West Iron County Middle School Closing

A middle school in Iron County is the latest U.P. educational victim of budget pressure.

West Iron County Middle School in Iron River is closing at the end of the school year.

Last night, the school board voted unanimously to shut the doors.

They say it was because of rising costs and enrollment continuing to fall.

The move should save the school district $400,000 a year.

Starting this fall, 5th- and 6th-graders will go to Bates Elementary School instead.

7th and 8th grade classes are being moved to West Iron County High School.

There’s no word yet on what might happen to the building after it closes.

But one of the options the school board has talked about is renting it out as office space.