Closing a school is hard on everyone. The students, parents, teachers and the district. With the proposed closing of Greeley Elementary by USD 365, the district says they are looking at declining enrollment and a cost nearly double to educate Greeley students as a Garnett student. Enrollment for many Kansas districts has been on the decline for many years, but cuts and closures are just becoming a reality for most.
Enrollment in USD 365 toppled from more than 1,160 students in 2008-2009 to 961 in 2022-2023. Enrollments in schools across Kansas have declined over that same period due primarily to out-migration of population, families having less kids and students in one district deciding to attend school in another district.
At the public hearing, on January 8th, residents can challenge the resolution to close the school. At least 5% of voters in the district must sign a request for review, and then the Kansas Board of Education will conduct an administrative review of the district’s closure plan. The state board then issues an advisory determination on whether the closure is “reasonable under the totality of the circumstances”. The public hearing is set for January 8th at 7:15 at Ray Meyer Gym. Officials are expecting a large crowd at the hearing.
