Board votes to close elementary school in Middlefield, Conn.

The school board for Regional School District 13 in Connecticut has voted to close Lyman Elementary in Middlefield because of declining enrollment.

WFSB-TV reports that board members took the action reluctantly, but say their hands were tied because continuing to operate the school would have led to serious budget problems. 

The school offered students a project-based curriculum known as the Integrated Day system or ID. Now, some parents and students fear the district will no longer offer a program like it.

District leaders stress that they will try to maintain curriculum choice for families going forward.

Closing Lyman before the 2021-22 school year will save the district about $1 million a year.

Board chair Robert Moore says he understands why families are upset, but says this was the best decision moving forward.

“Most of these board members have children or grandchildren in the system or have gone through it and so every decision we make is really personal,” says Moore.

The board also decided that starting in 2021 the district will have one pre-K to 2 school, one 3 to 5 school and one 6 to 8 school.