Five schools in the Poudre School District in Fort Collins were initially thought to be targeted for closure in an attempt to save money in the financially strapped district.
But parents and staff members on Tuesday found that only one — 39-year-old Beattie Elementary — will get the ax.
Superintendent Jerry Wilson said closing Beattie will save the district $363,391 annually and its students will be moved to neighboring Lopez and Johnson elementaries.
About 48 percent of Beattie students receive free or reduced-price lunches — a measure of poverty. About 15 percent of students are Latino, the district said.
Wilson said the process of closing Beattie will be tough but the district will benefit by the move.
“None of this work has been easy,” Wilson said. “We are all challenged to use resources effectively and efficiently as we face budget shortfalls, and we appreciate our community’s dedication to doing what is best for students.”
Other schools put on the chopping block in November were Putnam, Lopez and Irish elementaries and Lincoln Middle School.
Other schools were asked to come up with innovation/consolidation plans as part of an ongoing effort to cut costs.
But for now, closing Beattie at the end of the school year makes the most sense, according to district officials.
Still, the news is hard on Beattie parents, students and staff members, said principal Sam Aldern.
“It’s amazing how our staff has been able to keep the focus on the kids,” Aldern said. “Meanwhile, our parents are rallying, trying to do whatever they can to bring out the illogic, as they see it, of this situation.”
Aldern admits enrollment numbers at Beattie are not ideal for an argument to keep the school open.
The school’s enrollment capacity is 573 while the current student count is 277.
A final vote on closing Beattie is scheduled for the Jan. 25 school board meeting.
Monte Whaley: 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com
