The consultation process was launched by Mrs Tolley last year in response to the 620 surplus pupil places at Calton Hill, Caversham, College St, Forbury, and Macandrew Intermediate.
She said a review had become necessary because the roll declines could lead to reduced funding, reduced staffing and fewer educational options for pupils.
She met the schools' principals in Dunedin yesterday to give feedback on the first round of consultation, which ended in December.
About 120 submissions were received about her initial proposals and, while some trends emerged, a clear message in many submissions was that Mrs Tolley should leave St Clair School out of the review process.
A Ministry of Education report showed the ministry's preference for dealing with the growing number of empty classrooms was to merge Caversham, College Street and Calton Hill Schools as a years 1-6 contributing primary school on the Caversham site, with an appointed board as the continuing board of trustees.
It was also the ministry's preference to merge Macandrew Intermediate and Forbury Schools as a years 1-8 full primary school on the Macandrew site, with an appointed board as the continuing board.
However, Mrs Tolley gave six options for the second round of consultation. They are variations on her two initial options.
She has proposed a merger of Caversham, College Street and Calton Hill Schools on to the Caversham site as a years 1-6 primary school, a year 1-8 primary school, or a primary school on the Caversham site with a campus on the Calton Hill site.
The last option was formulated after the final round of consultation found issues over access to the Caversham site for pupils living on the hill. Calton Hill School's board of trustees said two-thirds of its families could not afford transport, and walking to school was the only option.
The distances to Caversham School from various points in Calton Hill and Corstorphine are up to 2.2km.
Yesterday, Calton Hill principal Glenda Jack said she was pleased Mrs Tolley had listened to the community's concerns.
Two further options put out for the second round of consultation are to merge Macandrew Intermediate and Forbury Schools as a years 1-8 school on the Macandrew Intermediate School site, or close Macandrew Intermediate School and retain Forbury School as a years 1-8 school on its current site.
Following the meeting with Mrs Tolley yesterday, Macandrew Intermediate principal Whetu Cormick said there was still much uncertainty for the schools about their future.
"However, this provides our boards an opportunity to talk further about the preferred options that have been provided by Mrs Tolley."
She thanked the boards and communities of the six schools for their "constructive feedback" in the first round, and said continued community involvement would be crucial in developing the best education opportunities for pupils in South Dunedin.
Local Ministry of Education staff would provide support to the school boards and communities throughout the process, she said.
Submissions for the second round of consultation will close on March 22, 2011, and Mrs Tolley will make a final decision in early July.
It was hoped changes could be implement from term 1 next year.
The options
Merge: Caversham, College Street and Calton Hill Schools into:
• A years 1-6 primary school on the Caversham site.
• A years 1-8 primary school on the Caversham site.
• A years 1-6 primary school on the Caversham site, with a second campus on the Calton Hill School site.
• Or a years 1-8 primary school on the Caversham site, with a second campus on the Calton Hill School site.
Merge: Macandrew Intermediate and Forbury Schools into a years 1-8 primary school on the Macandrew Intermediate School site, or close Macandrew Intermediate School and retain Forbury School as a years 1-8 school on its current site.
