The possible closure of Custer Hill Elementary school at Fort Riley is a topic beginning to surface.

The USD 475 Board of Education will be asked to authorize a feasibility study on the possibility of closing the school at the end of the current school year.

Superintendent Ron Walker said student capacity issues have been addressed on post, so that’s no concern in this case. “What does concern us is condition and usability for that facility.” He wants the Board to allow District staff to review and then make a recommendation back to the Board on whether or not to close the school at the end of the current school year.

The feasibility study request will be on the Board’s agenda when they meet Monday at 4:30 p.m. at Junction City Middle School.

Walker stated due to the District’s employee mobility all of the staff at Custer Hill Elementary could be placed in another school. “We have two vacancies for principals right now…one at Westwood and one at Franklin. And if we want to really do what we need to do I think we should probably take a look at closing it now since we would have a place for  the principal to go as well.  If we wait that opportunity would no longer exist. So we need to just be looking at making a decision.”

The Superintendent added closing Custer Hill Elementary would assist the District with an infusion of new funding that could be used throughout the District’s budget.