USD 329 to close Maple Hill Elementary

ALMA, Kan. (WIBW) - The Wabaunsee Co. School District will likely soon be closing one of its schools.

The USD 329 School Board voted at a special board meeting Wednesday to designate Alma Elementary to take students from Maple Hill Elementary once it closes. This meeting was scheduled during the board’s January meeting, as a requirement before formally announcing the school’s closure.

Maple Hill Elementary is set to close at the end of this school year. The district board is working to schedule a public hearing on the matter later this month. District officials cite financial strain as a motivating factor.

“This evening, the USD 329 board voted to designate where students would attend school if the board approved closing Maple Hill Elementary at the end of the current academic year,” USD 329 Supt. Troy Pitsch. “There is, understandably, a great deal of emotion and apprehension on all sides of this issue. USD 329 will continue on the path of balancing the needs of our students with fiscal responsibility to ensure we can continue to deliver the programming that produces such successful outcomes for our Chargers.”

The board discussed future considerations for closing Paxico Jr. High as well.

USD 329 will hold a public school board hearing on Monday, March 27, about the closing at 6:00 p.m. in the Wabaunsee high school commons.

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