Perry-Lecompton school administrators have drafted a proposal to reorganize the district’s elementary schools as a cost-cutting measure.

Superintendent Denis Yoder said the district is dealing with budget woes, including enrollment that has declined 152 students since 1997-98 and increasing health insurance costs for personnel.

The realignment would move the Grantville Early Childhood program from the former Grantville Elementary School to Perry Elementary School.

The Perry school would serve all of the district’s pre-kindergarten through first-grade students. Across the Kansas River to the south, Lecompton Elementary School would take the district’s second- through fourth-grade classes.

Currently, the Perry and Lecompton elementary schools both have kindergarten through fourth-grade classes.

“We’re trying to stay ahead and prepare for what we anticipate as best we can anticipate what will happen,” Yoder said.

He will make a presentation about the proposal to the public and answer questions during a meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Perry-Lecompton High School in Perry.

The school board would have to approve the plan for the 2009-10 school year. Board members are expected to take up the proposal in January.

Yoder said the plan would save the district $23,903 a year on maintenance and operation of the Grantville building and program. Keystone Learning Services currently uses several rooms there for Parents as Teachers, and the district would consider leasing space to other educational programs, the superintendent said.

According to the administrative proposal, estimates for the realignment would call for a $3,560 increase to bus students, but it is expected to save $115,000 in personnel costs.

The plan is only one area that administrators are looking at to save costs, Yoder said.