shrinking budgets may mean that school closures are on the horizon.

Superintendent Rudy Crew told The Miami Herald Monday that he plans to explore alternative uses for under-enrolled schools, such as converting them to community centers or using them for adult education programs. He will put the issue before the school board in the next two months.

"What I'm hearing is that we need to use schools to their maximum," Crew said. "We're in a situation where their maximum might be a different use. . . . That conversation awaits us."

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