While Whittier School's future remains uncertain, Brainerd School Board members Monday said they don't support reopening the school next fall.
The school board facilities committee recommended that Whittier not be reopened in the fall. The Brainerd Neighborhood Schools Coalition requested that the school be re-opened, which also was supported by the Brainerd City Council.
School board member Reed Campbell summed up what board members also individually expressed: "It boils down to money. If and when we do have the money we would certainly entertain the idea of opening the school."
Board member Kent Montgomery said the district hasn't yet fully pulled out of the budget deficit which caused the district to close the school last year. He said the board needs to create a long-term plan for the building.
Whittier Elementary School in north Brainerd closed its doors in May of 2008, a result of the $5.5 million in school district budget cuts. Brainerd School Board Facilities Committee members recommended Monday that the district not re-open the school in the fall, as neighborhood residents had hoped. The long-range planning committee will meet later this month to create a long-term plan for the building. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
Board member Ruth Nelson said the news from state lawmakers is grim. It's possible the district may lose additional revenue, like its Q-Comp funds, as a result of state budget cuts. She also said classes in kindergarten through fourth-grade are too large and lowering class sizes would be a priority for her.
"I agree, for the coming year, Whittier needs to remain closed," said Nelson.
"I know this is a very passionate issue for north-siders who want their school to remain open," said board member Bob Nystrom. "But we have to separate the emotion because it does come down to finances."
Board member Molly Kurtzman said she would like to see a long-range plan for the building.
Board member Lew Hudson said nothing has changed since last year, the district is still facing budget cuts this year and possibly beyond this year.
Superintendent Steve Razidlo said the administrative team, along with a larger team, including elementary teaching staff, has been meeting and discussing the possible uses for Whittier. They decided there are three options for Whittier: It could be reopened as an elementary school; current district services, like Brainerd Community Education and the Fun and Friends program, could be relocated there; or the school could be used as an alternative high school program, housing the AEC, said Razidlo.
Razidlo said conservatively it would cost about $400,000 to $450,000 to reopen Whittier as an elementary school, which would consist of adding another section to each grade level.
Razidlo said he does not recommend reopening Whittier this fall under the current financial situation. The committee agreed.
A long-term planning committee likely will meet sometime in January to discuss future plans for Whittier School.
Whittier and Lincoln elementary schools in Brainerd were closed at the end of the 2007-08 school year as a result of budget cuts. The Lincoln building was remodeled and now houses the Lincoln Education Center, formerly known as the Minnesota Learning Center when it was based at the Brainerd Regional Human Services Center.
JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.
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