Lancaster and Northwest Elementary Schools will close, Horace Mann will re-open and the process to build a new elementary school in Roanoke will take place.
Huntington County Community School Corp. approved the plans effective for the 2018-2019 school year during its meeting Monday. The reasoning behind the closures is due to declining enrollment in the corporation.
There were approximately 70 teachers who attended Monday’s meeting to hear what the decision would be. There were previously public hearings where the community could voice their opinions.
Brian Warpup, board member, made the motion for the closures seconded by Reed Christiansen, board member. The vote was 7 to zero.
The vote to build a new elementary school in Roanoke was 4 to 3 with Christiansen making the motion seconded by Kevin Yarger, board member. Mathew Roth, school board president, and board members Matt Melcher and Brian Warpup voted no.
Roth made a motion to close Lancaster, Northwest and Roanoke and not reopen Horace Mann and build a new school in the North East part of the county, but it was not seconded.
“We’ve waited several years for this. We are losing teacher to other school corporations who pay more when money could be put toward teachers raises,” Roth said.
He said he had a concern with building a new school right away and it not being the right size to accommodate students.
“No matter the decision we will own it and we now have direction on where we are going and what we are doing,” Roth said.
He said with needed renovations at Huntington North High School, he could not support building a new school in Roanoke.
“I don’t disagree with the renovations, but I want get the biggest bang for our buck for our kids,” Christiansen said.
Tim Allen, board member, agreed with the decision to close the two schools.
“We have dissected the data and the motion Brian made is spot on and leaves room to make future decisions and allows flexibility,” Allen said.
Randy Harris, superintendent, said the decision will allow the corporation to move forward.
“They have provided the direction I need as a superintendent and our administrative team needs to go forward and we have a year to get this done,” Harris said.
“There will be a lot of fear and in trepidation as we go forward, but the best thing we can do is get the right information and keep everyone informed as we go through it.”