Warren County residents have been put on notice as of this week. Drastic changes are being looked at for all the schools, not just Sheffield.

While that is disconcerting for many, there is no question that something needs to be done. Sheffield High School has been allowed to remain open at a high cost for last year and this year. But it looks as though that location may be coming to an end.

On Monday, district administration presented projected savings that would result from a few different closure options — moving grades 9-12 at Sheffield to Warren, moving 9-12 at Youngsville to Eisenhower, moving 9-12 at Eisenhower to Youngsville and then a hybrid that would send part of the student population at Eisenhower to Youngsville and part to Warren.

Superintendent Gary Weber said there are currently 157 students enrolled at Sheffield in grades 9-12 and that just “41 percent of those students in the eastern attendance area are going back to Sheffield in the afternoon.”

Those numbers will not be growing in the future. As noted in the Times Observer in recent months, the Warren Worx effort is aimed at population, which continues to diminish.

It is not just here, but across the spectrum for rural communities. While it seems as though this is unfair, it is a harsh reality.

School district officials are dealing with a large deficit. Changes have to be made.

Holding with the status quo is irresponsible — and reckless. That being said, community input is so important in this process moving forward.