Parents Protest Decision To Close Haddam School: Report

HIGGANUM, CT — The Haddam-Killingworth Board of Education's decision to close Haddam Elementary School due to decreasing numbers in enrollment was protested by dozens of parents who attended the board's meeting Tuesday night, according to media reports.

According to Eyewitness News 3, the district's current plan is to close the school in June and send kindergarten through third grade students to Burr Elementary School, while fourth graders from both schools would go to an intermediate school in the current middle school.

School officials said the decision to close the school took place after more than a year of consideration, and the consolidation could save $1 million a year, NBC Connecticut reported.

Many parents objected to the board's plan to close the school and consolidate, arguing it could lead to larger class sizes and declining test scores, Fox 61 reported. Parents also raised concerns about changes to student transportation, job loss and budget cuts during a public comment.

Some parents expressed concern about finding another use for the school building in the future, however the board has said it plans to work with the town to find other uses for it, according to NBC Connecticut.

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