AUGUSTA, Ga.- Some Richmond County parents will likely see changes that affect their children as early as next school year. School leaders are working on the county's first Rightsizing plan to help save money for taxpayers and improve education.

The changes start with one middle school that took seven years to make Adequate Yearly Progress. Year after year, Tubman Middle School couldn't seem to make the cut. But with a new principal taking over almost a year ago, Dr. Wayne Frazier helped the school finally make AYP.

Richmond County school leaders are considering closing Tubman, and turning it into an education center. It would house the county's alternative and adult education classes, GED classes, and other programs. Superintendent Dana Bedden says size and location are the reason they want to close the school.

"We believe it's a beautiful building on a major road with public transportation. It's big enough to house some other programs and shut down some of those facilities," said Dana Bedden, Richmond County Superintendent.

This means Bungalow Road and Forest Hills would be closed. Bedden says this would eliminate the utility expenses that keep both buildings running.

Rezoning is also a big part of the Rightsizing plan. He says this will cut fuel costs. But most importantly, Bedden feels this will reduce the time students spend on the road and allow children to learn in a more stable environment.

“If we can get kids to have belongingness with their neighborhood feeder pattern, then there’s a chance that they will finish. Our biggest window of challenge is between eighth and 10th grade. Once we get them to 11th, they stay,” said Bedden.

Along with rezoning, school leaders are considering spreading out some of the educational programs to all parts of Augusta. This means Hephzibah High School could have a police academy. Student at Cross Creek High School could participate in a brand new performing arts program. All changes that will benefit Richmond County children, but it all depends on next year's budget.

One important thing to note about changes to Tubman Middle, the school district will allow all graduating seventh graders to finish out the eighth grade at Tubman. They also plan to take a closer look at the four elementary schools that feed into Tubman. They are considering making Collins Elementary kindergarten through eighth grade. They don't know about the three others. Stay tuned to NBC Augusta 26 News, we'll bring you updates once they're announced.