Local school district seek voter approval for consideration

MALVERN/NISHNA VALLEY — Malvern and Nishna Valley school district residents will be voting on a proposal that would merge the two schools starting in 2011.
The two school districts agreed to a whole-grade share program four years ago, with Nishna Valley high school students traveling to Malvern, and Malvern middle school students attending class at Nishna Valley. Both schools maintained their own K-4 schools.
As part of that whole grade share, which included state funding, the Districts were required to explore possible reorganization into one district.
Last spring, a reorganzation committee appointed by the two school boards, conducted several community meetings where they presented findings of their two-year study of the reorganization, and listen to input from district patrons.
Following these meetings, the committee recommended to the Boards in both districts that they be reorganized into one new district.
If this ballot question receives a majority vote in both school districts, they will merge into the East Mills community School District, effective July 1, 2011.
Malvern School Superintendent Curt Barclay said if the merger is approved, the schools will maintain the grade share will remain unchanged, with the only major difference in the management of the district.
“Instead of two, we will only have one transportation system, and one food management system, and one janitorial staff, and one superintendent,” he said.
The board will also reorganize, with three representatives from Malvern and two from Nishna Valley. Eventually, the 5-member board will include two representatives from both districts and one at-large member.
The first board will be appointed by the two current boards, with one member up for election in September.
The special election for the proposed reorganization takes place Tuesday, Dec. 7, with polling places open from 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
Malvern school district residents vote at the Malvern Public Library, while the Nishna Valley residents vote at the Indian Creek Museum.