Future of Fiegel Elementary School May be Discussed Tonight

Parents trickled into the auditorium at Discovery Middle School early Tuesday night prepared to hear the main issue on the ' board agenda -- further discussion on a from the district's $162 million budget.

Deanna Willis of Canton arrived around 5:30 p.m. because, she said, "I didn't want to end up sitting on on the floor." That's what happened to about a dozen people who attended last week's standing-room-only meeting at the district's office board room. "Maybe it was overkill," Willis said, shrugging. The room is set to accomodate nearly 400 people in the audience, with reserved seats for speakers and board members.

Willis is accompanied by her two sons, Chase, 10, and Brayden, 7. Both boys attend Fiegel Elementary School, which is targeted to close as part of a proposed $18 million cost-cutting measure. The Willis' are there to ask the board to reconsider. Both boys will speak because, Brayden said, "I want to save my school."

John Jackson, the school board president, arrived just before 6 p.m. and another board member, Adrienne Davis, arrived at 6:16 p.m. Because the board is expected to meet in  closed session at 8 p.m., officials are currently discussing how to handle the public comment portion of the open meeting. Last week's special board meeting lasted more than three hours, with a crowd of more than 100 in the audience.