BEDFORD (WSLS 10) - School is back in session for most counties here in our area. This year, some Bedford County students transitioned to a new school. The Bedford County School Board closed two schools at the end of last school year. It's been an adjustment for families and the school system.
School leaders sais they added positions to certain schools to address the increase in students from Body Camp and Thaxton Elementary. Vicki Elmore has driven school buses in Bedford County for nearly 30 years.
This year, here route no longer includes students at Thaxton Elementary. Previously, the school board voted to close it and body camp in an effort to save hundreds of thousand of dollars each year.
Close to 300 former Body Camp or Thaxton students started this school year at a new school. Many kids transitioned Huddleston or Montvale. Bristol Gillenwater left Thaxton to go to Montvale. He said he was excited yet nervous about his first day at his *new school
"It was kind of weird because I didn't know what to do," said Bristol Gillenwater.
Families are still adjusti
ng to the change in schools. For instance, Bristol's bus ride to and from school is now longer since his family lives closer to Thaxton than to Montvale. While he's sad to see his old school closed, the fifth grader remains positive.
"The school {Montvale} is bigger than Thaxton, it has a better lunch, it looked like a buffet" said Bristol.
The Bedford County Board of Supervisors now has control of Thaxton and Body Camp. Local leaders said they have not determined how the buildings will be used yet.