School's out forever in Vader

By Joe English and KATU Web Staff Published: Mar 30, 2007 at 12:18 PM PST Last Updated: Mar 30, 2007 at 5:23 PM PST
School's out forever in Vader »Play Video

VADER, Wash. - The only school in the Lewis County town of Vader officially closed Friday.

Earlier this month, the Vader School Board unanimously voted to dissolve the school district, which is made up of a single kindergarten through eighth grade school located north of Castle Rock in southwest Washington. They felt there was no other option after a bond and levy failed last week.

The district needed money to upgrade the school building's plumbing and electrical system. Now it will likely be torn down. 

The district's 85 students will now attend class at the former St. Mary Academy in Toledo for the remainder of the school year.

Officials are still trying to figure out where the kids will go next year. They will likely be divided up into five different school districts.

The district's five teachers will just be out of work.

In the meantime, the kids and teachers had a pizza and pop party Friday. They expressed varying emotions - anger, sadness, frustration and even a little excitement.