Leidlein Renews Discussion Of Elementary School Closure

By Eliza Hallabeck

While official enrollment numbers will not be announced until October 1, Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson updated the Board of Education Monday, August 20, with figures on the Newtown district’s student population.

“We have been tracking this very closely,” said Dr Robinson, adding that the district is “pretty well set” to handle the expected enrollment figures.

Board of Education Chair Debbie Leidlein then told the school board she had gone over the provided elementary enrollment figures, which show a decrease of about 100 students from last year.

While expressing her desire to make sure the school district is using its resources efficiently, Ms Leidlein brought up the topic of closing an elementary school.

“I think it is important that we really look at this,” said Ms Leidlein.

From her own calculations, Ms Leidlein said the four elementary schools, kindergarten through fourth grade, currently use 80 classrooms. If an elementary school were closed, she used Head O’ Meadow for her scenario, the district would have 87 classrooms to use.

Ms Leidlein asked Dr Robinson to look at the options and share any ideas she has on the issue with the school board, even if the options presented were not, Ms Leidlein said, “forever scenarios.”