Garaway board sees students under one roof in new elementary, current schools to remain open
The Garaway school board revealed its plans for the district's elementary schools to a packed house Monday Feb. 10.In an informal question and answer session with district residents, board president Robert Coburn said the board would hold meetings to receive community input and craft a plan that will lead to the construction of a new elementary school within the next few years. In the mean time, Garaway's four elementary schools will remain open.
The board voted three to two to rescind a June 10, 2013 board action that would close Dundee and Ragersville elementary schools. Voting to rescind were new board members Coburn, Robert Eckert and Dan Fearon. Board members Dick Marshall and Jim Parsons, who voted for the closure of the elementary schools in the June 10 meeting, voted no.
Coburn said Monday's decision reflected the will of district voters who voted in him, Eckert and Fearon to serve on the school board in the Nov. 5 election.
"(The board's action) is to satisfy the 1,500 who voted that they didn't want this to happen," Coburn said.
Prior to the vote to rescind the June 10 action, Marshall and Parsons explained why they voted for closure of the schools.
Coburn proposed a series of meetings that will be attended by businesspersons, residents and other community leaders that will result in formation of a committee seeking a long-term solution. Coburn said he sees construction of "a state of the art" elementary school with all students under one roof as the best solution. Coburn said he sees a plan that offers a permanent solution within three to five years.
If no permanent solution can be reached, Coburn said, the board will work to keep all elementary schools open for as long as possible.
Garaway administrators have said closing Dundee and Ragersville makes fiscal sense, saving anywhere from $300,000 to $460,000 per year. Costly technology upgrades at each building mandated by testing standards would be avoided. Miller Avenue School would be renamed Garaway Primary, housing Kindergarten through the third grade, and Baltic Elementary would be renamed Garaway Intermediate and house fourth grade through sixth grade. With each grade under one roof, more attention would be directed to each individual student's needs.
Marshall reiterated those needs Monday night.
"I still think we need to make big changes," Marshall said. "Four buildings, plus the high school, is going to eat us alive. I think we have the opportunity to do something about it."
Marshall suggested he is open to discussion on the topic, noting, "I don't know what the answer is". Marshall further stated that the district appears to be opposed to new money, having turned down a prior levy attempt.
Parsons read from a brief statement explaining his vote against rescinding the June 10 action. Parsons stated that his decision-making is guided by doing what is best for the education of Garaway students. He said he believes, as things stand now, that not all students are getting the attention they need.
The meeting was held at the Garaway Belden Community Center because of interest from the community. Though more than 100 people attended, only a few spoke. Those who did were firmly in one camp or the other; a woman who said her grandchildren currently attend Garaway sided with closing Dundee and Ragersville. Another woman said Coburn never suggested a single elementary when running for school board, and that it was her understanding that the new board members intended to keep Dundee and Ragersville open.
Superintendent Teresa Alberts said faculty would work with whatever decision the board makes.
"I have been at Garaway long enough to know that we will make the best of any decision," Alberts said. "It is a Garaway decision, this is a Garaway board."
Coburn said he hopes the meetings will be well attended.
"We want to work with the whole community, not just pockets," Coburn said. "I want everyone to have a voice in where the district goes in the future."