The Elkhart Community Schools Board unanimously approved a consolidation plan, Tuesday night, that will close several elementary schools and relocate students to other buildings across the district.

District officials say enrollment has dropped by more than 2,000 students since 2019, resulting in a loss of more than $18.5 million in annual tuition support. Many elementary schools are currently operating at less than 50% capacity.

Under the approved plan Students at Bristol Elementary will move to Eastwood Elementary, while Osolo Elementary students will transition to Pinewood Elementary. Woodland Elementary students are set to relocate to Cleveland Elementary. Mary Beck Elementary students will be reassigned to either Monger Elementary or Riverview Elementary. In addition, early learning programs currently housed at Hawthorne will move to Roosevelt Elementary.

Additional programming changes involving Intense Intervention Classrooms, PRIDE Academy, Head Start and Adult Education are planned, though new locations have not yet been announced.

District leaders say staffing will also be reduced. Administrative positions will be cut by 24% over the next two years. Certified staff will be reduced by 5%, and classified staff by 7%, with projected savings of nearly $6.5 million annually.