Baldwin to close Shubert, Milburn schools

Students of Shubert and Milburn elementary schools in Baldwin went home with a somber message in their backpacks Thursday -- an announcement that their schools will close for good at the end of the school year.

After months of discussions, a task force study and meetings with robust public comment, the five-member board on Wednesday voted unanimously to close the two schools to help deal with a $4.7 million budget gap.

"Between the tax cap and the loss in state aid, it's a very big number and that is the reason for the closings," said Cristina Schmohl, a district spokeswoman.

Tracy Mahler, co-president of the Milburn PTA who has four children in school, was upset that officials told children without first informing parents they were going to do so.

"That takes away my right as a parent to decide when my child should know something like that," said Mahler, who is opposed to closing any school.

A special task force last month recommended closing Shubert and either Milburn or the Steele school, and Superintendent James D. Mapes agreed, adding the closings to a list of budget recommendations released this month. The budget has yet to be approved by the school board.

The group of district residents, PTA officers and employees reasoned that all three schools were operating at half their capacity or lower. They estimated that closing Shubert and Milburn would yield $910,000 in savings.

But not all members of the task force agreed, and parents like Mahler said there are alternatives to drastic cuts.

"The citizens of Baldwin have presented many options and the board of education seems to ignore them and is reluctant to save our schools," she said.

School officials estimate they need $124,176,805 to maintain the current level of services for the 2012-13 year. But they estimate they will get $119,483,487 in revenue, leaving a shortfall of $4.7 million.

Mapes also recommends reducing elementary and high school teaching positions, cutting full-day kindergarten and scaling back elementary art, music and physical education.