Bellevue School Board Votes to Consolidate Two Elementary Schools Due to Low Enrollment

The Bellevue School Board has voted to consolidate two elementary schools, Eastgate and Wilburton Elementary, due to low enrollment.

The decision was a modified recommendation compared to the district’s earlier plans of consolidation.

The school board meeting was filled with emotions, as teachers left in tears and parents were furious.

Many had hoped to keep the schools open for one more year, but the final vote resulted in the consolidation of the two schools.

Parents and teachers held signs and expressed their disappointment, with some calling it a fall of the district and a loss of teachers.

The district has seen a steady decline in students over the last three years, and is facing a $31 million budget shortfall for next year.

The decision has left some parents considering whether or not to send their children back to the district for the next school year.

The school board members who abstained from voting said they needed more time to weigh their options, as some questioned whether the consolidation was the best scenario.

Interim Superintendent Dr.

Art Jarvis extended his heart to the community and assured that no “bad schools” needed closing, only “small schools getting smaller.”

The district will continue to update the community on the consolidation process.