Baldwinsville (WSYR-TV) -- The decision to close an elementary school in Baldwinsville will have to wait at least two more weeks.
School board members tabled a vote to close Van Buren Elementary, saying they needed more time to review the plans and to make a final decision.
Due to an overall decline in enrollment the district is considering closing the school to save $1.3-million per year. A savings some parents say isn’t worth it.
“These are our lives, our child’s going to have to be disrupted, moved to a different school, make new friends, learn new teachers. It’s just a lot for them to deal with at such a young age,” said Wendy Vanderwater, whose son attends Van Buren Elementary School.
Superintendent Jeanne Dangle doesn’t want to close any of the schools. However, she says, “If you’re losing your enrollments and you’re not utilizing those buildings to capacity you have a fiduciary responsibility to do that.”
A Building Utilization Committee chose Van Buren for closure because it’s one of the oldest and smallest elementary buildings and closing it over any other school would affect the least amount of students.
Additional questions will need to be considered before a final decision is made:
- How will the closure affect class sizes?
- Where will Van Buren students go if the school was to close?
- How would it affect bus routes?
- What’s the worst case scenario if the school doesn’t close one of its elementary schools?
- What’s the cost to maintain Van Buren after its closed?
The school board is expected to vote on the issue again at its October 1 meeting.
To learn more about the school district’s plan,
CLICK HERE.
