HILLS, Iowa (KCRG) – Iowa City’s School Board President told TV9 that closing its elementary school in Hills may help avoid other districtwide cuts.

The district is looking to make $7 million in cuts over the next 2-years. It blames the cuts on a lack of growth in student populations and the implementation of a statewide private school voucher program that went into effect this school year.

Hills Elementary School is in the town of Hills, about 15 miles south of Iowa City. It’s the district’s smallest school that has a majority enrollment of minority students but also costs the district the most money per student.

“My son is going to be sad because he made a lot of friends here,” said Elena Ramirez of Iowa City.

Ramirez drives her 5-year-old son the 15 minutes to Hill from Iowa City because she said it had helped him to better learn English.

“Now, he can speak more English and spell the alphabet,” she said.

Hills Elementary may be the smallest elementary in the district, but it’s also unique. Of the 140 students enrolled, 43% are Hispanic. That’s three times the district average.

“That’s why we like the school, they help him,” said Elena.

The needs of families like the Ramirez’s aren’t lost to School Board President Ruthina Malone.

“It’s not a decision that any board member signs up to make, to close down a school,” said Malone.

Malone said each student has had access to the districtwide “Student Family Advocates” which offers transportation support, mental health resources, school supplies, and more. She said if they close Hills Elementary, those students will receive the same level of care at whatever elementary they attend.

“If they decide that if Hills gets closed and they want to stay with ICCSD and go to the new home school, transportation will be provided to get them there,” she said.

Malone said she was still undecided about the fate of this school. Fellow board members are already considering millions of dollars in cuts that impact teacher incentives, purchases, an administrative position, and canceling a professional learning day. She said keeping Hills open could leave lasting impacts by potentially cutting 43 teacher positions districtwide.

“We already see some large class sizes throughout our buildings, we are going to see even larger class sizes throughout our buildings if we have to let go,” said Malone.

Malone said there were still a lot of questions they were working through if they were to close Hills Elementary: what the student-to-teacher ratio would be, what students would open enroll into other schools, and what school would the students attend, but Ramirez hoped her son would continue to grow.

“If I have to change his school, maybe he can make more friends,” said Ramirez.

The board will vote on March 26th.

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