Kids luck out: Geneva schools close early

Coultrap and Harrison Street elementary schools in Geneva will get to close early this year after all.

The Geneva school board Monday reconsidered the plan it rejected last week, and this time voted unanimously to approve it. The staffs of the schools had asked for the time to pack up the schools. Coultrap is moving into the brand-new Williamsburg Elementary School. Harrison Street is moving into the Coultrap building, while Harrison Street is renovated.

Board President Mary Stith said she called the special meeting because a majority of board members asked.

"I'm going to eat a piece of humble pie," said Trustee Tim Moran, one of the original four opponents. He said he realized teachers wanted to make sure that things were packed up carefully, and that it wasn't likely many kids were paying much attention the last day of school anyway.

Harrison and Coultrap students will attend school for half a day on May 30. The rest of Geneva schools will have a full day, and a one-hour day June 2.

"I don't see a real educational cost in going along with this request," Moran said.

Trustee Susan Shivers felt she had more information this week than last about whether the district would lose any state funding by closing the schools a day early, and whether parents had a problem with it due to issues changing day-care arrangements. The answer to both was "no," she said.

Whether teachers should be paid for that day of packing out of the educational fund or the construction fund concerned Trustee Bill Wilson. He believes that since packing is related to construction, that fund should bear the cost.

The moves from the buildings are scheduled to start June 2 and end by June 16.