Cossatot River School District hosting board meeting to determine the future of Umpire Campus

The Cossatot River School District will host a board meeting in October to determine the future of the Umpire K-12 campus. The Cossatot River School Board is scheduled to meet on Oct. 12 to hear a recommendation to close the Umpire campus at the end of the current school year. That meeting will begin at 6 p.m. at the Cossatot River Primary School cafeteria and will be open to the public.

Superintendent Tyler Broyles said the recommendation to close the campus is due to consistent low enrollment, making the campus financially unable to sustain itself.

According to Broyles, the Umpire campus has lost more than 40 students. He said the campus operated at a $400,000 deficit due to the campuses average daily membership of approximately 92 students in K through 12.

That number, Broyles added, will mean less revenue for the campus. In addition, he said higher expenses is forcing the district to subsidize the negative operating balance at the Umpire campus.

Broyles said by making the recommendation this early in the year, will allow Umpire teachers to seek employment in other districts, students to transfer to other district if they prefer and allow the Cossatot River School District staff time to facilitate the logistics need to close the campus.

Officials said no loss of jobs or teaching positions are expected if the recommendation is in favor of closing the campus. All staff members at Umpire would be offered positions throughout the rest of the district. Any overage in staff would be addressed by attrition, meaning the district will not rehire as staff members leave or retire.

In addition, Umpire territory would remain a part of the Cossatot River School District. Umpire students who wish to attend another district would go through school choice or a legal board transfer. A Cossatot River school bus would continue to pick up students in the Umpire area.

The district is welcoming community members to attend the board meeting to make their voices heard before the school board votes on the recommendation.

District officials stress there are rules that must be followed to have your name placed on the agenda to speak. Details can be found by visiting the website at www.cossatot.us and clicking on the “More” tab. Community members can also call 870-385-7101 for assistance.