Deadlines are approaching for two surveys being conducted by School District 55.
The surveys seek public input about what local residents would like to see in a new superintendent and about the possibility of merging Holley and Crawfordsville elementary schools and closing one of the buildings.
The survey about the superintendent is due on Nov. 30. The survey about the school merger is due by Dec. 15.
Both are available online at http://www.sweethome.k12.or.us.
The survey site has had more than 50 hits so far, said Supt. Larry Horton. The school closure survey has had 14 responses so far with six or seven more turned in by hand.
People may fill out the school survey online, pick it up at the district office or have it printed at any school office, Horton said. It already has been passed out through the children at all of the elementary schools.
A community meeting is planned for 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 6 in the district Board Room for public comment regarding the superintendent.
Horton is scheduled to retire at the end of this school year.
Community meetings about the possible closure are planned for 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 29 at Holley and Dec. 2 at Crawfordsville.
Anyone living within the district is invited to either meeting and to fill out the survey, Horton said.
The two schools have a combined enrollment of less than 150 students, which triggered a study of a possible closure. Following the study, the superintendent will formally submit a recommendation to the School Board about whether to close one of the schools.
At the heart of the question is whether the schools are too costly to run and whether closure will save the district money.
It’s not just the Crawfordsville and Holley communities affected by the decisions at those schools, Horton said, and the district needs input from all community members.
“We just really encourage people to give us input on both topics,” he said. “They’re both very important issues.”