The Orofino School Board has declined to set a date for closing the Orofino Junior High School.
During last night’s public meeting, board members voted 3-2 against setting a specific date on closure.
Earlier this year, the school board decided to close the junior high due to declining enrollment and economics. The recommendation under consideration was to lock the doors at the end of this school year and send seventh-graders to the elementary school and eighth-graders to the high school in the fall.
While the recommendation was turned down, School Board President Don Ebert says the issue could be taken up again at a later time.
Orofino School Board President Don Ebert comments.
School district officials say closing the junior high will save the district approximately $200,000 a year, though a number of patrons in attendance questioned that figure and called for more cost analysis.
The long-term plan is to have students in grades 7-12 at the high school. Right now, there isn’t room for both grades at the high school, but plans are in the works to expand those facilities.
A work group is evaluating building plans for additional classrooms at Orofino High School and Timberline High School in Weippe.
