CORRECTING: Elwood school board votes to close elementary

Superintendent Tom Austin had recommended that the board close the middle school, and told board members Monday, “I have not changed my mind.” But that option was voted down 3-2. The board then approved on a 3-2 vote a plan to close either Edgewood or Oakland elementary in the coming school year.

Board President Richard Herndon and members Stephanie Hoel and Sandra Ratliff voted against closing the middle school and in favor of closing an elementary. Board members Gary Jones and Robert Savage supported closing the middle school and voted against closing an elementary.

Like other Indiana school districts, Elwood faces painful budget cuts forced by dwindling state revenue. Coupled with declining enrollment, the cuts led to the formulation of a variety of options to close and reconfigure schools. The board has been studying those for months.

“It’s been a very tough couple of weeks or months,” Savage told the nearly 120 parents, teachers, students and patrons in the audience. He made the motion to support Austin’s proposal to close the middle school. “The administration vowed they will make this plan work and they believe it is best for education and the kids.”

But Herndon said after the meeting that he and other board members “really struggled with it.”

“I thought it was the better plan,” he said of closing one of the two elementaries. Which of the two schools will close has yet to be determined.

Austin said after the meeting that work would have to be done to determine how best to fit students in schools that next year will be aligned as follows:

-- One elementary: Pre-K-grade 4.

-- Middle school: Grades 5-8.

-- High school: Grades 9-12.

The closing, along with a number of cost-cutting measures taken previously, are aimed at making up a budget deficit projected at about $3 million.