ORIENT, Iowa — The Orient-Macksburg School District will be no more after next school year, marking the first time in nearly a decade that an Iowa school district will close its doors.
Members of the school board voted to move forward with dissolution at a regularly scheduled meeting Monday.
Made up of only two schools and just over 160 students, the rural district has been facing financial shortfalls, low enrollment and staffing issues for several years.
"Enrollment is at a point where it's declined enough that finances are not holding up with current student and staffing needs," Superintendent Jeff Kruse told Local 5 back in May.
Kruse also explained that the district's spending authority is diminishing. Emergency relief funds issued by the federal government during the pandemic will run out this year.
Two options were being considered by the district and the board. The first was to reorganize the school district by separating it into portions and merging them with surrounding school districts.
Option two was to dissolve the district completely, and merge it with just one other school district.
Ultimately, the board decided that dissolving the district and asking others nearby to take in students would be best.
"The last bout year and a half, we've been talking about this. I actually had goosebumps all day today, just thinking about this," board member Andrew Zellweger said. "It was a big decision, but I knew in my heart, it was the correct decision to make."
The change also means that teachers employed by the district will be forced to find another school to work at, or seek out new employment entirely.
"It's stressful. You think about it all the time, and not just at school," said English teacher Kendra Breitsprecher. "What am I going to do for a job, come [next] May?"
Nearby districts that could take in students include Nodaway Valley, Creston and Winterset.
While the board did vote for dissolution at its meeting Monday, district voters will still get to have their say via a ballot measure.
The decision will not take effect until after the 2024-25 school year. All updates regarding the future of the Orient-Macksburg Community School District will be posted on Facebook.