Board members at Tussey Mountain School District have a tough decision to make. Should they close one of their three elementary schools?

 

“In this day and age to try to operate a school building with those small numbers, it’s just not good use of taxpayer money,” said Superintendent Mark Bollman.

 

Enrollment has declined in recent years.  Of the three elementary schools, Robertsdale and Defiance could be on the chopping block.

 

“We’re probably the last to still be operating with as many buildings as we do,” Bollman said. “Other school districts have long since closed and consolidated.”

 

There are roughly 100 students in the smaller elementary schools.  Bollman said consolidation makes sense.

 

“Educationally we think it would be a better move if we had all of the same grade level under one roof. It would help us balance class sizes better. We could also share resources.”

 

Money will be saved with no addition to current buildings.  The elementary art programs cut a few years ago could make a comeback.  There are no talks of staffing cuts. 

 

There would be a slight increase in transportation costs, but that could be offset by savings in utility costs no longer needed to be paid.  Bus routes could be longer to the schools, though. 

 

“The two in question, they’re very comparable in size, number of staff, and so forth.”

 

One major issue to consider is a bond issue from renovating all of the schools.  If they close one of the buildings, they may not get state reimbursement. 

 

Plus, it’s hard to say goodbye to a longstanding part of the community. 

 

“No doubt a small community building has a lot of sympathetic value. People like their hometown schools for the most part. Some really like them heavily. …At this time there is no favored one over the other.”

 

This closure could come as early as next school year, but Bollman thinks a five-year plan would work best.