Financial savings for school closing scenarios expected Monday

CEDAR RAPIDS – We should know Monday how much money closing schools in the Cedar Rapids district would save, school district officials said.

The information is to be ready in time for a discussion when the Cedar Rapids school board meets in a work session Monday night to discuss enrollments, school boundaries and proposals to close any of four schools.

Steve Graham, the district's executive director of businesses services, said he would be calculating numbers into Monday in preparation of giving them to the school board later in the day. He told The Gazette Editorial Board he wanted to make sure the numbers were correct. “It's going to be a work-in-progress until we are the table Monday night,” Graham said.

However, closing schools at a time when the district's student enrollment numbers are at historic lows, will provide a financial benefit, he said.

School board President John Laverty said he expects the discussion after that to include how to use the savings for education. “As a board, we have an obligation that all of our students have the same opportunities and advantages throughout the district,” he said.

"But we're also looking at: what are the impacts on students, community, parents?" he told the Editorial Board. "All of those factors are being considered."

An enrollment study committee has made two proposals for closing schools because of declining and shifting enrollments. Harrison, Madison, Monroe and Polk are the schools that have been identified in the proposals.

One proposal calls for closing Harrison, Monroe and Polk elementary schools. In that proposal, Grant Early Childhood Center would become a K-5 facility and Wilson Middle School would serve sixth- through eighth-graders.

The other proposal is essentially the same, except it closes Madison Elementary instead of Harrison.

Committee members also support middle and high school proposals that change current school boundary lines.

A final decision will not be made for at least eight weeks, school district officials said.

Two public forums are to be held next month – Feb. 2 and Feb. 9 – to give residents an opportunity to view the proposals and ask questions. (See "What's Next")

District Superintendent David Benson said he wants input on how any of the moves would impact people personally. Already, he said, he's been able to tell families that siblings will not be split into two different schools during a transition if both of their grades meet in the same building.

“We're trying to work through individual situations,” he said in the Editorial Board session at which Graham and Laverty spoke. “It's critical to answer personal questions.”

Residents who live near the schools on the target list have called on school board members to consider that personal impact when making their decision. The schools provide stability and house strong academics, residents argued during a Jan. 9 meeting.

Benson said he plans to make his recommendation on what to do at a Feb. 13 school board meeting.

Monday's meeting agenda