The superintendent says decreasing enrollment is behind the school's board decision to close the schools.
By Melissa Smith
Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at 7:09 p.m.
Read more: Local, Economy, Education, Community
KALEVA -- Economic struggles are forcing a Manistee County school district to close two of its elementary schools come next fall.
The decision came about Monday night during a Kaleva Norman Dickson School District board of education meeting.
The board says because of decreasing enrollment in Kaleva and Wellston elementary schools, students will be transferred to Brethren High School also in Manistee County.
The district's superintendent, Mike Matesich says the move will ultimately save the district about $450,000 thousand by moving at least 300 students from the schools to one building.
"I volunteer in my daughter's classroom and if they move over there then I wouldn't be able to do it everyday," says Kaleva Elementary parent, Andrea Stambaugh.
"It's a small school we're all tied together, what happens to one of us, happens to all of us here. So, I see the closing of this school and also in Wellston, it's going to do something to this community," says Kaleva Elementary parent, Lisa Bone.
Stambaugh and Bone both have daughters that attend Kaleva Elementary and volunteer their time at the school. Although the school board's decision will save the Kaleva Norman Dickson School District money, they think the board should reconsider.
"We need to pull together and make up our minds on what's the best thing for these children. I think the best thing is to keep them in the schools that they're in, try to find a way to give them a quality education," says Bone.
Besides moving students to Brethren High School, Superintendent Matesich says it would also cause some layoffs for custodial and food service employees. He does say these may only be temporary.
"It makes me sad, it makes me angry. Now I have the option to use buffing rights or take a layoff so I have to elevate all my options...I think it's going to hurt the community," says Kaleva Elementary school cook, Pam Monroe.
"We're all disappointed. I think I speak for a lot of parents, there's a lot of disappointment," says Bone.
In order to keep the elementary schools open, the superintendent says enrollment needs to increase by at least 30 some students come next fall, otherwise the decision will remain final.
