National studies show school closings often don't save much money or improve student performance

Hartford Superintendent Leslie Torres-Rodriguez says her controversial plan to consolidate schools will save money and improve education, but national studies show that closing schools often doesn’t achieve either goal.

Torres-Rodriguez’s plan, which will be voted on Tuesday night by the school board, calls for closing Batchelder and Simpson-Waverly elementary schools in June, as well as 10 other school buildings over the next three years, for an eventual annual savings of $15 million...