While families can look into available schools now, he suggested they wait until open enrollment, when the district will “wipe the slate clean” and have a better idea of openings and capacity.

Students will select their top three choices for new schools. Though he referred to it as a lottery system, Skatula said the vast majority of students end up in one of the three schools they prefer.

After the task of placing students is complete, the district can begin staffing to meet those needs, officials said.

At Monday’s meeting and in the weeks leading up to it, some parents and staff had warned that the change would impact the students of the four schools, which are all Title I. They said the students wouldn’t receive the same support at different schools.

But Jennings and Skatula said staff across the district have experience and will be able to care for the students. The Title I funding will follow the students wherever they go, the officials said.

The same goes for programs like functional life skills and classic kindergarten. Though the schools that are closing hosted those programs, they will still be offered elsewhere in the district, depending on student need.