Clark County School Board may ask voters to decide on shutting down elementary school

KAHOKA, Mo. (WGEM) - A Clark County school board meeting on Thursday lasted multiple hours while parents, community members, and teachers voiced their concerns about a rural elementary school that could be closed.

It is a tough decision for the board, but board members said they intend to do what’s best for the students.

Superintendent of Clark County Schools, Ritchie Kracht explained the reason for potentially closing the school.

“Reason of safety, Running Fox is out there in the middle of the country, just off the four-lane. We’ve had a medical emergency to a staff member, and it took over 20 minutes for the ambulance to get there,” Kracht said. “We’ve also had a suspicious person outside the building a couple different times, and it’s taken over 20 minutes for law enforcement to get there. If we don’t have highway patrol or a deputy working in that end of the county, it could take 20 minutes for them to get here.”

If the board decides to move forward with the non-income tax bond, it will allow the school to make additions to Black Hawk Elementary.

There was a clear divide between both sides but was a peaceful meeting. Many parents also brought up the idea of waiting and eventually building a brand new school that would combine them.

If the board decides to move forward, it would cost roughly $5 million and the decision will then go to the voters and be on the April ballot.

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