We have an update to the DuBois school board’s idea to close schools amid declining enrollment.
Now, they’re considering even more drastic cuts, similar to what Clearfield did.
We have more on the proposals.
The buildings committee met last night and discussed ideas to get rid of two or three, and possibly up to six of the seven current elementary buildings.
Substitute superintendent Jackie Canter read four plans, and the committee focused on two.
The first plan involves closing Penfield and Sykesville in the ’17-18 year, while expanding Wasson so that Luthersburg can then be closed in ’18-19.
The second plan would close all the elementaries except for Juniata, kept for kindergarten and administration. Grades 1-5 would go to a brand-new building constructed at the Wasson site.
“The proposal where they have kindergarten standing alone with administration at Juniata, I just think is a bad plan. Kindergarten needs to be with everyone else like Mr. DeLuccia was saying. Keep it K-5,” says Deb Hoyt, who attended the meeting.
Board member Tim DeLuccia also suggested re-opening Highland.
Some said that Juniata needs to stay open following a huge renovation.
Even the Liberty Blvd. administration building the meeting was held at was on the table for closing, with 13 employees there.
We went to Sykesville for reaction.
“I don’t think it’s good. I mean we’ve got enough kids here to fill that school up. Both my daughters grew up there and my son,” says Cliff Huey.
“The school should be left where it is because years ago they merged us with Reynoldsville and it caused a lot of hard feelings for the people, and the kids in particular,” says Nancy Malinky.
Board members said $950,000 a year would be saved closing Penfield, and moving kids to Juniata.
Board member Bob Wachob said he did figures showing Sykesville could fit in to Reynoldsville, and Penfield into Juniata, with class sizes around 25.
“Everybody knew everybody in grade school in Luthersburg and then once we got to DuBois, it seemed like you were just a number,” says David McKee, recalling his school years.
“When I was in junior high, they bussed us to DuBois because they closed the school down here and it was hard adjusting because the kids had cliques, and it was difficult for us to fit in,” says Malinky.
Another plan to send fifth-graders to middle school and eighth-graders to high school wasn’t too well-received.
Canter will now look for cost estimates for the two proposals to present at the next buildings meeting.