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Residents warn of safety and economic impacts if Wanamingo elementary closes
Summary
Multiple residents and board members raised concerns about student safety, local business impacts and open-enrollment losses if the Wanamingo elementary closes; the superintendent acknowledged the emotional and economic consequences and pledged to include these considerations in follow-up scenarios.
During the district’s discussion of consolidation options, several residents described worries about safety, response times and the economic role of the school in Wanamingo. One resident said the community is "a small town with a lot of guns" and asked how consolidation would affect on-site security and emergency response when police and sheriff jurisdictions differ.
Superintendent Beth Geese acknowledged the concern and said building security features could be used to manage movement within the consolidated site and that the district would consider additional security planning. Residents also warned that losing the elementary could reduce foot traffic for local businesses. "You take this school away, people are not gonna come by and grab a coffee in the morning," one attendee said, arguing the building is a community hub. The board said it heard those concerns and urged residents to continue providing feedback at the January 6 town hall.
