Boulder Elementary on chopping block as Garfield District finagles budget

BOULDER, Garfield County — Parents are worried that cash-strapped Garfield School District may close its tiny Boulder Elementary as a cost-cutting measure.

"We're going to fight for our school. We're not going to give up," said parent Scott Brodie of Boulder.

The five-member Garfield School Board is meeting at 4 p.m. Thursday for an executive session and at approximately 6 p.m. in an open meeting at Antimony Elementary School. The board plans to discuss its budget for the 2010-2011 school year.

"We are hoping to make some final decisions in all areas of our budget," said board member Gladys LeFevre of Boulder.

Boulder Elementary has just 10 students in grades K-6. But if the school is closed, the children will have to be bused to Escalante, which is almost an hour's drive.

Parents could possibly form a charter school or opt for home schooling. However, some families, such as the Brodies, don't have Internet access, which would limit online home-schooling choices. The Brodie home is run solely on solar power and has no phone line.

"We're a small, isolated community," Brodie said. "To lose our school really tears at the fabric of the town."

Other potential budget-slashing actions for the district could include layoffs. Garfield District has approximately 100 teachers and an enrollment of 938 students as of last fall.

District officials and board members are still examining the budget amount and potentially how much may have to be cut in light of losing state and federal funding.

"Garfield School Board is looking at multiple options in order to reach a balanced budget in these trying economic times," said Garfield Superintendent Janice Hatch.

"There have been no decisions at this time to close any schools in the district," Hatch said. "The board is looking at ways to retain employees and provide the best possible education for the students of Garfield County."

Brodie, who has a fifth-grade daughter at the school, will serve as spokesman for the six parents at Thursday's board meeting. The board has given him five minutes to plead his case.

"We feel the board doesn't have enough information," Brodie said. "We want to start a dialogue on this important decision."

Boulder parent Michael Nelson, who has a 2-year-old daughter who eventually would attend Boulder Elementary, says he wants the school to remain intact.

"We would be devastated if they close the school," Nelson said. "And the teacher is doing a great job."