Some New Albany residents say they don't want to lose their neighborhood grade school. They believe the school district wants to close it to save money.
Look for signs similar to these to go up in front yards over the next few weeks. They say, "Help save Silver Street Elementary School."
Parents worry about a closing. The school district says it has decided little so far.
Neighbors appreciate that children can walk to class at Silver Street Elementary School. They appreciate the small enrollment and the good test scores here.
It's also the school President Bush praised as a national model in a visit last year.
Jim Munford is among neighbors and parents scared the school could close as soon as next year.
A New Albany/Floyd County school corporation committee is studying whether to close the school, and/or close Galena or Pine View Elementary schools. But Silver Street is most prominently mentioned in school district planning documents.
The school corporation has studied buildings and boundaries for two years now. Silver Street is more than 90 years old and needs an elevator.
A superintendent's committee is considering several scenarios that could combine closing schools and shifting students to be more efficient and save money.
Neighbors of Silver Street are organizing protests -- just in case.
No one from New Albany/Floyd County schools would comment on camera. A spokesman released a written statement that included a timeline for public meetings on any closings or boundary changes in September, and a final report to the school board in October. And right now, "No specific decision has been made at this point to alter boundaries, close schools or relocate resources."
Parents also worry if Silver Street closes, their children would transfer to schools with lower test scores. Those would include a grade school with the some of the lowest test scores in Indiana.
