“We’re looking at all possibilities, including building a K-8 school that would allow us to close a middle or elementary school,” said School Board Chairwoman Jane Pfeilsticker. “If we choose to do any of this, it will take a year to implement.”

There are many reasons for the empty seats, district officials say.

The struggling economy and housing market played a large role. New charter schools, the increasing popularity of home schooling and the Florida virtual school program, that allows students to take online classes outside of a regular school, have lowered the number of students in traditional schools, said Danny Lundeen, the district’s supervisor of student demographics and projections.

There are currently 3,755 empty seats in elementary schools, 1,941 in middle schools, and 1,287 in high schools, Lundeen said.

For the rest of the article, go to Manatee School District Looks at Closing, Consolidating Schools