September 9, 2024 |
Photo – Elk Mountain Elementary school gym – By Matt Copeland Bigfoot99
Facing another year without students, officials from Elk Mountain and Carbon County School District Two have devised a plan to use the school as a community center and town hall.
For the second year in a row, the Elk Mountain School, located at 202 Veterans Street in the town, has no students. The building will still be used as an attendance center when winter weather makes the drive from Elk Mountain to Hanna impossible. The school board must consider what to do with the building if there continues to be no new students. The possibility of permanently shutting down the school isn’t out of the question.
Seeing the structure empty once again, Elk Mountain Mayor Morgan Irene and Carbon County School District Two Superintendent Darrin Jennings came up with a plan to keep the school open. Mayor Irene and Superintendent Jennings held a public meeting in the Elk Mountain School last Wednesday to discuss a proposed agreement between the town and the school district.
At the meeting, Mayor Irene said when it’s not being used as an attendance center, he would like to open the school to the town. Constructing a community center from scratch would be far too costly, said the mayor.
On top of serving as a community center, Mayor Irene said Town Clerk Heidi Hess and Public Works Director William Redmond will relocate their offices into the school building. The mayor said a barrier of some type, most likely a folding security gate, will prevent people from accessing the school when students are present.
In exchange for being permitted to use the building, Public Works Director Redmond will take over maintenance and snow removal duties at the school. If utility costs rise due to the town’s usage of the building, Mayor Irene explained that Elk Mountain will cover the difference. The mayor said the agreement will benefit both Carbon County School District Two and the town.
Mayor Irene said town employees will obtain their own Department of Agriculture license to cook and serve food in the school kitchen during town events. The school’s food will be kept separate from the town’s supplies.
Mayor Irene said the town has impact assistant money set aside to pay for improvements to the building. As well as purchasing a security gate and food, Mayor Irene said he would also like to buy new equipment, such as chairs and tables. The mayor said the town can use the additional space the school offers.
Mayor Irene said he and Superintendent Jennings are still working with the District Two school board on the agreement. Despite a few hurdles left to overcome, the mayor said he is confident the board will approve the contract.
Apart from maintenance and utility costs, the agreement does not require the town to pay any additional money to use the school building.
The school board’s attorney is currently reviewing the contract drafted by Mayor Irene and Superintendent Jennings. If approved by the attorney, the school board will vote on the agreement during their September 16th meeting. Should the school board give their approval, the Elk Mountain town council will then decide whether the town should enter into the agreement.
If all goes well, Superintendent Jennings said he hopes town employees will be moved into the school before winter.
