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Parents, students rally over closures in Rowan-Salisbury school system

ROWAN COUNTY, N.C. — A proposal to close a half-dozen elementary schools in Rowan County appears to be galvanizing parents opposed to the plan.

More than 100 community members attended a rally Thursday at the County Fairgrounds, many of whom learned of the event through Facebook group, Save Our Schools.

Last week, an outside consultant hired by the school board recommended shutting down six county elementary schools, in a move to consolidate and save money.

Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education Chairman Josh Wagner said county schools have as many as 2,000 open seats, 75 percent at the elementary level.

“One of the main issues is you have too many schools and not enough students to fill the schools,” he said. “That's what started the discussion.”

One by one, residents and parents alike voiced frustration and fear over the move.

“You cannot shut us down,” one child said.

School officials said budget constraints are forcing them to reorganize the school system.

“We certainly don't want people to think that our intention is to obviously be a detriment to students,” said Wagner. “All we're saying is we've got to start this conversation because when you look at the number of facilities, when you look at the money that we have, we just can’t stretch the money far enough to adequately manage and support these facilities.”

Parent Susan Lowman, whose daughter attends middle school in the county, worried consolidation at the elementary level could spark a trend affecting all schools.

“If they're starting to shut down these schools now, what's going to happen in the future,” she said.

“I don't want to see the school go,” said Rhonda Mabry. Her son attends Faith Elementary, one of the schools included in the proposal.

“The small communities need the schools for the communities,” she said.

The schools being considered to close are:

  • Woodleaf Elementary School
  • Cleveland Elementary School
  • Mt. Ulla Elementary School
  • Enochville Elementary School
  • Faith Elementary School
  • Morgan Elementary School

Rowan-Salisbury County School Board officials are expected to review the proposal April 25, and will host a town hall April 28 to address existing plans to consolidate Woodleaf and Cleveland Elementary Schools.

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