One of three Cary schools could close

Maplewood School Principal Thom Gippert knows what it's like to close a school.

Gippert was a teacher at Oak Knoll School when Cary Elementary District 26 closed the building five years ago because of declining enrollment.

Gippert is experiencing a bout of déjà vu after Superintendent Brian Coleman announced this week that Maplewood could close next year to balance the district's budget.

District 26 officials have previously said they may close a school next year. This week, they said one of the following three schools could close: Maplewood, Briargate or Prairie Hill.

Maplewood, which marked its 60th birthday last year, is the oldest and smallest school in the district, Gippert said, and parents have expressed concerns about potentially losing a treasured institution.

"There probably isn't a day that goes by that I don't get a question about the future of our school," Gippert said. "The roots are so deep in the community."

District officials say the district's enrollment has declined by more than 430 students since Oak Knoll closed.

"With the drop in enrollment ... I think we'd have a hard time justifying not closing one more," Finance Committee Chairman Chris Jenner said. "We have the same number of buildings, but 430 fewer students."

In October, Coleman is scheduled to make a recommendation to the district's Finance Committee on which school to close. Coleman would not reveal the selection criteria but said size would be a factor.

"The size matters because you're trying to close one building and fit those kids in another building," Coleman.

The superintendent said academic performance would probably not be a major factor but said logistical issues like required boundary changes would be considered.

The district has already enacted several cost-saving measures, including freezing administrator salaries and bonuses and cutting funding for after-school activities.

Even with those measures, the district expects to finish this year with a $1.8 million deficit - forcing officials to contemplate more severe measures to balance next year's budget.

"Nobody wants to close a school, but with the financial challenges the district is headed toward, we want to be efficient with the money we have," Coleman said.