Parents Say "No Way!"

HASTINGS (NEWSCHANNEL 3) - A West Michigan district is pushing to close a school but parents are saying "No Way!"

The Hastings School District wants to close Pleasantview Elementary in Lacey. The district says the school is not full enough. They want to combine Pleasantview with Southeastern Elementary in Hastings. But parents say, it's simply too far to travel.

Thursday night was just a listening session for board members in Hastings. They had plenty to listen to on both sides of this issue.

The superintendent calls the plan to close Pleasantview Elementary, the best choice for the cash-strapped district. It would save an estimated $330,000 a year by shifting about 120 students to other Hastings Elementary Schools. But parents worry that would mean over an hour bus rides.

They say, Pleasantview is part of the Dowling community where generations of families have gone to school. On the other hand, we heard from a number of teachers who say consolidating is the best way to maintain quality education for all Hastings students. That's because keeping the building open, could cost 11 teachers their jobs, as the district looks for other ways to save money.

"The closing of Pleasantview, while very emotional for many of us, would provide the funding to possibly reinstate programming in our district it's been lacking for many years," said Melissa Patton, laid off teacher.

"I understand you have to think about 3,000 kids, but all I ask is you put yourself in the place of a bunch of 6 and 7 year olds," said parent, Brian Seymour.

The superintendent says a final decision on whether or not to close the school could come next week.