On the Cusp of Closure

The elementary school in Forks of Salmon once had enough students to occupy two teachers, many aides, and three classrooms but this year is hovering slightly above an average daily attendance (ADA) so low that the state might close it and combine it with the district in Somes Bar. Presently the school has 11 students enrolled and may well stay above the critical 6.0 ADA cutoff level at the April 1 deadline. As a safeguard, the school board has prepared an application for a waiver that would forestall the closure, which it will share at a meeting at 4 pm, Jan. 19. Many students will graduate this year so next year’s projected enrollment is only five students but the projections in successive years grow enough to continue the district. / Photo by Creek Hanauer.