WATSONTOWN – The Warrior Run School District in Northumberland County is talking consolidation to save money. The plan calls for temporarily closing an elementary school.
Families we talked with aren't happy one bit.
Students who attend Watsontown Elementary School may have some new classmates starting next year. Administrators at Warrior Run School District plan to recommend temporarily closing the school and busing K-3 graders to Turbotville Elementary School.
"In this case, the best way to be as efficient as possible is to have one elementary school instead of two,” said Dr. John Kurelja.
The superintendent believes the Watsontown Elementary School could be closed for at least two years.
It would save the district over $700,000 a year while plans for a long-term consolidation plan were completed.
"I think it's a crazy idea. I don't think parents are going to like shipping their little kids to the next town over to Turbotville," said Linda West.
"I'm highly against it,” said Angela Shade.
Angela Shade has two daughters who attend Watsontown Elementary School.
As for the fourth graders, the plan is to have both Turbotville and Watsontown students attend classes at the middle school next year.
"The fourth graders, they are still little, and for them to be in that big bad school. I have an eighth grader, so she's even said it's not going to be good for her little sisters to be in that school,” said Shade.
"We can house all the fourth graders on the second floor. So the only students they would come in contact with during the course of the day would be their fifth and sixth grade classmates," said Superintendent John Kurelja.
Warrior Run's superintendent says about 14 positions would be eliminated because of the closure.
"I wouldn't want to see it close but I guess sometimes you have to do what you got to do to make things better," said Melissa Morgan.
Again, this is just a temporary closure. The long-term plan would include either building a brand new elementary school on site or renovating Watsontown Elementary School while it’s closed. The board will vote on the idea next week.
