Staff writer
A public hearing will be at 7 p.m. March 8 in the Centre High School gymnasium regarding the proposal approved by USD 397 Board of Education to temporarily close the elementary school building in Lost Springs.
Board members said the closure of the elementary school building would be termed “temporary,” so that the building could be re-opened if student enrollment increased enough to justify the action.
The proposal includes reassigning kindergarten through fourth-grade students to the high school site and relocating the district office to the district-owned house at the high school site.
A representative from the board will present the proposal, and the board will hear testimony as to the feasibility of the closing. The board also will present a proposed plan of action.
The board cited numerous reasons for the action. These include declining enrollment, reduction in general fund budget authority, and limited additional local resources.
Projected benefits include reduction in administrative costs, building expense savings, elimination of in-district teacher travel expense, transportation savings, and reduction in lunch program and maintenance expenses.
The proposal was unanimously approved by the board at its Feb. 8 meeting, following a budget report by Superintendent Jerri Kemble and Clerk Peggy Falen.
“Their number one priority was student learning, as well as saving programs and saving jobs,” Kemble said. She said the details are still being worked out and will be presented at the hearing.
The proposal is expected to save $75,000 to $100,000 a year.
Following approval, the board held a 30-minute executive session to discuss the superintendent’s contract.
Upon returning to open session, they voted to employ Kemble as superintendent and kindergarten through 12th grade principal for the 2010-11 school year with a salary of $96,000 and a family premium health insurance policy.
Her contract was extended to the 2011-12 school year. Her position as K-12 principal will be reviewed during her annual evaluation.
Before adjourning, the board spent 10 minutes in executive session with Kemble and Falen to discuss preliminary information relating to the acquisition of real property. No action was taken when open session resumed.
The board will take a final vote on the proposed school closing following the March 8 hearing, at its 7:30 p.m. monthly meeting.