LaPorte School Board votes to close Lincoln Elementary School
LAPORTE, Ind. (WNDU) - The LaPorte School Board unanimously voted to close Lincoln Elementary School on Monday night.
Lincoln Elementary has been proposed to close since last spring due to three other elementary schools being within a mile span from each other. The elementary has a low enrollment rate and financial issues.
On Monday evening, a was room filled with Lincoln Elementary School supporters with their last plea to keep the school open.
One by one, each of the nine speakers used their time to emphasize how early childhood development is important, along with how 90 days was not long enough for an investigation to determine whether Lincoln Elementary should be closed.
Many current staff members approached the podium, including the librarian who used Dr. Seuss’ “The Lorax” to approach the issue to the board.
“I am the Lorax who speaks for the trees which you seem to be chopping as fast as you please. I can read to the students using fun voices and dress silly for all the fun days, but speaking here tonight in front of the board is beyond my comfort level. But I cannot be quiet. We can’t teach our students that their voices matter and to stand up for themselves. We sit by and not voice our concerns to this most recent proposal, or the chopping of the trees,” said Jamie Martin.
But after taking into consideration what the community had to say, it was ultimately decided that Lincoln Elementary will be closing as of next school year.
The decommissioning of the school will go into effect in August for the 2025-26 school year. The building will be repurposed for high school career tech programs and childcare.
LaPorte Community School Corporation Superintendent, Dr. Sandra Wood said staff and students would be transferred to one of the three nearby schools with open positions by the spring and summer.
She said it was a hard decision, especially proposing the idea only 90 days in office, but she knew it had to be done.
It has been an emotional process for the community.
“We know that the path forward is what’s best for students in the district as a whole, and we look forward to being able to add values to our district through this process,” Dr. Wood said.
The next meeting will be Dec. 9, and the board is hoping to have a plan for all the students and staff, emphasizing everyone will have a home at LaPorte Community Schools.
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