Financial woes could force Claremont school to close, students would be reassigned

Claremont officials are considering a plan that would have students at the city’s three elementary schools consolidate into two buildings.

A proposal would have Bluff Elementary School close and send 170 students in grades K-5 to Maple Avenue and Disnard schools.

In a message to school staff that was posted to social media on Sunday, Bluff Principal Dale Chenette said the school can no longer meet its legal obligation to provide special education services because of a district-wide hiring and spending freeze, which are a result of the district’s ongoing financial crisis .

“Employment uncertainty and staff resignations” have compounded the problem, Chenette said in the message.

Administrators plan to propose an “emergency restructuring” that would send students to other schools, Chene