Avant Public Schools Facing An Uncertain Future

By Craig Day, The News On 6

AVANT, OK -- Schools all across Oklahoma are struggling with severe budget cuts. Some, especially rural schools, fear they may have to close if the situation doesn't improve.

School leaders will meet with parents tonight in Avant to go over the options to keep the Avant Public Schools doors open.

At the school in Avant, the kids are getting a chance to have fun outside on a sunny day. But the forecast for the school system is overcast and gloomy.

There's a 100 percent chance of a budget storm which is blowing in difficult decisions.

"We will be receiving about $188,000 less than we were getting three years ago in state aid," said Avant Superintendent Richard Harris.

While the kids jump rope, it's more like jumping through financial hoops for administrators.

"In a small school district like Avant, that's killing us," Harris said. "We just don't have the monies or the additional resources to make it work."

Add declining enrollment and that loss of per-pupil state dollars to across the board state cuts, and it equals an uncertain future.

"There are not many options here that are viable," Harris said.

Those options are to continue as is, run out of money,  and close for the 2011-2012 school year - or consolidate with another district.

With voluntary annexation to a district with deeper pockets, Avant would at least have a chance of remaining open as a satellite school.

"We have cut everything we think we can possibly cut," said Avant Superintendent Richard Harris.

Like many rural towns, the school is the heart of the community. A public meeting is set to talk about options to keep that heart beating for the sake of the school's 100 plus year history, and the current - and hopefully - future students.

Again, the school in Avant will remain open this next school year, but the start of the 2011 - 2012 school

The public meeting is at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Avant school gym at First and Cherokee.