Board votes to close Russell Elementary
Mar. 28—The Moscow School Board on Wednesday unanimously approved closing Russell Elementary at the end of this school year.
The closure is a result of Superintendent Shawn Tiegs' recommendation that was announced to the community earlier this month. A public hearing on the matter took place March 18 at Moscow Middle School.
Tiegs' initial recommendation also included eliminating four elementary level staff positions. But on Wednesday he announced he is no longer recommending that reduction in force.
Tiegs said this was a result of other staff positions that have recently opened up across the district that could be filled internally, making the reductions unnecessary.
Tiegs reiterated Wednesday that declining enrollment, Russell Elementary's old age, and the need to be fiscally responsible necessitated Russell's closure. The district will go from four elementary schools to three, and Tiegs said there is enough room to keep classes under the negotiated maximum sizes.
"We have the space, we have the capacity," he said.
It will also mean that the district does not have to stretch its financial, transportation, special education and nursing resources across four elementary schools, he said.
Russell Elementary is nearly a century old and is not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. While Tiegs said it is not crumbling, it does have cracks in the ceiling, asbestos tiles and a boiler that is as old as the school.
This change will shift Russell Elementary students and teachers to new buildings, with the majority of Russell students transferring to West Park Elementary. There were 144 Russell Elementary students according to the most recent count, Tiegs said.
This would make West Park a K-4 building, and the fifth grade students would be placed at Lena Whitmore or McDonald Elementary.
Tiegs said there will not be an increase in administrative positions. Russell Principal Marianne Sletteland will take over principal duties at West Park. Current West Park Principal Brian Smith will continue his part-time principal duties at Paradise Creek Regional High School. Smith will also take on a role leading a district career and technical education program, and a community-school engagement program.
There is still no plan for the future of the Russell Elementary, but Tiegs said shutting down the elementary allows the district to be flexible with the building's use.
School Board Chairperson Ken Faunce said Russell Elementary is a great school not because of the building, but because of its staff and students. He said the district cannot afford to "kick the can down the road" when it comes to addressing facilities concerns.
"To me the status quo is not acceptable anymore," he said.
Board member Dulce Kersting-Lark said the district needs to demonstrate fiscal responsibility so that it can ask voters to pass bonds and levies in the future.
Board member Jim Frenzel said it's the district's responsibility to focus its resources on supporting education, not on preserving buildings.
During Wednesday's meeting, which was held at Russell, there were no public comments made before the vote. There were several comments made during the March 18 public hearing.
Additionally, dozens of emails from community members were sent to board members expressing their views both opposing and supporting the proposal. These can be found on Wednesday's meeting agenda on the district website.
Critics of the plan expressed concern that moving to a different building will have a negative effect on the children's wellbeing. Others felt this decision was being rushed.
The district is preparing for potentially major facilities upgrades, including the possibility of building a new high school. Faunce said a new high school would cost well over $60 million.
Tiegs said he does not believe it will ever be possible to go out for bond for both a new high school and for major elementary improvements at the same time. He would like for any major elementary projects to be self-funded by the district instead.
Kuipers can be reached at akuipers@dnews.com.
