Bailey, Branch to consolidate into one school Published Feb. 6, 2008 By Senior Airman Julius Delos Reyes 95th Air Base Wing Public Affairs EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- With the dwindling student population of Muroc Joint Unified School District, the district is planning to consolidate Bailey Elementary School and Branch Elementary School starting in June. Branch will expand its curriculum -- from a third to sixth grade school to a kindergarten to sixth grade school -- to accommodate kindergarten to second grade students, while Bailey closes its doors at the end of school year. These changes are a direct result of Muroc district not reaching its targeted enrollment number, said Byron Johnson, Bailey and Branch principal. "We are currently working on the transition," Mr. Johnson said. "We are looking at the projected number of students, mapping out our facilities and making sure we have enough space for Bailey students at Branch." Some programs will remain the same even with this transition, while other will be expanded, Mr. Johnson said. Meanwhile, all Bailey teachers will be automatically moved to Branch. "We have lost a lot of enrollment at Bailey," said Marsha Lawler, Bailey secretary. "When you lose students, you also lose money." In the California public school system, schools receive money for each student, Ms. Lawler said. However, consolidating into one school will also be beneficial for the school, students and the district, Mr. Johnson said. "It would save money for the district -- from operating costs to having one administration for the school," he said. Even with financial strains, Branch will keep the quality of education, he said. "We would still offer the same high quality education that the students and parents have come to expect," Mr. Johnson said.