Berwyn Parents Opposing Plan To Close Two Elementary Schools
(CBS) -- Parents of a Berwyn school that could close are hoping to persuade the district at a meeting Wednesday night that there are other ways to save money.
Berwyn South School District 100 is weighing closing Piper and Hiawatha elementary schools as a way to dig out from a $2 million deficit.
Mother Patricia Ayala says Piper parents and students are upset about the possibility, saying the move to grade level centers would force 300 kids to leave a neighborhood school they consider to be a family.
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She says the kids have suggested bake sales and garage sales as a way to raise money.
Parents are critical of the idea, Ayala says, after seeing how the move by CPS to close 50 schools in 2013 hasn't produced the kind of savings that were promised.
Assistant Superintendent Jane Bagus says this decision - like all that District 100 makes - is being done with the kids in mind and that nothing is set in stone.
She says parents have been very engaged in coming up with funding alternatives and they look forward to working with them on getting more funding from the state.
The Board of Education meeting is at 7 p.m.
