PACIFIC — An elementary school in Franklin County will close this fall as the Meramec Valley R-III School District is mired in financial constraints.
Administrators made the announcement in a statement posted to Facebook Thursday night, saying the closure is an effort to “be good stewards of tax dollars†in the face of declining enrollment, aging facilities and financial constraints.
The school slated for closure, Truman Elementary, was one of two of elementary schools the district considered closing. Robertsville Elementary, a school of 127 students and 24 teachers, according to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, was the other school on the chopping block.
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Truman will consolidate with either Coleman or Zitman Elementary in the next school year. Its former building may be the site of a middle school in coming years, the district stated.
It’s unclear what will happen to the Truman’s staff. District officials said they’re working to deliver a “seamless tradition.â€
The decision to close the school comes as enrollment in the Meramec Valley R-III district has decreased by nearly 9% over the past 10 years.
In a previous statement to the Post-Dispatch, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Ketina Armstrong said closures were considered in light of the declining enrollment and “underutilized school buildings.†Closing one school would save the district approximately $400,000 a year, she said.
“The restructuring of elementary schools not only addresses immediate operational budgetary concerns, but also positions the district to positively navigate future facility upgrades and improve student programming,†the district’s Thursday statement read.