Iron Range Towns Discuss Education Options

Posted by Sara Niklas

Leaders from five Iron Range communities heard from residents and each other about the fate of their schools.

Representatives from Orr, Babbitt, Ely, Cook and Tower expressed concern over the possibility that their schools may be closing in the near future.

Residents in the St. Louis County School District 2142 will vote December 8th on an $80 million referendum that would close several schools and build two new schools between communities.

If the referendum fails, school officials say a dissolution of schools would begin.

Community leaders from Tower, Ely, Babbit, Cook and Orr met with the public to get ideas for a "plan B" on how to prevent the schools from closing.

"We all face the possible closure of our schools and we all felt that by getting together and exploring ways to save schools, a lot of us aren't necessarily ready to give up on small schools, certainly lots of other models are out there other than traditional public school models that have enabled communities to keep small schools," said Marshall Helmberger, a local business owner in Tower.

No decisions were made last night, and whether to vote "yes" or "no" for the referendum was not discussed.

A leadership team will be formed to come up with an alternative plan.

One option discussed was to form a new school district through special legislation.

"Right now in the current form the way we got put together by 2142, we didn't get to pick and choose id like to see if the five want to get together and form our own school district we should be allowed to do that," said Ely Mayor Roger Skraba.

Superintendent Dr. Charles Rick wants to maintain the current school district, and says the referendum is the best way to do so.

"Nobody wants to close schools but unfortunately given declining enrollment and financial difficulty, and the fact that we cannot pass a referendum, three levy referendums failed in a row, we have limited financial capabilities and cannot afford to maintain seven buildings," said Rick.

Rick also said the school board was not invited to the meeting.

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