PANAMA CITY, Fla. (AP) — A Florida county hit hard by Hurricane Michael is moving ahead with plans to temporarily close three elementary schools.
The Panama City News Herald reports that the Bay County School Board voted Tuesday to close the schools due to hurricane damage and enrollment drops. The school board, however, narrowly rejected a proposal by the school superintendent to close a fourth school as well.
Hurricane Michael slashed through the Panhandle last October. Months later residents in areas hammered by the storm are still trying to recover. Bay County has seen its school population drop as people have left the area.
The school board will advertise the closing of the schools before taking a final vote. The district plans to maintain the schools in case people choose to return.
