Illinois Valley

Ohio voters say no to deactivating high school

62% of voters say no to deactivation in Bureau County

About 40 residents, staff and teachers met at Ohio Community High School’s auditorium for a question and answer deactivation hearing.

If unofficial vote totals hold, Ohio High School students will not have to travel to Amboy or La Moille to attend school. (Maribeth Wilson)

By Derek Barichello

If unofficial vote totals hold, Ohio High School students will not have to travel to Amboy or Bureau Valley to attend school.

District voters said no to deactivating the high school. There were 172 no votes to 105 yes votes in Bureau County, however, voters in Lee County favored deactivation by a count of 28-18. In total, the referendum failed by 57 votes.

Currently, Ohio Community High School serves 20 students. If voters had said yes to deactivation, students would have the choice of attending nearby Amboy or Bureau Valley high schools.

BCREducation2025 ElectionLaMoilleAmboyLee CountyBureau County
Derek Barichello

Derek Barichello

Derek Barichello is the news editor for The Times in Ottawa and NewsTribune in La Salle, part of Shaw Local News Network, covering La Salle, Bureau and Putnam counties. He covers local and breaking news in the areas of government, education, business and crime and courts, among others.