MUSKEGON -
Another school district faced with dropping enrollment and declining revenues has to make painful budget cuts. But parents in the Muskegon Heights district made a last minute plea to keep their kids school open.
The district wants to partially close Martin Luther King Junior Elementary. The Math and Science Academy would still be there, but grades K-6 would be shuffled to three other schools in the district. The superintendent says the move will help deal with a deficit of nearly $2 million.
But critics say its about more than just numbers.
"I promised this was our home and we take care of our things in our home," said Janelle Flynn, a teacher at King. "How do I give the answers to my kids now to say, 'I'm sorry your home is closed. We're moving you.'"
The restructuring plan is supposed to go into effect November 6, but the board asked the superintendent to review other alternatives before then. Any changes would have to come back to the board for a vote.
The district wants to partially close Martin Luther King Junior Elementary. The Math and Science Academy would still be there, but grades K-6 would be shuffled to three other schools in the district. The superintendent says the move will help deal with a deficit of nearly $2 million.
But critics say its about more than just numbers.
"I promised this was our home and we take care of our things in our home," said Janelle Flynn, a teacher at King. "How do I give the answers to my kids now to say, 'I'm sorry your home is closed. We're moving you.'"
The restructuring plan is supposed to go into effect November 6, but the board asked the superintendent to review other alternatives before then. Any changes would have to come back to the board for a vote.
