Good-Bye Deep River-Millersburg

I spent the day in Millersburg, a small town of less than 200 people in Iowa County. On Tuesday, it seemed like all of them were at Deep River-Millersburg Elementary School.

The school had its final last day of school Tuesday. The Deep River-Millersburg school district will cease to exist June 30. Community members voted in September to reorganize with the English Valleys school district, keeping the fate of the district local rather than forced into making a decision by the state.

"We couldn't have done this without public input," said Ronald Grimm, school board president.

The district was upfront with its patrons from the very beginning, sharing its finances, enrollment numbers and other issues in several public meetings in past years. This transparency led to a ideal school closure, if there is such a thing.

"We had so many meetings prior to the closing that gave people a chance to express their feelings," said Rhoda Harris, Deep River-Millersburg principal.

Those who needed to vent did. Those who needed to cried could. In the end, it came down to the people and they voted for change, even as it hurt to do so.

Grimm knows Deep River-Millersburg isn't unique. It may be the only district in Iowa closing this year, but the state has more rural districts in the same situation.

"This is going to happen more in Iowa," Grimm said. "You have to adjust with the times."

There are no plans for the school building, or the land surrounding it. Both are now owned by English Valleys. Four Deep River-Millersburg teachers will transfer to English Valleys, four others are looking for jobs.

The Deep River and Millersburg school districts consolidated in 1959. The district entered a whole grade sharing agreement with English Valleys and Montezuma school districts in 1992. Deep River-Millersburg students will either attend English Valleys or Montezuma next year.

"When we consolidated, some people said it would last, that our districts were too small," said Vicki Pope, school board secretary. "We lasted 50 years."