The Eastwood school board anticipates saving approximately $600,000 by closing Webster Elementary School.

The board approved closing the school, which houses kindergarten through fifth grade, as part of a cost reduction plan that also included not re-hiring several assistant coaching positions.

Dropping the coaching positions will save an estimated $55,000, according to Brent Welker, superintendent.

Webster’s closing, which is being labeled a “suspension” by the administration, goes into effect for the 2010-11 school year.

Pemberville and Luckey elementary schools will absorb Webster students except for fifth graders, who will attend the middle school at the district’s main campus.

Welker said the board and administration began looking at the closing of Webster in the spring when enrollment figures of kindergartners indicated a decline was continuing.

Much of the cost savings associated with the closing w

ill come from a reduction in staff, he said, adding attrition will be responsible for most of the reduction.

Webster, located on State Route 199, serves the western portion of the district.

B-C-S may close school
The Benton-Carroll-Salem school board is also considering closing elementary schools.

Scenarios that include closing one or two schools were presented to the board recently.

Board members are anticipating a decision on whether to close buildings and place a levy on the May ballot by January.

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