Closing of elementary school remains priority topic with school board

ST. MARYS - Discussion continues into the potential closure of Bennetts Valley Elementary School with options and opinions running the gamut between residents, administrators and school board members.

On Monday evening the St. Marys Area School District Board of Directors voted to table conducting a public hearing to discuss closing the school. Three board members opposed tabling the matter including Melissa Lundin, Lou

Radkowski and Mark Greenthaner.

The school board will take up the vote again during next month’s board meeting which will help determine the next step in the process. Superintendent Harley Ramsey said he will continue to collect information and look at options. He is also open to hosting another public share session, the first of which took place in March.

“There’s a level of trust that I’ve done my due diligence to provide as much information as possible to make a decision,” Ramsey said.

Ramsey reported the estimated overall cost savings in closing the school is around $638,000.

In the case that BV would close, two options were proposed for its students. The first option would be to send BV students to Fox Township Elementary. The second option is more detailed and would impact multiple schools. It entails moving all elementary pre-k, kindergarten and first grade classes to Fox Twp. Elementary, second thru fourth grade classes to SSMSE, moving fifth grade to the middle school and moving eighth grade to the high school.

Some school board members said they are further delaying a decision in postponing a public hearing. The hearing would allow the board to hear input from the public in order to make a more informed decision. Ramsey said if they vote to hold the public hearing next month, it can be scheduled within a few days with appropriate public notice.

While the public hearing can be scheduled at any time, whether that’s

90 days or six months away, a final vote on the matter can only take place 90 days after the public hearing. This would mean the school board could vote on the matter in October if a public hearing is conducted in June.

A full house was in attendance during the meeting where four visitors voiced their opinion on the subject, all of whom were BV residents who were against closing the school.

School board members have requested additional information on transportation scenarios from various bussing companies, more solid transportation costs and the number of potential students which the district could lose to private schools, homeschooling or cyber charter schools. Ramsey said he also plans to look further into the potential moving of fifth and eighth grades, specifically in gathering public input and concerns.

School board members Kathy Blake and Chrissy Keebler have voiced their support for the school and their opposition in closing it. Blake said it is unfair to have a public hearing without providing the public with answers to more detailed information.

“It doesn’t feel like the whole picture if being presented. Closing the school is part of a much bigger plan,” Blake said.

Lundin stated she based her vote in favor of a public hearing in order to gather more information, not because she wants to close the school.

“Nothing about this feels good for any of us. I understand there is a lot of fear out there in how it will effect a community. This is a tough call,” Radkowski said.

He added that SMASD is the 14th largest school district in the state and there is a lot of ground to cover and not a lot of people to do it.

Greenthaner said he is not sold on the idea of closing the school, but with Monday’s decision they are only kicking the can down the road.