A small room across the street from a local elementary school was packed with citizens concerned that closing Chauncey Elementary could negatively impact the school’s students.
More than 70 Chauncey alumni, parents, students and teachers met at the Quaker House, 22 Birge Dr., to prepare for Wednesday night’s open forum about the school’s possible closure. The Athens City School Board will host the meeting at the Athens High School.
Athens City Schools Superintendent Carl Martin recommended closing Chauncey Elementary last month, stating that moving students to The Plains Elementary would slash almost $1 million from the district’s budget.
The shift would also reduce the district’s projected debt for 2015 from $5.5 million to $2.5 million, according to a letter from Martin.
Autumn Bycofski, who helped organize Monday night’s event, said Martin estimates $750,000 could be saved if 12 teaching positions in the district are eliminated. Other savings could come from the elimination of cafeteria staff, custodians and the library aide.
Though supporters were able to sign a petition Monday opposing the school closing, an online version already had 266 signatures, said John Frost, who started the petition and created the “Save Chauncey Elementary” Facebook support group.
“We’re not going to let this happen,” said Frost, who wants to reach 500 signatures by Wednesday’s meeting. “We’re going to fight.”
Chauncey Elementary School enrolls about 134 students, according to Martin’s letter, and employs 12 regular teachers. If the school is closed, students will be sent to The Plains Elementary School starting next school year.
“(Leaving Chauncey) would be difficult,” said fourth-grade Chauncey Elementary School student Erica Frost. “I really care about us closing.”
Although The Plains Elementary School has enough space — 552 students — to accommodate the students from both schools, supporters are concerned that the switch will upset the students’ learning process. The Plains Elementary holds about 320 students.
“If we have to save $1 million, let’s buckle down on things that don’t affect our children’s education,” said Bycofski, who has two children enrolled at Chauncey Elementary.
Bycofski attended the Dec. 15 school-board meeting at which Martin announced his proposal to close the school. Since then, Bycofski said she has been looking for a variety of other options to present to the board.
One audience member proposed condensing Chauncey Elementary to one room per grade.
“It puts all your resources together in one place and makes your education more effective,” said Ann Cunningham, a literacy coordinator at Chauncey. Cunningham added that many of the school’s walls are moveable, giving educators the ability to create more classrooms.
Although Martin’s reasons for recommending closing Chauncey instead of one of the other four elementary schools in the district are not clear, several argued that Chauncey offers resources not available at the other schools — including a football field and baseball diamond.
Bycofski wondered why district officials chose to close Chauncey when both East and West elementaries are older.
“West Elementary is closing itself down every year. It’s falling apart,” Bycofski said. “If we have to displace children, let’s find a way to do it where it’s permanent.”
Supporters said Chauncey offers its students much more than just an education.
“They’re looking for meals. They’re looking to be raised,” Chauncey resident Theresa Mulligan said. “This is a close-knit community for them.”
Janis Blower and her husband, who are Chauncey alumni, have first-hand experience at how difficult changing schools can be after their daughter had to switch to a different middle school in the district.
“I have lived here all my life,” Blower said. “I live right by the school and see these children everyday. This is going to be really tough for them if Chauncey Elementary School closes.”
The supporters will take their arguments and ideas to the Athens City School Board at 7 p.m. Wednesday for a special open forum to discuss Martin’s recommendation.
“If we can present a good case as to why this is so damaging to our community and fill that room with people, I feel pretty positive that we can save the school,” Bycofski said.
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