Seeking financial stability for our school district

The possibility of Ogden closing one of its school buildings struck hard throughout the community. After all, many living here spent their elementary years in that building, later sending their children through the fourth grade there and now even grandchildren. Howe School was built in 1955 and additions were put on in 1999 and 2004.

“The three school buildings served our district well and were perfect for our number of students at the time,” Ogden School Supt. Dr. Tim Hoffman said when he addressed the City Council meeting Tuesday, April 11. “But Ogden has dropped 150 students the past 10 years, from 773 in 2004 to 622 students in 2014.” With the declining enrollment, Ogden is now one of the highest spending districts on building operations per student. (Conversely, they are one of the lowest spending districts on educational spending per student.) 

School administrators and board members organized a Facilities Committee composed of business owners, parents, and other members of the community hoping to find the best solution to the problem.

After a two year study, they concluded that the District should restructure the current three-building configuration to two campuses. Downsizing from three school sites to two reduces 24,000 square feet of building space to maintain, the study showed. 

“This results in an estimated savings of $164,000 annually due to improved efficiently in staffing and building operations,” explained Dr. Hoffman. “The equivalent of three teaching positions.”

Read more in the April 26 issue of The Ogden Reporter.