AUBURN -- UPDATE (11 pm)
Auburn School board members say the decision was difficult, but in a 8-1 vote, they approved closing West Middle School. The move would save the district at least $1.5 million dollars in light of a $2.3 million dollar deficit.
Superintendent J.D. Pabis says the district is struggling to balance the budget with a 14% decrease in state aid. The district is dipping into reserves, and using about 50% of the fund, to help offset costs. It is also looking to cut 40 to 60 positions across the board.
Tuesday night, a number of parents and teachers addressed the school board, asking them to think of the students when making the decision to close a school.
Pabis says closing West Middle School wasn't the only option on the table, the board also analyzed shutting down an elementary school, or district offices. But he says closing West Middle would have the least amount of impact. "What we try to do is look at everything, and see what is the least disruptive for the children. If we closed an elementary building that would mean we would have to redistrict so every student would be affected," said Pabis.
West Middle is home to 6th, 7th and 8th graders. Next year, 6th graders will stay in their respective elementary schools. And 7th and 8th graders will go to East Middle School. School officials say East Middle is bigger than West, and has enough room for the extra students. But with layoffs looming, class sizes will likely be bigger.
West Middle School Principal Deborah Carey says the decision is sad, but not unexpected. "A lot of wonderful things happen at West Middle School," she said. "It's a wonderful school community and every year faculty and staff and parents and students have increasingly come together. And every year we've had improvement in student outcomes, so I'm sorry to lose that."
School officials say now the focus is on making this transition easy for students come fall. East Middle may also be re-named to reflect the consolidation of schools.
UPDATE (9:30 pm): School board members in the Auburn City School District have voted, 8-1, to close West Middle School. The school's principal tells CNY Central's Caitlin Nuclo the decision is sad, but not unexpected. We'll have more on this story tonight at 10 on CW 6 and 11 on NBC 3 and CBS 5.
EARLIER:
Auburn's school board will meet tonight, and on the agenda is a proposal that would close one school in the district.
Like virtually every school district in the state, Auburn is facing a funding shortfall. The district is considering closing the West Middle School in an attempt to cut $1.5 million from the budget.
Closing the school would also result in the loss of 38 jobs.
The district is coping with both declining enrollment, and a multi-million dollar loss in state aid for the coming school year.
The board meets in executive session at 6:15, and then in public at 7:00 pm at the high school library.
