ALTA VISTA (KSNT) – A rural Kansas mayor is urging education officials to hit the brakes as plans move forward to possibly close a local elementary school.
USD 417 board members recently met on Oct. 12 to discuss several items, including the possibility of shuttering Prairie Heights Elementary School. The board approved a public hearing about the possible closure for 6 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 4 at the Council Grove Junior Senior High School auditorium located at 129 Hockaday St.
Why is USD 417 considering closing the school?
Located in Alta Vista, the school has a student body of 72 children between the grades of kindergarten and 6th grade. Aside from Prairie Heights Elementary, USD 417 has two other schools: Council Grove Junior-Senior High School and Council Grove Elementary School.
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USD 417 Superintendent Tyson Eslinger told 27 News Prairie Heights Elementary School’s staff consist of seven licensed teachers, a half-time principal position, nine staff members and a handful of other shared positions. He said there are several reasons why USD 417 officials are considering closing the elementary school. He listed these reasons as:
- Declining elementary enrollment numbers across the district and long-term demographic projections showing a continued negative trend.
- Prairie Heights Elementary School is operating only at 50% capacity.
- Budget pressures driven by falling enrollment and state underfunding of special education.
- Disproportionate per-pupil building and instructional operating expenses.
- The need to align USD 417 facilities with future enrollment and staffing needs while also enhancing long-term financial sustainability and the efficient use of the district’s available resources.
“The Board of Education is considering this proposal as we face declining elementary enrollment driven by lower birth rates, facility utilization at around 50%, and budget pressures from underfunded special education and disproportionate per-pupil costs. However, no final decision has been made. The upcoming public hearing is a vital opportunity for our community, families, and staff to voice their concerns, share their perspectives, and speak on the future of Prairie Heights Elementary. The board’s priority is to listen carefully to community input as we weigh how to best balance neighborhood school support with the long-term financial sustainability of USD 417.”
USD 417 Superintendent Tyson Eslinger
Local officials speak out
Ryan Armbrust, mayor of Alta Vista, said the process of closing Prairie Heights Elementary School has progressed too quickly. He said it wasn’t until September this year that it was revealed during a meeting that district officials were considering closing the school.
“We’re not sure that a very thorough study has been conducted,” Armbrust said. “The implications of closing a school could be very negative for our community.”
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Armbrust issued a statement on social media on Oct. 20 to address the possibility of Prairie Heights Elementary closing, urging district officials to slow the process down and allow for more discussions to be held on the topic. He said the city council approved the statement unanimously earlier in the week.
“We understand that this Board must make difficult budget decisions. But those decisions must be informed by a full picture of the situation, and in this case there simply has not been nearly enough time taken to study the issue. The City of Alta Vista urges the Board to vote NO today on closing Prairie Heights, and to instead commit to a careful study of the matter that includes meaningful community participation and a much more detailed budgetary analysis prior to making any binding, permanent decision.”
City of Alta Vista statement excerpt
Armbrust highlighted multiple initiatives that staff with the City of Alta Vista have pursued recently to improve Prairie Heights Elementary as reasons to halt the process of closing the school. In one example, he said the city recently secured grant funds for a nearly $900,000 project to support safe routes to school for students and secure emergency routes for students and staff.
“We’re asking the school board to move much more slowly, and much more thoroughly with this issue,” Armbrust said.
Armbrust said the closure of the school would have an immediate negative impact on the local community. He said long-term negative economic and social impacts, such as declining property values and erosion of the tax base, outweigh the possible benefits that might come from shuttering the school.
“Overall, it becomes a much more challenging situation for the community, the school district, and the students. Closing a school does not solve enrollment or budget issues. It only accelerates those challenges, as has been repeatedly shown elsewhere.”
City of Alta Vista statement excerpt
Armbrust said the school is staffed with “really dedicated teachers” and has the backing of the Alta Vista community.
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