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There will only be about 100 students at Jackson Elementary in the upcoming year school officials said now that it will be just kindergarten through second grade students in Jackson Township.

The Central Cambria school board voting on and passing a plan that will have students third through fifth grades, that previously went to Jackson Elementary going to Cambria Elementary to begin the upcoming school year.

That will add about 100 students to Cambria Elementary, taking its total to about 540 students according to school officials.

Jackson Township manager Diane Cooper raises concerns of the building not having enough space.

Central Cambria superintendent Jason Moore said Cambria Elementary used to have more students than what it will have coming up and school officials are figuring out a plan to make the infusion of students work.

Moore said enrollment in the district is going down. The PA Department of Education projects that Central Cambria will drop about 150 students in elementary school over the next five years.

There are also concerns from Jackson Township residents raised about students having longer, more difficult, days because of the longer bus rides following the reconfiguration.

“It will be a hardship for our parents and children and that's what we're most concerned about,” Cooper said.

Moore said he is hoping for a smooth transition.

“We're definitely cognizant of the emotion and the concern of the parents, especially ones from Jackson Elementary have, Moore said. “We're going to do everything we can to make the students comfortable”

When possibly consolidating the schools was being considered Moore mentioned money saving costs of operating a building as one advantage.

With Jackson Elementary still being operated that won't be the case, but Moore said they are losing teachers that are retiring or leaving the district and with the reconfiguration they will not have to fill those open spots which will save the district money. Moore adds that no staff will be losing their jobs because of this decision.

He also said with space freed up in Jackson Elementary the district could be looking to put a pre-school in the building.

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