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For more than eight decades teachers at Bass Lake Elementary have hugged students good-by on the last day of school, but this time the school is closing its doors for good.
District officials say it's because of declining enrollment and increased operational costs -- and they have spent $1.3 million over the past ten years on a growing deficit.
Assistant principal Lisa Kernaghan says with 44 students the state is no longer funding small schools.
Students have been having lunch in this building and performing in the auditorium for the past 60 years. Today we caught up with three educators who taught at Bass Lake Elementary for 20 of them.
Long time teachers and families say children thrived in the close knit, family oriented environment.
For students the upcoming school year is full of uncertainties. Some best friends may be going to different schools this fall.
As the bus pulls away from the school one last time -- many will miss the community cornerstone they say was more like an extended family.
