Feasibility Studies: Schools Mull Over What To Do Next

As the March deadline nears for a decision on unification, four area schools were given more data to consider last week.

Dr. Craig Pease and Dr. Bob Uhing presented results of four feasibility studies  — after presenting the first study in December — to school boards from Orchard, Clearwater, Ewing and Verdigre last Wednesday in the Orchard gymnasium. About 30 members of the public attended the 90-minute meeting.

These studies looked at mergers between Orchard and Clearwater; Orchard and Ewing; Orchard, Clearwater and Ewing, along with unification of Orchard and Verdigre. The first study presented in December was on a merger between Clearwater and Ewing.

“We’re not trying to take sides here,” Pease told the board members. “We’re trying to provide you with the very best information based upon
our experiences in this area in the last 20-30 years.”
Among the data shared in the studies was curriculum,  staffing, budget and finance.

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