In a movement that seems to be spreading across the country - including Rochester - yet another school district is planning to close multiple schools. CNN is reporting that the Detroit's emergency financial manager wants to close 44 schools in June, and an additional 13 may close by 2012.

Kansas City is preparing to close 28 of its 61.

In both cases, school-district leaders cite dramatic declines in enrollment and budget problems. But some districts are closing schools as a way to reshape teaching staffs. The district that has most been in the news is Central Falls, Rhode Island, where the lone high school is being closed and all the teachers are being dismissed. The teachers can reapply for their jobs at the school, but there's no guarantee that they'll be rehired. Other cities have also begun using the tactic so they can replace teachers they think aren't performing well.

In Rochester, Jean-Claude Brizard has proposed closing eight schools and opening five new ones. Teachers from the closed schools can apply to teach in the new ones, but there's no guarantee that they'll get those jobs. In addition, four schools have been named "autonomous schools," where all staff will have to reapply, and where principals will be able to hire who they want.