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Budget Shortfall


March 12, 2007 Update

School board moves forward with closing school
The school board took action directing district administration to proceed with implementation planning to close Clover Valley Elementary. Final action on closing Clover Valley Elementary is expected at the April 30 school board meeting. In the meantime, administration will take all necessary steps to reassign and transfer staff, prepare for movement of portables, plan for moving materials, equipment, and furniture, changing attendance boundaries, and all other steps associated with closing Clover Valley.

Feb. 27, 2007 Update

School board tentatively supports closing Clover Valley
It was a difficult and often emotional session for the school board last night, as one member after another spoke in favor of closing Clover Valley Elementary at the end of this school year. When asked to provide direction concerning three options - keep the school open, close the school at the end of this year, close the school at the end of next year - members made it clear there is only one acceptable option on the table. Pending receipt of some district-wide data and final approval, the board told the superintendent to begin preparations for closing the school. Board member Corey Johnson attended Clover Valley as a child and Board Member Kathy Jones' daughter attended the school. Both were emotional in concluding the time to close a school is now and Clover Valley is the right school to close. With staff of Clover Valley Elementary in the audience, board members said they did not want to delay the decision any longer. They expressed concern that staff, students, and families of Clover Valley Elementary deserved an answer as soon as possible - so they gave them one.

What's next? The superintendent will make a final recommendation and the board will make its formal vote on March 12, followed by a six-week preparation and waiting period. A final vote will be required April 30 to officially close the school. In the meantime, the district will begin making plans to work with five elementary schools instead of six. As one board member pointed out, it will be better for students to concentrate financial resources in five full schools rather than operate six schools with thin budgets and skeletal staff.



January 30, 2007

Enrollment driving proposal to close Clover Valley Elementary
A converging budget crunch and downward trend in enrollment has the school district considering the closure of Clover Valley Elementary School. Converting from six elementary schools to five would save about $550,000 and improve efficiency among schools, but it comes with an obvious cost.

The disruption to families and to employees of Clover Valley is the most difficult part, according to Superintendent Rick Schulte. Last month, Schulte met with Clover Valley staff and parents in two separate meetings to explain reasons behind the closure, how it would impact them, and how the decision - to either close it or keep it open - will impact the school district.

During the last seven years, enrollment at the elementary level has dropped by 500 students. That's more than is currently enrolled in 5 of 6 elementary schools. This year, the kindergarten count alone was down by 65 students. Kindergarteners attend school only half days, so this year's drop is reflected as only 32.5 full-time students. That means the district already knows first grade will be 32.5 students down next year. The downward trend is expected to con- tinue at all grade levels.

Although Clover Valley has fewer students than other elementary schools, Schulte told parents and staff that student population at Clover Valley is not a factor. Instead, it's enrollment district-wide which is driving this proposal.

Schulte said Clover Valley is the best choice for closure for two basic reasons: the size of the building and the number of kids who take the bus. Clover Valley is one of two schools with only 16 regular classrooms. Broadview has roughly the same population and the same number of classrooms, but Broadview is a walking school with 90 percent of its students within walking distance. By comparison, more than 80 percent of Clover Valley students are transported by bus or car.

Closing an elementary school will not impact class sizes, said Assistant Supt. David Peterson. He recently told the school board that with six schools, he expects 16 empty classrooms next year. With five schools, all regular classrooms would be used and there will still be room for more than 100 students. In addition, it will be easier to balance class sizes in five schools, he said.

Peterson said the Clover Valley Life Skills class would likely move intact to another school. Also, students in remedial classes will have the same service in any school they attend.

The school board set a public hearing on the matter for Feb. 20, beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the district office. A decision is expected in late February or mid-March.