By TARA HETTINGER
Tara.Hettinger@newsandtribune.com
NEW ALBANY —
With some tears and hugs, those at the four schools slated for closure this year in Floyd County are dealing with the news and preparing to move on.
“We went through the shock last week,” said Principal Terri Boutin, with Children’s Academy of New Albany. “There’s a sadness. When you have a school family, it’s hard to lose that.”
“There’s certainly been some tears,” said Principal Kyle Lanoue, with Pine View Elementary. “I think people are certainly disappointed, but I think they respect the school board and the decisions they made and it’s time we move on and do what the school board wants us to do and do what’s best for students.”
That decision, which involved closing those two schools as well as Galena Elementary and Silver Street Elementary, was made Thursday night as part of 40 cost-reducing recommendations from the superintendent. The total recommendations, some of which were already in effect, totaled 57, saving $5.6 million. However, the district’s revenue is down $6.6 million this year, leaving room for more cuts to be made.
Lanoue said that though no one wanted to see Pine View close, the staff will support what is now the school board’s policy.
“We’re a Title 1 school. We’re used to dealing with challenges,” he said. “I would argue that I have the best teachers in Floyd County. We have good people who are focused on the kids here and because of that these teachers are resilient. They are going to do a great job next year.
“These teachers are going to do a phenomenal job of loving these kids like they always do.”
Boutin said her staff understands why their school was chosen.
“We just made a commitment ... to do what we always do, which is concentrate on the kids and to support one another,” she said.
MAKING THE TRANSITION
She said the school is focused on helping parents and students deal with the change.
“Our first responsibility is to make the transition for the kids good. We’re going to take care of our kids,” she said.
Lanoue said that, too, is his focus, adding that parents at his school have been very understanding of the changes.
“They have been very supportive and that’s what impresses me the most,” he said. “A building is a building and it has a lot of memories, but the real value is the people — the network of people here and the community. The trust that has been built is wonderful and I feel confident that trust will transfer over to other buildings and other leaders.
“The folks are going to continue to love kids. I have no doubt that’s going to continue.”
SAYING GOODBYE
Lanoue, who started his position this school year, said he’s happy to have had the time he did leading Pine View.
“I feel blessed to have gotten to know [the teachers and families] and to have served as their leader,” he said. “I feel very optimistic that the future is bright.”
“I would like people to know how thankful we are to have had this time with the children. We’ve got really, really good kids and great families,” Boutin said. “To have been able to work with them has been the greatest pleasure for us.”
Both said they are working on planning celebrations before the school closes that will bring together students and staff from both the past and present.
“We’ll end it on a bang,” Boutin said.
Boutin and Lanoue said they are unsure of what their new position will be with the district.
Dwight Beall, principal at Galena, had no comment for this story.
A message left for Principal Theresa Duke at Silver Street was not returned as of press time.
