The state Department of Education has given the Syracuse City School District two extra weeks to come up with plans to phase out two underperforming schools in the city.
A letter dated Feb. 27 - and provided to WRVO Tuesday - from the state education department to Syracuse superintendent Sharon Contreras included an April 18 deadline for plans. A spokesperson for the education department gave WRVO a second letter dated March 4 that extends the deadline to April 30.
The letter summarizes a Feb. 20 meeting between district and state education officials about the options for phasing out the underperforming schools. The school district and state officials have declined to comment further.
Fowler High School, Hughes Elementary and Delaware Elementary schools have all been "priority schools," or below state performance standards, for three consecutive years, so they must be phased out under state regulations.
That process is already underway at Hughes, but the district is exploring options for Fowler and Delaware.
Fowler could become a "school of choice" focused on security and law enforcement. There are discussions between the state, district and Onondaga Community College about the college taking over the Delaware school.
The school board's next scheduled meeting is April 9 at 5:30 p.m.