The board of education intends next month to vote to shut down Nicholas Elementary School after this school year ends, said board President Leslie Miller.
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Enrollment at the school has dropped to 170 students, and the building has a staff of 34, including 12 teachers, district officials said.
“We can be fiscally responsible by closing the building and saving money,” West Carrollton Superintendent Andrea Townsend said Wednesday night.
The district will seek to re-assign all staff to other buildings, officials said.
Townsend said the decision to close Nicholas — built in 1957 — will go forward whether the district is eligible to receive state funding to rebuild all of its schools.
The district plans to send out a letter this week to parents of Nicholas students, Townsend said.
Nicholas students will have until Feb. 15 to apply to Schnell Elementary, the district’s year-round school, district officials said.
The school board plans to vote Feb. 20 on the closing of Nicholas, Miller said.
FIRST REPORT
Redistricting schools in West Carrollton is set to be discussed tonight by the board of education.
Consolidating some of the district’s seven schools will be necessary for West Carrollton to be eligible for the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission program for financial help to construct new buildings, school district Business Manager Jack Haag has said.
Early estimates indicate rebuilding West Carrollton schools – all of which are at least 50 years old – are between $125 million and $150 million with state funding playing a key role, according to Haag.
Some elementaries – such as Frank Nicholas – fall short of Ohio’s 350 minimum student population to be eligible for funding, Haag has said.
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Along with West Carrollton, the district includes parts of Miami Twp. and Moraine.
The board of education is set to talk about redistricting during a work session at the high school, according to its agenda. The meeting is set for 5 p.m. in the Guiler Auditorium at 5833 Student St.
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