A major step has been taken toward the closure of one of three schools in the Penn Valley Union Elementary District for 2017-2018. District Superintendent Torie England says a 12-member committee…consisting of administrators, teachers, staff, parents, and community members…recommends that Ready Springs K-8, which is in town, remain open. And it wants another K-8 formed, through consolidation of the two remaining schools, in the Lake Wildwood area. That would be either at the William Ranch K-3 site or at the Pleasant Valley 4th through 8th grade site. She says it’s been a challenge serving the educational needs of two distinct populations…

click to listen to Torie England

England also says 5 committee members voted against the recommendation…

click to listen to Torie England

England says she expects the school board to approve keeping Ready Springs as it is, at its next meeting on the 28th. But she says a decision on consolidating the other two schools, or which site to do it, won’t likely be made until after further study, including of rennovation costs. Staff layoffs are also likely, she says, but would not include teachers. Enrollment in the district has been declining steadily over the last 10 years, with about 600 students projected for 2016-2017 school year.