GLENVILLE – The parents and teachers of the Glenville-Emmons School District got a first look Wednesday at a school restructuring plan that aims to save money and adjust to shrinking enrollment.

Thursday, February 15, 2001

GLENVILLE – The parents and teachers of the Glenville-Emmons School District got a first look Wednesday at a school restructuring plan that aims to save money and adjust to shrinking enrollment.

More than 100 parents, teachers and community members packed the gym at Glenville Elementary to hear the district’s proposal to restructure its schools.

School board members scrambled to set up lunch tables and make more copies of the proposal to accommodate the crowd.

&uot;This is great – we have as many people at this informational meeting as we would get at a basketball game,&uot; said Superintendent Todd Chessmore.

Chessmore presented the restructuring proposal, which he believes will ensure the long-term financial stability of the district. He told the audience that the new arrangement would not diminish the quality of education or endanger any programs.

&uot;If we’re only making changes to save money, and the education doesn’t get any better, we might as well not do it,&uot; Chessmore said. &uot;This proposal saves money and makes the schools better.&uot;

The proposal changes the grades served in the district’s three facilities. Glenville Elementary would serve K-3 students, while grades 4-8 would attend school in Emmons. The high school would shift to strictly grades 9-12

Currently, Glenville Elementary has K-6 students, Emmons Elementary has K-8 students and the high school serves grades 7-12.

Restructuring the schools would eliminate two principal positions, one kindergarten teacher and four aides. Chessmore said the measure would save the district more than $224,000 in salary expenditures over two years.

&uot;If there’s no other message you leave with here tonight, it’s that cuts are going to have to be made in the district,&uot; said Chessmore.

Chessmore cited falling enrollment as the major reason for the restructuring plan. Projections show a drop of 100 or more students in the next five or six years, representing a $600,000 drop in revenues.

&uot;We’re going to really feel the drop in the next few years,&uot; Chessmore said. &uot;This year, we’re graduating a class of more than 50, while our kindergarten classes are bringing in about 35 kids. We can’t continue like this without staff cuts.&uot;

Chessmore said parents are concerned the move will subject kids to long bus rides, and staff cuts will put added stress on teachers to supply music and computer education. The main fear, though, revolves around rumors that the district will eventually close the Glenville Elementary building.

&uot;In my mind, that’s not an option. For the foreseeable future, we are not looking at closing any buildings,&uot; Chessmore said.

The new arrangement is not only a financially wise move, said Chessmore, but it would also improve the educational opportunities for the students. Restructuring would achieve class-size equity and allow teachers within the same grades to work together.

Chessmore encouraged the parents at the meeting to fill out surveys asking for opinions, concerns and ideas about restructuring the schools.

The district is sponsoring another public meeting in Emmons Feb. 21. The school board could take action on the proposal at its first March meeting.