Fremont school looks at sharing options

FREMONT ? The Fremont Community School District held a community meeting last week as an opportunity for district patrons to voice opinions and provide input on the district?s long-standing sharing agreement with the Eddyville/Blakesburg school district.

Fremont Superintendent Art Sathoff said the district has one year remaining on its 28 agreement for whole-grade sharing with Eddyville/Blakesburg, but a decision on what to do after it ends must be made by Nov. 1.

The district is looking at continuing an agreement with Eddyville/Blakesburg or perhaps switching to Pekin Community School District.

?We?re looking for our best option and for what will keep the building in Fremont open for kindergarten through eighth grade,? he said.

While the younger students attend classes in Fremont, the ninth through 12th grade students currently attend the Eddyville/Blakesburg school.

In addition to sharing with Eddyville/Blakesburg, the Fremont school district also shares a few staff members with the Pekin Community School District.

This year, Pekin?s librarian, counselor, Talented and Gifted teacher and computer technology coordinator also worked in Fremont, plus Sathoff is the Pekin High School principal.

Some community members at the meeting spoke highly of Eddyville/Blakesburg, while others supported an agreement with Pekin.

Sathoff said he would be surprised if Fremont consolidated with another school district.

?But we?ll continue to share with another school district,? he said. ?We?ll enter into an agreement, and part of the agreement is you are talking yearly about consolidation.?

For the complete article, see the Monday, May 4, 2009, Fairfield Ledger.