Tough to swallow

Tonight, the Midland Public Schools Board of Education voted to close five elementary schools in the district beginning next year and lay-off teachers and faculty mid-year...meaning in 2 weeks. The issue of school closings was proposed last year as an attempt to salvage the budget and with cuts across the state and country over the past year increasing, the district had to make cuts of its own. Some parents of the Mills students said they were marginalized because it is a Title 1 school in a low-income part of the district. Some of their children already have 45 minute bus rides to and from school and that time could dramatically increase next year due to proximity and issues the school district may face with an increase of students having to be bused outside their neighborhoods to other schools.