Three state lawmakers have appealed to the Warsaw Schools' superintendent in an attempt to delay for one year the closing of three elementary schools.

But the superintendent, Dr. Dave McGuire, said not only is it too late, but it's not prudent to discuss it now that mediation is scheduled for a lawsuit involving the school board.

State Sen. Kent Adams and state representatives David Wolkins and William Ruppel sent a letter Tuesday to McGuire, saying large numbers of their constituents have contacted them "to voice, sometimes quite strongly, their concerns."

The letter continued: "Your announced plans to permanently close three elementary schools, Atwood, Claypool and Silver Lake, have raised serious concerns by parents of children in those schools regarding several issues, including busing, safety of their children, school over-crowding and educational deficiencies.

"As we view these issues, it would appear obvious that taking a year or so to make appropriate and prudent alternate arrangements makes sense. Many parents have expressed to us they feel the closing of the three schools is retribution for the withdrawal of the proposed $30 million bonding proposal after so many community citizens signed remonstrance qualification petitions."

Adams said the three legislators are concerned also because the issue is dividing the community and creating animosity toward the school board and administration.

"It's bigger than the individual," he said Wednesday. "It's going to take a while to get the community back together."

McGuire said today that if Adams had noticed "what's happening right now with Whitko and North Manchester schools (cutting programs and laying off teachers), he'd know the kind of financial situation we're in - we can't wait a year."

He also cited the pending lawsuit mediation as another reason to turn down the lawmakers' offer to talk.

"Prudent people don't start discussing legal issues just before a court date," McGuire said.

The school board and the board members, including McGuire and WCS finance manager Rande Thorpe, were named in a lawsuit filed by the Concerned Citizens for Quality Education Inc., asking for an injunction to prevent the board from closing the three schools. The board in turn filed a request to dismiss the lawsuit. A mediation session is set for April 15, and a hearing on the dismissal of the case is scheduled for 2 p.m. April 16 in Kosciusko Circuit Court.

At the school board's Monday meeting, the board voted to give McGuire the authority to mediate and settle the lawsuit on their behalf. [[In-content Ad]]