GLADBROOK – Members of a citizen-action group want to save a Gladbrook school campus from closure. The group, known as “Citizens to keep a school in Gladbrook,” is hosting a private meeting today to discuss its options. One of those is to dissolve the Gladbrook-Reinbeck Community School District. The move is a response to the local school board’s decision last week to close Gladbrook’s elementary and middle school campus in an effort to cut costs. Board members voted 5-2 in favor of the closure, reasoning the district would save about $400,000 annually. Board members stated closure would alleviate the effects of declining student enrollment and state funding. All students enrolled in the district are to attend school in Reinbeck starting in the 2015-16 school year. Grades K-6 will be held at the Reinbeck Elementary School building, and 7-12 at the Reinbeck High School. The school board also unanimously approved the elimination of two K-4 classroom instructor positions, one 5-8 instructor position and one K-8 art instructor position. An email obtained by the Times-Republican announced “Citizens to keep a school in Gladbrook” is fundraising to cover legal fees incurred to prevent the school’s closure, which may include dissolution of the district. “That will take a huge effort, so we are trying to raise an initial $25,000 to $30,000 to get started,” the email stated. Two $1,000 contributions have been received, and group members are seeking 10-15 more. Former school board member Mike Bearden, who is spearheading the effort, said the board gave district residents no options other than closure of the Gladbrook campus. “I pleaded for a compromise to keep the K-6 in Gladbrook,” he said. “I was willing to give away the middle school to Reinbeck, and they did not accept my compromise.” Dissolving the district is one of the options group members will discuss at today’s meeting, Bearden said. In that case, “the territory would be divided amongst the surrounding districts,” he said. “We could continue to have a school building … in Gladbrook, associated with some school district.” Bearden declined to disclose whether other individuals provided money to support the group’s efforts. Gladbrook-Reinbeck School Board President Joshua Hemann said he was only recently made aware of the group’s meeting. “We will continue to operate and act as if we are one district,” he said. “Until we know anything different than that, we are Gladbrook-Reinbeck Schools. We’re still a great district, and we think the changes we’ve implemented are in the best interests of the children and our district as a whole.” There is also pending litigation pertaining to the school board’s vote to close the Gladbrook campus. Before last week’s school board meeting, Gladbrook resident Charles Bearden filed a petition for injunction in district court to prevent the board from voting on the closure until further order. He also requested a neutral party be created to consider ways to resolve the district’s budget shortfalls. Charles claimed the closure would result in job loss and erode Gladbrook’s economy, property values and tax base. He also said the board did not consider the loss of students who may open enroll in other school districts if the Gladbrook campus is closed. If students are lost, so are the dollars the state provides to the district for their education. Charles said several people from Gladbrook and Reinbeck already filed paperwork to enroll in other districts. Des Moines attorney Kristy Latta submitted a filing Monday on behalf of the district, requesting that the court deny the petition. A hearing is pending. With a certified enrollment of 593 students, the Gladbrook-Reinbeck district stretches through four counties and includes two campuses. Currently, schools in Reinbeck serve grades K-4 and 9-12 for both Gladbrook and Reinbeck youths. The Gladbrook campus serves grades K-2 for Gladbrook children and 5-8 for both communities.