G-E, N-K superintendents say merger talk overblown

Published 12:00 am Friday, April 4, 2003

School superintendents in Glenville-Emmons and Northwood-Kensett say that despite a published report describing efforts to merge the two school districts, the two aren’t even discussing it, and may never do so.

An article in the Wednesday Des Moines Register &045; later picked up by the Associated Press and used by other media, including the Tribune &045; exaggerated the schools’ interest in consolidating, both superintendents said Thursday.

&uot;At best, we’re thinking about sharing teachers, but the idea of a merger &045; our two school boards have not even sat down and started any infromal talks, let alone formal talks,&uot; said Todd Chessmore, the Glenville-Emmons superintendent.

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&uot;I’m concerned because we have parents out here panicking, thinking next year we’re going to be with Northwood-Kensett, and we have no intention at all of doing that, maybe ever.&uot;

The districts have an agreement that allows students who live in one district to attend school in the other, and efforts to save money have led to brainstorming about more sharing with neighboring districts, both superintendents said. But Arnie Snook of Northwood-Kensett, who was interviewed for the Register story along with one school board member, said his comments about Glenville-Emmons were blown out of proportion.

&uot;We both told (the reporter) there’s no story, but he came up anyway,&uot; Snook said.

The article focused largely on the uniqueness of a school-district merger across the Iowa-Minnesota border.

Both districts have had to cut teachers because they have lost students, and with them, state funding. Both have kicked around the idea of cooperating with other nearby districts, the superintendents said, but the school boards are not considering a merger, especially across the state border, they said.

&uot;Our constituents are not real interested in Northwood as a group,&uot; Chessmore said. &uot;There does not seem to be any desire to even make that happen. There’s just no talk of doing anything with students &045; maybe informal talks about sharing a teacher here, a teacher there, and that may not even happen next year.&uot;

Glenville-Emmons expects to lose around 100 students next year, many of them to Iowa schools. The district cut 10 teachers for next year and will close Emmons Middle School in an attempt to save money.