CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. — A school board took a vote on whether or not to make a change or to keep the status quo.
Catawba County Commissioners wanted to merge Newton-Conover Schools with the county’s district to save money.
Channel 9’s Dave Faherty spoke with Newton parents who want to stay separated. They said they believe a smaller district works better in their area.
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One of those parents, Bernard Coulter, said he grew up in the area and doesn’t want to see the districts combined. He also has a son who plays football at Newton-Conover High School.
“As an alumnus of the school, I’m opposed to it. It’s a long-term tradition. Newton-Conover Schools mean a lot to me. “I’m waiting to hear more about what’s actually going to transpire,” said Coulter.
However, distinct leaders like Mark Pennell said the county conducted a study on the merger, and by combining the two school districts, Catawba County could save between $40 million and $60 million.
Newton-Conover Schools has also seen a 12% drop in enrollment since 2019. But the district said they expect to recoup that over the next five years because of new development.
“Bigger is not always better. Newton-Conover Schools have been around for one hundred years. I would hate to see that heritage go by the wayside,“ said Pennell.
Faherty also spoke with some parents who were open to the idea of a merger. Employees with the district also weighed in.
“Newton-Conover Schools has a very diverse population. They don’t have a school in this district that has below a C letter grade. So what we’re doing works,” White expressed.
Monday night, Newton-Conover Schools announced that the resolution opposing the merger passed unanimously.
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