Judge approves TUSD plan to close 11 schools

A federal judge has approved Tucson Unified School District's plan to close 11 schools.

The district governing board initiated closure of the schools in December — pending the court’s approval — as part of the solution toward bridging a more than $17 million budget shortfall the district is facing in the 2013-2014.

Schools approved for closure are:

• Brichta Elementary School, 2110 W. Brichta Drive

• Carson Middle School, 7777 E. Stella Road

• Corbett Elementary School, 5949 E. 29th St.

• Fort Lowell-Townsend K-8, 2120 N. Beverly Blvd.

• Hohokam Middle School, 7400 S. Settler

• Howenstine High School 555 S. Tucson Blvd.

• Lyons Elementary School, 7555 E. Dogwood St.

• Maxwell Middle School, 2802 W. Anklam Road (Note: Maxwell will be reopened as a new K-8 school)

• Menlo Park Elementary, 1100 W Fresno St.

• Schumaker Elementary School, 501 N. Maguire

• Wakefield Middle School, 101 W. 44th St.