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Cairo Considering School Merger

By Ryan Kruger

CAIRO -- Cairo schools have an interesting problem. Too much space and not enough students. About 20 children are leaving the district every year and more than 100 thousand dollars in state aid goes with them. That's why administrators are considering major cuts including merging two schools.

Bennett Elementary School houses third through sixth graders, but because of declining enrollment there are only 14 students per teacher. Something district officials say isn't economically feasible. One proposal is to close Bennett and move those students to Emerson Elementary which houses kindergarten through second grade. At Thursday night's School Board meeting Superintendent Leotis Swopes said the board will wait until next month to make a decision so they can hear from the public first. But he says in all likelihood the school will have to close.

"Without question, I think we've looked at this from every angle, every side, so I don't think we're gonna go any different way but we do want the public to understand and be informed," said Swopes.

At the meeting one concerned parent presented the school board with a petition asking the board to consider other options. School leaders are also looking at eliminating some positions but hope most of those will come from retirements.

The school board will hold three public hearings on this issue. The first will be February 23rd at the Bennett Elementary School, the next with be on the 25th at Emerson Elementary and the final will be March second at the Cairo Community Education Center. The board will take action on March fourth.

From the WPSD TV Channel 6 Website...

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Superintendent 99.9% sure two schools will merge

By Noah Bond

Cairo, Ill. -- A local superintendent is 99.9 percent sure two of his schools will merge into one, despite a petition campaign against the move.

This news comes from the Community Education Building where the Cairo, Illinois School Board held its meeting tonight.

The petition containing 62 signatures was presented at the meeting. The parents who signed the petition want to prevent Bennett Elementary from closing.

They like the small classes (about 14 students per teacher), the principal and the camaraderie teachers have with students.

School board members acknowledge the parents concerns, but said they have no choice. About 22 students leave Cairo every year reducing state subsidies to the school at a rate of more than $100,000 a year.

Superintendent Leotis Swopps said he must close Bennett Elementary and moving its students to Emerson Elementary because there is not enough money to keep both school open. "We're making some hard decisions in tough times. We are going to protect the sanctity of the education the children are getting and we're going to do everything we can to make the transition as comfortable for the children as well as the teachers involved," said Swopps.

Parents still have time to ask questions and to tell the school board what they think about this difficult decision.

The School Board will hold three public meetings for questions and comments.

Bennett Elementary Feb. 23 at 6:00 p.m.

Emerson Elementary Feb. 25 at 6:00 p.m.

Community Education Building March 2 at 6:00 p.m.