The President of the Albion Chamber of Commerce says Tuesday’s vote feels like Albion “gave ourselves a get out of jail free card.” A school board member who opposed the annexation proposal says her heart “aches” for families that chose the Albion Schools.
Albion Chamber President Amy Robertson says the school district’s debt was bogging the community down. The chamber was one of the groups that urged voters to approve the annexation question that was on Tuesday’s ballot. Robertson says allowing Albion schools to be annexed by the Marshall school district will make it easier to attract new companies and encourage existing businesses to expand in Albion.
Albion School Board member Sonya Brown opposed the annexation plan. Brown says she’s at peace with the vote, but she says it’s important to offer students whatever support they need during the transition. Brown has a son who attends high school in Marshall, under the agreement reached between the districts in 2013. She says many of those students have had a difficult time over the past couple of years. Robertson says the Marshall schools will offer expanded programs and an up to date curriculum compared to what’s offered in Albion.
Both Robertson and Brown agree that having an elementary school in Albion is important. Marshall Superintendent Randy Davis has said a location has to be found for a K-5 school to operate in the fall. Robertson says younger children require more attention. She says having a school nearby is important for families. But Brown says any elementary school will still be a Marshall School. She says that’s not what families who chose Albion Schools during tough times planned.
Annexation will take effect July first, Robertson says between now and then, it’s important to transfer school records from Albion to Marshall. She says there will also be teacher evaluations, and trying to keep families in the district, and attract new ones.
Brown says she wants to make sure that memorabilia from Albion schools is preserved. She says the history of Albion Schools should still be showcased even after annexation. Brown says it’s also important for parents and educators to continue to offer support for students. The Albion school board will be dissolved June 30th, but Brown says “My role as a parent and a child advocate will continue beyond that.”
