TAYLOR, Mich. – The Taylor School Board voted Monday to close Kennedy High School just days after they voted to keep it open. The decision shocked students and parents.
The vote Monday night wasn't on the agenda, but it came up anyway, as the board voted to close the school by a 4-3 margin. Now the school will slowly shut down over the next two years.
"It's sad," Lisa McParland said. "It's really sad."
McParland is one of many parents who are upset after the surprise vote.
"Everything's money and budget with Taylor schools, and it should be about the kids," McParland said.
Two weeks ago and last year, the board voted not to shut down the school, but Superintendent Ben Williams said last night "one vote was the swing vote."
The deciding vote came from treasurer David Meyers, who put in the motion on Monday night.
"When I voted, I knew I wasn't 100 percent from the get-go, when I first voted," Meyers said. "I did a lot of thinking about the curriculum and AP classes and the stuff we could offer the students by combining."
He's getting backlash Tuesday for his decision.
"They start bashing me and running me into the ground like I'm some common crook trying to do something when it's not," Meyers said. "It's for the kids."
Williams said closing the school will save the district $2 million, keep it out of debt and help it rebrand.
"We're going to have one larger high school with definitely more opportunities for kids across the spectrum," Williams said.
Parent said the last-minute change is a big mistake.
"I think you need to look at it again, because it's not going to work," McParland said. "Just to save a penny, it's not going to be worth it for the kids."
Meyers acknowledged the vote wasn't on the agenda, but he said a couple of weeks ago, when it was, a handful of people showed up. He encouraged people to come to meetings from here on out.