Brush College School continues on path towards emptiness.

DECATUR-- Brush College School became another step closer to being empty for the start of the 2013-2014 school year after the School Board held their second to last public meeting on the issue. 
 
Holding several open forums on this same issue, the board faced only one question, on where the students will end up if the school does close; to which Superintendent Gloria Davis say, they already have a plan in place.
 
“The plan is for the students to attend Hope Academy, it’s our newest elementary school and more importantly it has the space,” Davis said.
 
The closing of the school has been the focus of the Building Utilization Committee since last year.  After several studies the school was found to be a cost burden to a district facing massive budget cuts. 
 
The Board is set to vote on the measure at their next meeting on February 26^th.


DPS-61 facing budget cuts again.

DECATUR-- The reduction in funding won’t sneak up on DPS-61 like it did last year, but that doesn’t make it any easier. 
 
During a budget presentation, Director of Business Affairs, Dr. Todd Couvalt announced that DPS will be facing a budget reduction of nearly $8 million dollars heading into the 2013-2014 school year. 
 
Superintendent Davis says the problems with the state’s funding are well known, and they have already begun talking about where to cut funds.
 
“We have had numerous conversations and have a district wide committee that includes staff, union leadership, administrative staff, and Board of Education representatives to talk about the difficult task of cutting almost eight million dollars.”
 
Davis says the board of Education is set to have a budget work session on the 20^th where the Board will hear the various ideas on where to cut from and also include their own input. 
 
A date has not been set as to when the Board will vote on a final budget.


Eisenhower & MacArthur face possible conference change.

DECATUR-- Looking to even things out a little bit, both Eisenhower and MaCarthur are looking at a possible conference change. 
 
Currently both schools are in the Big 12 conference where they are on the smaller side; they are looking at joining with the Central State 8 Conference which would put them against schools similar in size.  
 
Deputy Superintendent Lisa Mann says a big factor was the class size, “one of the big pieces for us is the enrolment gap between us and the rest of the schools in the big 12 conference.  Both schools find themselves at the bottom part of the conference and we just see more opportunity for us in the Central State 8.”
 
Athletic Consultant Mel Roustio echoed Mann’s statement, but also said things such as travel distance, and the types of sports offered also factored into the decision.
 
Mann says they will be gathering public opinion until bringing a full report in front of the DPS board, at which time they will vote on whether or not to pursue a conference change.