The Bond County Community Unit School District 2 Board of Education is set to vote on Wednesday, Dec. 22, on whether to close Sorento Elementary School, but the Sorento community is fighting back with a peitition to stop the closure of their local school. They had more than 700 signatures on Sunday night.

Organizers of the Supporters of Sorento School are frustrated at the short notice they received from the school board about a vote to close their K-8 school of 107 students, permanently. Community members and parents were notified Dec. 7 of a pending Dec. 22 vote which will determine the fate of the school.

The group is working with legal counsel to file an emergency injunction to delay the vote– hoping more time will lead to a better and clearer understanding of why this action is needed. Impacts on the students are the main concern of those questioning the decision. If the school closes, young children will likely be bussed over two hours per day, making a nine-hour school day for those as young as kindergarten.

“Closing down a school based on limited information has long-term impacts that will affect the district and the children who live here for years to come,” said concerned parent Melissa Goymerac. “All we are asking for in this circumstance is more time to evaluate why a Blue Ribbon school that is financially solvent and has a stable student population needs to close. This could be a very permanent and damaging decision for a problem that may have very solvable solutions.”

The group cites a study that shows young children learn best in their own community when allowed academic and extracurricular participation and increased parent involvement. If the school closes, all 107 students will be bussed to schools within the district, raising questions of overcrowded classrooms.

“A recent independent study found that 95 percent of those surveyed do not want to see this school close,” said Sorento board member, Stephanie Gerl. “It is our fear that the school board is going to disregard the voice of the people in this community. We want proof that this decision is really taking the children into consideration.”

The controversial vote is expected to take place at a public hearing on Wednesday, Dec. 22, at 6:55 p.m. in the BCCU #2 high school auditorium in Greenville.

The Bond County Unit No. 2 School district is the consolidation of Greenville, Pocahontas and Sorento schools.