Story Published:
Feb 23, 2009 at 11:37 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Feb 24, 2009 at 12:38 AM CDT
BUFFALO, Mo. -- Like almost every business these days, the Dallas County School District is looking for ways to tighten its budget. One suggestion is to close the elementary school in Long Lane.
Long Lane parents say they want to keep the school open, to keep small class sizes, more one-on-one instruction and more parental involvement since, right now, they're all so close to the school geographically.
The Dallas County School Board says, with dwindling income and enrollment, it needs to trim the budget. The superintendent estimates the consolidation would save around $300,000 per year.
The issue was debated at a crowded school board meeting on Monday night. No decision was made, and the school board says there will be more public meetings at which it will try to address the issues and answer the questions raised by Long Lane School supporters.
If the school closes, all 105 Long Lane kids would attend Mallory Elementary in Buffalo. Administrators say it would only add about two or three students to each classroom, and class sizes would still be smaller than the maximum that the state recommends.
Along with possibly closing Long Lane, the board is looking at possible cuts at the Vo-Tech Center and Buffalo High School.
here is a list of about 25 concerns from Long Lane parents. The board says they will address all of them before making a decision.
