DECATUR — On Monday night the Decatur School District closed a chapter in its history, only to take another big step toward the future on Tuesday.

For the past two years, the district has held town hall meetings in place of school board meetings to keep the public informed while the schools were in fiscaldistress and under state control.

But Monday’s meeting was the last town hall meeting in Decatur. Voters cast their ballots on Tuesday and, starting next month, control of the district will be handed to fivenewly elected school board members.

At Monday’s meeting, superintendent Larry Ben said he is looking forward to working with a local school board and is ready to have their help in finding out what the community wants.

“Because the school belongs to the community,” he said.

Most of the meeting attendees were future school board members. Ben presented the latest enrollment numbers and shared his philosophy that providing a good education is at the core of the district’s success in every area, including financial success.

Ben said it is his goal to improve education and student achievement, which will in turn restore parents’ confidence in the school district, resulting in increased enrollment. As enrollment numbers increase, so will funding, bringing greater financial stability to the district, he explained.

Ben said he is working closely with the principals to accomplish those goals.

“I tell my principals, the most important thing that happens in the district is what goes on behind the classroom doors,” said Ben.

Enrollment numbers show a steady increase since school began on Aug. 19, according to a chart Ben presented at the meeting.

Numbers bottomed out with a low of 479 on Aug. 2 but leveled out over the past few weeks to between 497 and 496.

“If we grow any more, we will have to add a bus route and, depending on where the growth is, maybe an aide or teacher,” Ben said.

“I’d sure rather have those problems,” said community member Charles Linam.

“Yeah, those are good problems,” agreed future school board member Darleen Holly.

News, Pages 1 on 09/22/2010