Plans to close two Glastonbury elementary schools by 2020 have been put on hold indefinitely.
The Board of Education met on Monday to discuss the closures, which would affect Eastbury School on Neipsic Road and Naubuc School on Griswold Street. Administrators had recommended closing Eastbury by the 2016-2017 school year and Naubuc by 2020-2021, citing declining enrollment.
According to a revised plan presented by the board Monday night, school consolidation won’t be reconsidered unless enrollment in the town’s six elementary schools sinks from 2,600, the current number, to below 2,000 students. Board members did say, however, they expect enrollment will continue to drop.
The revised consolidation report recommends that the school system redistrict only once if it does get to the point of shuttering two schools. Additionally, the decision is to be made two years in advance to give parents and students time to plan and adjust to the changes.
The school board is urged to review enrollment numbers and projections each November.
Not all board members agreed with the decision.
“I think we are sacrificing things we need – maybe it’s iPads, buses, or I don’t know what – for unnecessary bricks and mortar for way too long,” said James Zeller of the Glastonbury Board of Education.
