Hillside top choice for closure

Residents filled the Elmbrook School Board meeting room, lined the walls and spilled into the hallway as school officials voted Tuesday to recommend closing Hillside Elementary after the 2011-12 school year.

Superintendent Matt Gibson recommended closing one school rather than two because Elmbrook elementary students will fill the remaining four schools to capacity, and the district would lose the ability to regulate enrollment numbers through non-resident students.

Gibson also suggested, however, that closure of Tonawanda Elementary may need to be revisited in the near future, perhaps as soon as five years.

"I believe there is a greater risk of losing resident enrollment based on the last remaining school in the village of Elm Grove being closed," he said.

The recommendation gained support though no formal action was taken. Public engagements meetings will be held before the board votes on the closure Oct. 25.