WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) – Garden City Public Schools discussed a proposal Monday night to close some schools and transition middle and elementary schools to a K-5 and 6-8 system.
The boundary subcommittee submitted the proposal, which, according to the meeting agenda, would close three elementary schools and convert two of the district’s intermediate centers into elementary schools.
The proposed changes would cost between $15-16 million. Half that cost would be covered by pulling from reserves and cost savings from building closures. Some district leaders said at the last board meeting they need to shutter some schools to keep building utilization high.
Parents are concerned about the spending.
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“They need to tell us dollar for dollar, cent for cent. Why is it so urgent to close a school that has excellent test scores,” said Honey Coash.
Coash is a parent at one of those schools, Jennie Barker Elementary School, and has three kids who go there. She said she feels like there are still a lot of unanswered questions.