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MUNISING -- Its days are now numbered.  After being erected in the early 1960s, serving kindergarten through sixth grade, Central Elementary School in Munising is closing.

It's bittersweet for Mike McCollum.  After nine years, McCollum, for the first time, won't be able to call himself a Central Elementary School teacher.  Instead, he'll be teaching at William G. Mather in the fall.

"Everybody is resistant to change," said McCollum, "but I think that by going into that new building, we'll make the best of it."

Due to declining enrollment and lack of funding, Central Elementary will no longer be a part of the Munising School District.  It's big loss, but it's something that had to be done.

"Next year, we'll be a school district with under 700 students K through 12.  We no longer have a need for three buildings, so we'll be going down to two," said principal Deejay Paquette.

The move will save the district nearly $100,000, and officials are hopeful the change will be a positive one for all involved.

"I like this school a lot, but I do like Mather, too," commented fourth grader Bailey Downs.

Even students who have only attended Central, surprisingly, don't seem to mind finishing their elementary years in a new building.

"It's going to be an adventure alright," said fourth grader Corey Cotey.

That could be because Mather is right next door or that it offers some new opportunities.

Central Elementary is only about 40,000 square feet, whereas Mather is double that size and includes a full-size gym and an auditorium--two things that the other building was lacking.

Officials say Central will be put up for sale or lease after the move is complete.  As for faculty and students, their memories at Central won't be too far behind.