A third Kansas school district has now decided to close early this spring as a result of state budget cuts. The Smoky Valley School District in Lindsborg has trimmed three days from the school calendar and will now dismiss classes on May 15th. Julie Martin, the business manager for USD 400, says the district lost $162,000 in state aid during the current fiscal year.
Martin says closing early will save the district about $10,000. Last year, in another cost-cutting move, the Smoky Valley district closed an elementary school in Marquette. At least two other Kansas school districts have announced they too will close early this spring to save money. The Concordia school district announced earlier that it will release students on May 15, rather than on May 21. And the Twin Valley School District, which includes Bennington and Tescott, announced earlier this month that it will dismiss classes on May 8, rather than on May 20.
