ST. GEORGE -- Phelps Elementary School in Hildale, its enrollment reduced by a polygamist sect's withdrawal from public schools, may have to close, Washington County School District officials say.
Phelps suffered a devastating blow when Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints leader Warren Jeffs asked followers to withdraw their children from public schools last August.
Enrollment plunged from 240 in the 1999-2000 school year to 74 at the start of the 2000-2001 year.
Rex Wilkey, assistant superintendent of elementary education, met with Phelps parents last week.
"They asked us not to close down," said Wilkey. "We explained the financial reality."
District business administrator Bill Sampson said the school needs at least 200 students to balance the budget,
However, one way the school could be kept open would involve an exchange with Hildale's twin polygamist community of Colorado City, Ariz.
Colorado City School District officials would have to agree to pay tuition for students from Arizona to attend Phelps Elementary.