Elgin, Clearwater End Merger Talks

Although they remain open to other ideas, the Elgin Public School board members decided further consolidation talks with Clearwater “would not be substantially beneficial” at this time.

This decision came after the subcommittee report at the regular EPS board meeting last Wednesday.

Superintendent Dan Polk said the general thoughts of the board were that the cons currently outweigh the pros.

“Concerns as to the original district maintaining control, a possible small tax increase, possible loss of jobs and some challenging logistics of what’s been discussed, don’t currently offset the positives of a gain In student numbers and possible gain in class offerings,” he said.

Polk said if the school wanted more offerings, they “could just hire staff and make that happen.” He also said their high school student numbers are expected to grow in three to four years, eliminating concern over student numbers.

​“(The board) is still very open to ideas and talking,” Polk said.