June 3, 2024 |
Photo – Elk Mountain School – Courtesy Google Maps
A lack of new students has Carbon County School District Number Two officials facing difficult decisions.
CCSD2 Superintendent Darrin Jennings told Bigfoot99 that Elk Mountain Elementary School has no students enrolled for the upcoming 2024 through 2025 school year.
As Jennings said, the Elk Mountain Elementary School had no students last year, as well. At the time, Jennings said the building could still be used during inclement weather and for community events.
An anonymous source close to the town told Bigfoot99 that Elk Mountain officials may attempt to lease the unused elementary school to use for office space and community activities.
Jennings said he has been in contact with Elk Mountain Mayor Morgan Irene about uses for the school, but nothing has been decided at this point.
In 2023, Jennings said that a school must have no students for three consecutive years before the district can shut it down. Speaking to Bigfoot99 last week, Jennings said he isn’t considering permanently closing the Elk Mountain Elementary School yet.
Elk Mountain isn’t the only town in Carbon County facing a lack of incoming students. Jennings said the number of registered students at the Medicine Bow Elementary School has dropped from nine in 2023 to just five. Despite potential staffing issues related to the fluctuating student count, Jennings said he has no plans to close the school.
Dwindling numbers of students means that consolidating all northern Carbon County schools into one building, most likely in Hanna, isn’t out of the question. Jennings said he isn’t preparing to close any school at this time.
