ELKHART - A group of Elkhart residents wants to know why the Mount Pulaski School Board chose to move all junior high students to Mount Pulaski starting in the 2007-08 school year, leaving their junior high building empty.

Citizens for Education held its second meeting Monday. On March 21, the Mount Pulaski board voted to move Elkhart's sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders to Mount Pulaski because Elkhart Elementary has no fourth graders.

The lack of students means the school would not have a sixth-grade class in 2007-08.

"We're not being vindictive or anything; we just wish we would have been given more time by the school board for growth," said Boo Anderson, a member of the Citizens for Education. "This is a town standing up for their town and their kids."

Mount Pulaski Superintendent Phil Shelton said the answer is low enrollment.

"I really don't have much to comment on this except that our reason was low enrollment, and that's our final decision," said Shelton on Tuesday.

Shelton said the district would continue to support a K-5 Elkhart Elementary School for years to come.

Elkhart Village President Steve Anderson said it is not in the best interest of the village or school to lose the junior high to Mount Pulaski. He said two new subdivisions could have a total of 66 new homes.

Anderson said Citizens for Education will meet again May 1 at the Town Hall.

"We just really want more answers as to why they chose to close our school," said Anderson.

Anderson said a fund has been set up at Illini Bank in Elkhart for anyone wanting to send in donations to help defer any possible costs.

"We're not saying we are going to do a lawsuit; we just may seek a school attorney for legal advice about our options," said Anderson.