During the hearing, parents and students told the school board that they wanted the school to remain open. The school currently has just more than 100 students. If the school would close, those students would be transferred to another school within the district.
“Highland Street Elementary isn’t purely brick and mortar. You would have to walk the hallways and interact with the children to know that, “said Parent Dana Hamley.
The school board said it would be a cost-cutting method to close the school. The district would save nearly $500,000 in salaries and benefits. However, parent Marcie Dixon said, “Please don’t shove elementary students into overcrowded schools and classrooms just to save a buck.”
Parent Shelly Bojalad added, “It would bring the class sizes to 28, 29 basically 30 students per class. I don’t see how this benefits anybody. It’s a difficult burden on a teacher and the students.”
Students also made their own pleas to the school board. One middle school student said when he attended Highland Elementary School he was pushed to think hard and to learn.
Kaleb Stevens said, “I’m asking you to consider the long-term consequences of your actions and also to consider the result in short- and long-term reactions of closing an elementary school.”
The school board didn’t take any action Thursday night. Board members said they would consider the public comments and think long and hard before they vote.
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