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The Helena-West Helena School District called for questions and comments from the community as parents, teachers and educational staff gathered in the Phillips County Community College’s Community Room Monday evening to discuss the future of its students and the school campuses.
“We have observed that five campuses are currently operating under the Helena-West Helena School District including 3 elementary schools, the high school campus and the junior high campus,” stated Chief Operations Officer Ulicious Reed. “But we cannot afford to run all five of these campuses next year, so we are looking at the idea of closing some of the campuses.”
According to Reed the district currently has approximately 1,900 students, which has dwindled from little over 5,500 back in 1974. A printed district budget was handed out detailing the current expenditures and funds available this year. “Due to the decline of students enrolling in the district, we will lose about 3 million dollars in state turn back funding for next year,” stated Reed.
Reed explained that the district’s greatest expense is in personnel, which takes about 85 to 90 percent of districts funds.
“We clearly do not need all five of those campuses to accommodate our student numbers and we need to look at this situation and decide what good running facilities we do have to work with that will remain open for the education of our students,” commented Reed.
Suzann McCommon, executive officer of the district, asked for ideas and comments and announced that the community needs to become more aware that this decision will have to be made in the near future.
The Helena-West Helena School District called for questions and comments from the community as parents, teachers and educational staff gathered in the Phillips County Community College’s Community Room Monday evening to discuss the future of its students and the school campuses.
“We have observed that five campuses are currently operating under the Helena-West Helena School District including 3 elementary schools, the high school campus and the junior high campus,” stated Chief Operations Officer Ulicious Reed. “But we cannot afford to run all five of these campuses next year, so we are looking at the idea of closing some of the campuses.”
According to Reed the district currently has approximately 1,900 students, which has dwindled from little over 5,500 back in 1974. A printed district budget was handed out detailing the current expenditures and funds available this year. “Due to the decline of students enrolling in the district, we will lose about 3 million dollars in state turn back funding for next year,” stated Reed.
Reed explained that the district’s greatest expense is in personnel, which takes about 85 to 90 percent of districts funds.
“We clearly do not need all five of those campuses to accommodate our student numbers and we need to look at this situation and decide what good running facilities we do have to work with that will remain open for the education of our students,” commented Reed.
Suzann McCommon, executive officer of the district, asked for ideas and comments and announced that the community needs to become more aware that this decision will have to be made in the near future.
