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School closing decision delayed
Wednesday, February 20, 2019

LAGRANGE – The debate over closing two elementary schools resumed last night during the Lakeland School Board meeting and will continue for another month.

The board delayed making a decision and instead agreed to form a committee of the public and representatives of all five schools in the corporation. They are charged with making a recommendation by March 18th.

Superintendent Dr. Eva Merkel said the reality is the district must shrink to a three building footprint.

Former school board member Bob Bond presented a counter proposal. He said the district made deep cuts back in 2008 that worked, and he believes it could do so again successfully – without closing schools. Bond proposed cutting 3 administrative positions, four elementary teachers, and 11 support positions, which he claimed would save about $862,000 annually.

Rachel Stroup of the Lakeland Educators Association asked the community to be mindful of what the legislature is doing to public education in the state.

The community committee will hold its first meeting Februrary 27th at 6 p-m in the high school cafeteria.



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