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GREENFIELD — Next school year will be the last for the elementary school in Bridgewater.
By a 4-1 vote Wednesday in special session, the Nodaway Valley Board of Education decided to close Nodaway Valley West Elementary at the end of the 2009-10 school year.
The school board had received information regarding the possible closure of the building from the district's facility study committee at Monday's regular session. At that meeting, Superintendent John Dayton recommended closing West Elementary, moving fourth grade to the East Elementary building in Greenfield, and fifth grade to Nodaway Valley Middle School in Fontanelle.
The meeting two nights earlier also included a presentation by Larry Sigel of Iowa School Finance Information Service regarding the recession's impact on school finance and the district's financial situation.
With those factors in mind, Jane Ernst, Susan Olesen, Clint Hight and Terry Buckner, board president, all voted to close West Elementary after next school year.
In casting the lone dissenting vote, board member Steve Baudler of Fontanelle questioned the timing of the decision.
"I'm not 100 percent convinced that tonight is the right time to close that building," Baudler said.
Earlier in the one-hour meeting involving discussions with community members, Baudler questioned if the district was closing the superior building, citing the Bridgewater building's condition and renovation needs relative to more costly needs at the older East Elementary in Greenfield.
However, the Greenfield building has a capacity for housing more students, and Hight said a major factor influencing his vote to close the Bridgewater school was the fact that with declining enrollment, the district can get by with three buildings instead of four. That would not be the case if Bridgewater had the third building instead of Greenfield, without new construction costs for an addition in Bridgewater.
When asked about the effect of the decision on students, Hight said students would be adversely affected if the savings projected in closure of the building were not realized, because then the only way to recoup those savings to meet budget needs would be major staff reductions.
Staff cuts
Already, the board opted to cut 3.5 positions from the staff next year, including one administrative position (curriculum director).
"I look at it as a business decision," Buckner said, "rather than one of emotion. It's not an easy decision to make. I have to look at what is in the best interest of the district as a whole, and what is in the best interests of the kids. By closing this building, we can save a few teachers, even if it's only for two or three years. If I didn't vote for this savings, when I know it could be used for this big (budget) gap we're going to experience in two years, then I'm probably not doing my job as a board member in serving this district."
Dayton said closing the Bridgewater school would save the district between $190,000 and $330,000 annually. Nodaway Valley schools have decreased enrollment by 170 in the past eight years, which has impacted district finances.
Olesen noted that $300,000 in federal stimulus funding will be gone after next year. That is money that bides time for the district next year, as the Bridgewater building remains open one more year by board direction in a previous meeting.
Last school year, Nodaway Valley West in Bridgewater housed 105 students in fourth and fifth grades. All students in lower grades attend classes at East Elementary in Greenfield, while students in sixth, seventh and eighth grades are at Nodaway Valley Middle School in Fontanelle. Starting in 2010-11, Connie Lundy will serve as administrator in just one elementary building, instead of dividing her time in the two elementary centers 13 miles apart.
Last year, only 4 percent of the 105 students enrolled at West Elementary were from Bridgewater, while 24 percent were from Fontanelle and 68 percent from Greenfield.
Petition to board
Prior to Wednesday's board vote, Carl Ford of Bridgewater presented a petition with 177 signatures asking for the Bridgwater school to remain open. Scott Yarrington of Bridgewater cited more costly repairs needed at the Greenfield elemenatary school compared to the Bridgewater building, especially if the breezeway near the kindergarten rooms in Greenfield is turned into classroom space.
Other speakers in the audience of 23 touched on topics such as the effect on class sizes, classroom instruction and the district's savings. Dayton said at the rate savings is being used, the district could be headed toward a negative balance within three years if major cutbacks aren't enacted.
Dayton is leaving the district this month to become superintendent of the North Cedar District. Casey Berlau, superintendent and elementary principal at Elk Horn-Kimballton, will succeed Dayton.