As school districts across the Buffalo Niagara region continue to wrestle with their respective fiscal outlooks, many are considering shuttering school buildings - some that almost immediately raises a community hue and cry.
The latest example comes from the Kenmore-Tonawanda Union Free School District that is considering closing Holmes Elementary School.
That pending decision has become something of rally cry for parents and Ken-Ton community leaders.
"Unfortunately with fewer children to fill the school buildings, districts are looking at these kind of unpopular decisions," said George Palumbo, Canisius University economic professor.
Ken-Ton has slightly more than 6,400 students spread among nine buildings. Just a few years ago, the district more than 6,800 students.
"It becomes a numbers game," Palumbo said.
The Buffalo School Board is facing the same economic dilemma.
This winter, it proposed closing School No. 3 and School No. 90, but the board backtracked because of a community outcry.
The district has approximately 30,000 enrolled students; a few years ago it had 33,000 enrolled students.
"The Buffalo Public School leadership has been clear: Changing demographics have led to under utilized buildings and the district can not continue operating with the same number of of schools and its current budget deficit," said Jeff Hammond, district spokesman in an email to WBEN.
To keep the schools open, the district laid off 45 central office workers.
No schools were closed this year and none will close next year, Hammond said.
But, going forward, some schools may close, Hammond added
"School closures in future years are part of the district's long-term financial plan," Hammond said.