Impact of Cooke’s school closing on District 205?

Cooke’s closure after this school year will save District 205 approximately $930,000 a year in building expenses, seven teaching positions, four support staff positions, six non-teacher workers, and two shared positions of principal and outreach worker.  The district was looking at a $4.4 million deficit; their financial state due to an underfunding of state and federal monies, with less such funding expected next year.  Parents and students will most likely be upset by this decision, but with less funding forthcoming, the district may have fewer schools yet.   We’ve seen several grade schools close in Galesburg in the last few decades.  The closing of Cooke was part of a $1.8 million “cost containment plan””, which includes other approved cuts of more teaching positions.  The district can’t defend an almost $2,00 more per student cost to keep Cooke open.  We like to have neighborhood schools, just as we used to enjoy having neighborhood grocery stores, but those also continue to become fewer and larger, and farther away.