October 22, 2009

7pm Update:
The Albemarle County School Board voted unanimously Thursday night to approve the Superintendent's recommendation to renovate Yancy, Scottsville, and Red Hill Elementary Schools. That means the schools will not be replaced by one larger building.
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The future of three Albemarle County Elementary schools comes down to a decision by the School Board Thursday.

County leaders considered closing three schools, and building one school. It's an idea that sparked months of debate.

It all comes down to the School Board's decision Thursday, and the School Board Chair, Brian Wheeler, tells us he expects the Board to follow the lead of the Superintendent, which is to keep Scottsville, Yancey, and Red Hill Elementary Schools open.

An efficiency study recommends consolidating the schools in the Southern Feeder Pattern in Albemarle County, which includes the three elementary schools.

After months of debates, tours of the schools, and pleas, it looks like the School Board will follow the lead of the Superintendent, Dr. Pamela Moran.

"I think a majority of the board has said publicly that they support at this point the superintendent's recommendation, so I expect the board to keep all three schools open," says Brian Wheeler, the School Board Chair.

Wheeler says community feedback was an important factor in Moran's recommendation, but it's not the only reason for this choice.

"We also had some serious issues at the site of Walton Middle School where we had contemplated building a new elementary school. There were going to be some challenges with the septic system at that site so that played into this. It was not an easy decision from Dr. Moran," says Wheeler.

Wheeler tells the Newsplex once the School Board makes the official commitment to keeping the schools open, they'll start having discussions on how to pay for it all.

The current plan is to start renovations on the three schools in 2012.
Wheeler says another big recommendation coming out of Thursday's meeting is to continue the renovation and additions happening at Greer Elementary.

The decision will be made at 6:30 pm Thursday (10/22).