FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. – “One of the questions that they asked was, ‘Are we gonna have to make new friends? Are our old friends going to move with us?’” Burnt Chimney parent Haley Robertson said.
A heartbreaking question for mom Haley Robertson.
Her two daughters are in kindergarten and second grade at Burnt Chimney Elementary, but not for much longer.
“We felt this was rushed,” Robertson said.
Wednesday night, the Franklin County School Board voted to close Henry and Burnt Chimney Elementary Schools — against the wishes of many frustrated parents, like Robertson.
“It’s a community hub. It’s not just a school,” Robertson said.
During a public hearing on Saturday, the board heard from parents about the potential consolidation of the schools.
They explained the county is in a budget deficit of $3.7 million — explaining these two schools were the most effective choices.
“Henry and Burnt Chimney while that would be a difficult decision and certainly not an easy process, we felt like we could put a plan together for 24-25 if that were the route we had to go,” one school board member said.
But at that forum, Virginia Senator Bill Stanley spoke and asked the board to hold off until the state budget is finalized.
“It would be our preference for you to slow this down a little bit before we know what the state money is going to be, because these schools are a part of our community,” Stanley said.
Robertson was disappointed the School Board chose to move ahead.
“Not just disregard us, but also feel like they did not stand firm on their opinions,” Robertson said.
The nearly 400 students will be dispersed across other schools in the county based on location.
The School Board said class sizes and bus routes won’t be drastically impacted, but Robertson still worries.
“For young children, that can be very challenging for them,” she said.
There’s no word yet on if more action needs to take place to close the budget deficit.
