Signing up kids for elementary school can be fraught with emotions of all kinds; for Hammond parents, it was tenfold Wednesday night.
As the remaining elementary schools held their open houses for new and returning students, some parents expressed frustration and concern over having their students start with a new school. Parents learned last week via letter which elementary school their children will attend after the school board voted to close three elementary schools last month.
The district is closing Lew Wallace, Kenwood, and Morton elementaries at an estimated savings of $5.6 million. Wallace and Morton will be used for early childhood services and Kenwood used for storage. The move led to the layoffs of 173 employees.
The closings will require the relocation of about 1,110 students, who will be sent to other schools. The district said special education services would continue at a student’s new school.
Parents seeking a permanent transfer to another school learned changes would be approved based on new enrollment data, officials said.
For Mia, a parent who asked that her last name not be used, sending her kindergartner to Thomas Edison Elementary from Kenwood isn’t a big deal distance-wise. It is, however, for her kindergartener.
“The kids just got acclimated to a new environment, and now they’re going to have to do it again,” Mia said. “She may not have any of her friends in class with her.”
Another issue, Mia said, is that the PACT preschool program is going to be moved over to Morton, which is more of a hike and takes more time.
While Mia isn’t looking to transfer her daughter out of Hammond, it’s not completely off the table, either.
“It’s now an open discussion. I hope these cuts are not a (continuing action),” she said.
Cindy Flores, who brought her soon-to-be third-grader to Edison, wasn’t thrilled with having to move her from Wallace. But while her daughter will have a whole new experience, Flores had other concerns.
“I feel awful for the teachers who’re getting let go from the other schools,” Flores said.
The school district launched a cost-containment effort to slash spending after losing a property tax referendum last year.
The defeat placed the district on the radar of the state Distressed Unit Appeal Board which is empowered to warn districts they need to rein in spending so they can continue to pay bills.
The DUAB required Hammond to submit a corrective action plan to cut costs.
Besides the referendum, the district cited increased health insurance costs, salary increases for teachers, and declining enrollment as factors for its dwindling finances.
Teachers approved a new contract last week that results in them paying a larger share of their health insurance premiums and didn’t provide a salary increase.
Freelance reporter Carole Carlson contributed.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
