Students at neighboring Southfield-Lathrup High School say they are relieved at the news that their school will remain open for the 2010-2011 school year.
The decision to keep Southfield-Lathrup open was made official at the Board meeting on Feb. 9.
But Deputy Superintendent Ken Siver said that it is still possible that S-L will close in the future if enrollment continues to decline.
The Board further confirmed at the meeting that it will close Leonhard and Eisenhower elementary schools in June. It will also merge Schoenhals Elementary School and Thompson Middle School to create a kindergarten through eighth grade school at Thompson.
“I feel wonderful and relieved,” said S-L junior Alexis Saulter, who will be able to graduate from her high school. ”Lathrup has so much to offer to both the students and the community. We wouldn’t be where we are today without having the experience.”
The task force’s proposal to have Birney Middle School turned into a kindergarten-eighth-grade school to house some of the displaced elementary school students was accepted.
At an earlier meeting, the Board had rejected the Task Force’s proposal that Thompson Middle School be turned into a ninth grade academy. The Board of Education liked the idea of a ninth grade academy, Siver said, but it would actually cost the district an additional $1 million. This is because 12 new buses and 12 new drivers would be needed to transport ninth graders from around Southfield and Lathrup Village to Thompson.
The Board of Education has been looking for other ways to save the district money, and run all departments in the most cost efficient manner. At he board meeting they decided to contract the clerical staff in order to save money for the district.