March 20 2024- The Woodland Park School District has announced the closure of Gateway Elementary School for the upcoming 2024-25 school year, leaving parents heartbroken. Low enrollment numbers, with only 157 students enrolled for K-6, have prompted the decision. Superintendent Ken Witt stated that the closure was difficult but necessary due to financial constraints. In response, parent Andrew Heintzelman initiated an online petition to keep the school open, gathering nearly 100 signatures. The district plans to address parents’ concerns at a meeting on March 13. To accommodate Gateway Elementary students, Columbine, Summit, and Merit Academy will expand their enrollment in the following school year.
Parents in Woodland Park outraged by school board’s decision to close elementary school, not an easy decision according to superintendent
Updated on March 20, 2024