GOWRIE - As the eight Prairie Valley school board candidates contest for the four available positions on the district's school board, current board members and candidates are up to taking on the challenges that lie ahead for the school.

A common trend among Iowa's rural school districts, Prairie Valley has experienced a decline in enrollment, and, as a result, receives less funding from the state.

The school has experienced a 10-year decline in enrollment of approximately 200 students, which is about the equivalent on one school building's enrollment.

These statistics have prompted school officials to begin a study and series of public meetings to inform the community of the district's situation, which may lead to the closing of a school building within the district.

The Prairie Valley Community School District currently operates three school buildings, a high school in Gowrie, elementary school in Callender and a middle school located north of Farnhamville.

"We've experienced a drop in enrollment and finances,"' said Superintendent Jim Dick, who is beginning his fifth year at Prairie Valley. "In my first four years we lost about 100 students. Thats an average of 25 students per year, and we don't have a final report on last year's enrollment."

The current school board has approved a timeline to begin the process according to the Barker's guidelines, which follow a specific procedure for closing a school building. A committee of school board and community members will be working with a hired consultant to evaluate the districts options, and a series of public meetings are set to begin in October. The decision to what, if any, building to close will be made by the completion of the 2009-2010 school year in May.

"We have a timeline we want to follow," Dick said. "We have to look at our options and our needs. If we close a building, it would not be at the end of this year. We'll have to see how many classrooms will be needed. Right now we are at a point where two buildings might not have the capacity for everyone, but three is too many."

The possibility of closing a school helped district 3 board candidate Emilea Lundberg make the decision to seek a position on the board.

"As a parent of three children who attend school in the district, I decided I wanted to be a part of the solution rather than watch it happen," she said. "People need to realize there is a process to follow for closing a building. It's an emotional process, but the public will be informed."

"We will evaluate all of the buildings to determine which one would be closed if we need to close a school," said Scott Hansch, who is running unopposed for his second consecutive term in district 1. "The study could come back and tell us that we don't need to close a building at this time, but we want the community to be involved with it."

Rick Brand, a candidate for the single at-large seat on the board said the closing process will involve as much community involvement as possible.

"It's about the kids' future," he said. "It's nice that the board isn't the only one to be making this decision. It's going to be a tough decision, but someone's got to do the job. I'm just as anxious as the community to see what the study will conclude and will be saddened if we have to close a school. But the community needs to realize we can't jump to conclusions yet."

"We're working with consultants to see what is best," said Rod Warehime, incumbent at-large candidate. "We have to do what will be best for the kids and their future."

Contact Emilie Nelson at (515)573-2141 or enelson@messengernews.net