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Aug. 12, 2010
The Garrett County Board of Education discussed and finalized a calendar that will be followed for the possibility of closing one or more elementary schools. The plan presented by superintendent Dr. Wendell Teets at this week’s meeting was approved with several amendments.
It is already projected that the student populations will be down by 100 students in the next year, eliminating nearly $1 million in federal funding. The county budget will be set by the end of December, and the state funding will be known no later than January. Federal funding will not be finalized until approximately June of 2011.
Dr. Teets will present the board with a recommendation for potential schools to be considered by the Sept. 4 board meeting. It will be then that advisory groups will be organized to study and evaluate the recommended schools. The advisory committee will consist of administrative personnel and parents.
A public hearing will be set at the Oct. 12 meeting in order to inform the public of the pros and cons of each school under consideration. A report will be given on each school by the advisory group, and a report and recommendation will be presented by Teets. By Oct. 14, letters will be mailed to the schools in consideration, and a notice will be submitted to the local media.
Reports will be given at the Dec. 14 board meeting, with the following factors having impact on proposed closings: student enrollment trends, age and condition of school buildings, transportation, educational programs, racial composition of the student body, financial considerations, student relocations, impact on the community in the geographic attendance area of the schools proposed to be closed and school(s) to which students will be relocated, and other factors enumerated by Teets or the advisory group found to be relevent.
“It is one of the toughest aspects of this job,” said Teets, “but as much as it hurts me to close a school, it hurts when we can’t support our current staff and students as a whole.”
The proposed calendar slated the board making a final decision by the December meeting; however, after much deliberation, it was decided that March would be a more beneficial time to decide, as state and county budgets will be set by then.
“By November, we will have a lot of information to ponder, but we won’t know what money we’re getting,” commented board member Rodney Durst. “I would be uncomfortable making a final decision without first knowing the budget.”
“Postponing a decision may make it difficult to meet certain personnel requirements and deadlines,” said Teets before agreeing that the March deadline would be more appropriate.
Several parents and concerned citizens were present at the meeting to voice their opinions on the matter. Many felt that not all avenues are being explored to keep the smaller community schools open. Some only requested that the board explore every option before making the decision to close any of the schools.
“Garrett County ranked 18th in overall wealth when I first became an administrator,” said Teets, in an attempt to explain the financial dilemma the board faces. “We are now ranked 8th, which means we receive much less federal funding.”
