Athens School District Looks at Shutting Down Building

January 12, 2010

Funding cuts and a loss of students is forcing one local school district to make a tough decision.

The Athens school district in Calhoun County is looking to close one of its three schools. On Monday night the superintendent made his recommendation on which building should be shut down.

Newschannel 3 was at that meeting.

Like so many school districts across Michigan, Athens has been pushed into a corner and forced to make some very tough decisions. At a meeting Monday night, the superintendent said that he believes the only chance the district has for survival is finding a way to fit more than 700 students into two buildings.

The proposal is to close down the elementary school, including a new gym built with tax dollars.

“It seems to be a waste to put that much money into a new structure and not be able to utilize it,” said parent of Athens student Keith Swank.

The proposal is to close down the middle school for one year, so that it can be expanded to accommodate kindergarten through eighth grade.

While that building is shut down, the middle school will be split up, with seventh and eighth graders going to the high school, and fifth and sixth graders to the elementary school where they’ll join kindergarten through fourth graders, like Christina Robinson’s two kids.

“I am concerned that they’re going to be with the older students,” said Robinson.

The Robinsons live across the street from East Leroy Elementary, and if the recommendations pass, that school will close after the renovations to the middle school are complete, abandoning a new multi-million dollar addition.

“No matter the choice, someone is not going to be happy with the decision,” said Robinson. “With all the funding that we’ve lost through the state and jobs leaving Michigan, we’ve lost a lot of kids.”

Robinson says that parents are aware of the tough situation the Athens school district is in.

“I think they’re frustrated and they’re upset, but they have to understand if they want our district to survive, we have to consolidate,” said Robinson.

The proposal is contingent upon a bond passing in August. The Board of Education will vote in February on whether or not to go ahead with the proposal.