Supt. Collier recommends closing Allison Elementary

Today’s Enquirer is reporting that Superintendent Steve Collier recommended closing Allison Elementary at last night’s school board committee meeting. He cited declining enrollment at the school and told the BOE, “Allison Elementary is basically closing itself through the Public School Choice program.” As a result of Allison’s low scores on state standardized tests, parents can choose under the PSC program to send their children to either Sharpsburg or Williams elementaries. Collier says the program has caused enrollment at Allison to drop from 400 students in 2006-07 to the current 260 students. Under his plan, 200 Allison students would attend Sharpburg Elementary, and 60 would attend Williams Elementary.

Closing Allison would save about $600,000, mostly in personnel costs, not enough to keep the district from seeking renewal levies in 2010 and 2012. A new levy could also be on the ballot in 2012.

The first opportunity for the school board will have to vote on Collier’s recommendation is at their next board meeting on September 18.