Editor's note: This report has been edited to clarify hearing and vote dates for each school.
Springfield Public Schools will move forward to consider proposals to close Pershing and Robberson elementary schools over the next few years.
In an informational presentation Tuesday during a Springfield Board of Education meeting, district officials explained the board’s process for taking up the proposal. Board members will hold public hearings in separate January meetings before possibly voting on the two closures. According to documentation provided to board members:
- Closing Robberson Community School at the end of the current school year. Students would be shifted to Boyd Elementary. A public hearing will be held on Jan. 4, and a board discussion and vote has been set for Jan. 9.
- Closing Pershing’s elementary school at the end of the 2025-26 school year, with students being sent to either Wilder or Field elementary schools. A public hearing will be held on Jan. 8, and a board discussion and vote has been set for Jan. 16.
The recommendations come as the result of a demographics study introduced to board members in November. The study showed that Robberson was one of three elementary schools leaving much of its capacity unused, and projected to decline in population.
The study also recommended closing the elementary school portion of Pershing so that its middle school can be expanded. Voters in April approved a $220 million bond issue that sets aside $50 million for renovating and rebuilding the school.
Asking to keep them open
During the public comments portion of the meeting, four people — one for Robberson, three for Pershing — asked the board to keep the schools open.
Beth Bales, a teacher at Robberson and a resident in the neighborhood, said the school’s community-school model is important for the students.
“It is the only community school in Springfield,” Bales said. “The model for that school is such that it is really needed. Our kids are unique, they come from a variety of backgrounds.”
Built in 1905, Robberson is the oldest elementary still in operation across the district. It uses a “community school” model that takes a holistic look at the student and their family. It uses a modified version of a year-round school for adding educational opportunities and exploration time.
The three people speaking in favor of keeping Pershing open said the surrounding Southern Hills neighborhood is full of older people selling their homes to make room for new families, and that having a combined elementary and middle school is valuable for the neighborhood.
Brandi VanAntwerp, a member of Pershing’s PTA and a parent of four kids, all of whom attended the school, said the elementary school is “magical.” It was built in 1957.
“We ask that you consider that transitioning from elementary to middle school can be difficult,” said VanAntwerp, executive director of Foster AdoptConnect and a former candidate for school board. “We think that is eased for our Pershing students who have the opportunity to attend a K-8 building … It allows for nine years of relationships with teachers.”
Process for closure includes public hearings
Travis Shaw, deputy superintendent of operations, outlined board policy for making closure decisions, and detailed how the schedules for Robberson and Pershing align with that policy.
He said that if the board approves either closure, attendance boundaries will be redrawn to keep existing schools equitable, with a consideration for students’ proximity. Teachers and other employees will be either reassigned or their positions eliminated.
According to Policy FC, the district will use a public hearing for gathering public comments. That hearing will include an impact analysis that includes possible alternatives, projected impacts and enrollment projections for the next three years.
Some of those possible alternatives were listed in the demographics study:
- If closed, Robberson’s students could be divided between Fremont and Bowerman elementary schools. If renovated and expanded, its boundary could be adjusted to take in students from either Fremont, or a mix of Truman, Watkins and Fremont.
- Pershing’s elementary students could all be sent to Pittman, or all sent to Wilder with an adjustment of Sequiota taking in parts of Wilder.
