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Board notes possible 4K reduction at Iron River as enrollment falls to six; families offered busing to NES
Summary
Board members were told projected 4K enrollment at Iron River is six students for 2024–25, prompting a partial layoff/notice and a plan to offer families the option to bus children to Northwest Elementary; the board discussed recruitment efforts and broader regional declines in birth rates.
Board members discussed a partial layoff/notice for 4K/kindergarten at Iron River after staff reported enrollment projections that “do not support River Elementary School,” with current counts cited at six students.
A board member said that, under district procedures, children in the Iron River attendance area could be bused to Northwest Elementary School (NES) if parents choose that option; staff noted the bus would pick up students at the same times as current routes and that parents could also drive children to Iron River and have them transferred to NES. Board members asked about outreach and recruitment; staff described recent early-childhood recruitment efforts, including a 4K night, social media, and visits to early-childhood centers.
The board discussed demographic context; one member noted regional declines in birth rates and said the district had seen similar small cohorts elsewhere. The board did not adopt a final closure but completed the formal notice process required by statute to preserve options if enrollment does not improve.
