Mankato Free Press

GIBBON — The Gibbon-Fairfax-Winthrop School Board was deadlocked Monday on whether to close a school in Fairfax, setting up further discussions on how to cut costs later this week.

The board was split 3-3 on whether to close the Fairfax intermediate school for fourth- through sixth-graders during a special meeting Monday in Gibbon.

Board members will now meet Friday to discuss next steps.

A school closure was part of the GFW district’s three-year plan submitted to the state to get out of statutory operating debt, said Superintendent Lonnie Seifert. The district estimated closing the Fairfax school would’ve saved $622,248 over the next three years.

“At this point we either need to find a way to close a building or come up with a chunk of money,” Seifert said.

The recommendation which failed Monday would’ve cut four to five support staff jobs. About 155 Fairfax students would’ve gone to schools in either Gibbon or Winthrop beginning in the 2020-2021 school year.

“The fourth- and fifth- graders would be moved to Gibbon into the primary building and the sixth-graders would be moved to Winthrop,” Seifert said.