MUNCIE, Ind. – Hundreds of elementary students said their goodbyes to friends, teachers and staff on their final day of school Wednesday when their building permanently closed.
Three Muncie elementary schools – Mitchell, Storer and Sutton - closed their buildings and 800 students will attend new schools in the fall after the district decided to make cuts due to an $11 million budget deficit.
School board members said they couldn’t afford to keep the schools open.
"I think it's terrible they're closing the school. It's a great school, it's in good condition. I just can't understand why they're closing it,” said parent Benny Baker.
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Several parents whose children attended Mitchell Elementary, said they were attached to their friends and teachers.
"Mitchell has been such a family school, and he's been with these kids since kindergarten, and now they're getting split up. To think that he won't be with his friends next year,” said Keri Ford.
In addition to the students affected, about 31 teachers, administrators and librarians lost their jobs.
Muncie school board members said they will continue to monitor enrollment next school year and consider further cuts if needed.
