The Harlem School District 122 announced it will close two elementary schools, Olson Park and Maple Elementary schools. This closure will be put into place in the school year 2026-2027 due to declining enrollment and projected budget deficits overall throughout the district. School Board members say the decision comes from years of enrollment decline and financial analysis seen in the schools informational document about the elementary consolidation plan found on the district’s website.
There have been meetings and public hearings that took place surrounding this topic in November and December of 2025, along with the last meetings in January 2026, that ultimately led to the final decision to close the schools. Though the community’s ideas and thoughts were shared with the district and board, it was decided by the School Board and district administration that closing the two elementary schools was the best option for the future of the district.
School Board President Michael Sterling explained that the issue largely comes down to funding and enrollment numbers. “The majority of schools are funded by taxpayers,” Sterling said, noting that a large portion of school funding comes from local property taxes, with additional support from state and federal sources.
Also stated by Sterling is that when student enrollment decreases funding also declines. “As the number decreases, the amount that the taxpayers are actually paying goes up. So there’s an inverse of we have lower students, it actually lowers our funding,” said Sterling.
With the school district monitoring enrollment trends every year, in more recent years it is declining. Sterling says. “It was first brought up in 2019. We were gonna close schools. Shortly after that we were hoping and praying for a while to have more families move in, and not have to do it, cause no one wants to close it.”
However recent budget projections showed deficits in the next two years. “…now that we have more money coming out then more money coming in. You really have to, like say, like you can’t wait for families to come in,” Sterling restating that there’s more money being used then being brought back into the schools.
Another factor in the decision was location and facility needs. Sterling explained that Maples proximity to other elementary schools made it easier to redistribute students. “Maple because of things that it might need and its proximity to Marquette, Machesney, and Windsor as it’s literally in the middle of all three, where it’s easier for families to be dispersed in other schools. So they’re not too far.”
Board members also say the closure could allow resources to be used more effectively. “We had some classes in some schools that had 12 to 15 students in it with a teacher. And then some were close to 30,” Sterling said showing the uneven distribution of students in classrooms.
Sterling also added to his statement that, “Now that we close those two schools and actually bring up the enrollments in the other schools. We’ll have more resources to go back to, more resources for the kids.” Saying that while it is a hard decision, schools closing is common with a decrease of students as Sterling says it is a part of the district’s “natural life cycle”.
Though teachers at these schools have mixed emotions about this change. Julie Miller, an advanced fifth grade teacher at Olson park, acknowledged the sadness many families and herself feel saying, “As much as I don’t want to see it end, these two communities that people love so much, I understand that it’s just math. You know the numbers.”
However it could strengthen the remaining schools, As Miller says, “I’m hoping that what good that will come of it is that it strengthens the schools in the community…so maybe they’ll have stronger communities out of it too.”
Miller encourages families to focus on the good.
“It’s really important to go in with a positive attitude and look for the good in all of our situations,” Miller said, as going into a school with a bad look could create issues later on.
Still, some staff are worried about the social impact it may have on the kids. Milee Law (12) student intern at Maple Elementary school said, “…most of them have to switch to different schools that they won’t even know many people at, because they’re getting separated. So they’re definitely having trouble with that.”
Law also added that since COVID-19, many students have become more reserved. “…changing schools they’re going to be scared to interact with others because they don’t know them as well. So it might make them be more shy or more scared to, even just to talk to other people.”
As the school year continues, the district members say they plan to support students and families through this transition. While the closure of Olson Park and Maple elementary may be difficult, the district hopes the changes will create a stronger and more financially stable future for the Harlem School District Community.
