Parents worried about Bladen Schools consolidation proposal

BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — Parents are speaking out about proposed school closings in Bladen County. There are about 5,000 students in the district, but the amount of schools could be decreasing soon with a proposed consolidation plan.

For Amy Underhill, it’s a building full of memories.

“It’s like a landmark to me,” Underhill said. “It’s now Clarkton School of Discovery, but it was Clarkton High School when I went.”

As students walk through that landmark school to some, their time could be cut short.

“I’m praying that it doesn’t happen,” parent Shirley McKoy said.

Bladen County Schools Spokeswoman Valerie Newton said Superintentent Dr. Robert Taylor is expected to recommend closing that school, along with two primary schools at the Board of Education meeting Monday night.

“Everybody who I’ve heard from so far is against it,” Underhill said.

Against a consolidation plan.

“I’m sure if they look at their budget good and rearrange something and get the funding where it Needs to be and stop spending money on unnecessary things,” Underhill said.

Some parents even suggest a four-day school week. McKoy thinks the moves would cause more dropouts in the future.

“Children are going to get less attention then what they get now,” McKoy said.

Parents want answers and a say in the decision. The schools spokeswoman said the board, however, has the final say. If a decision to consolidate schools is made, it wouldn’t take place until the next school year at the earliest.

“When what to know what is happening and when it’s happening,” Underhill said. “I mean we need to get the children prepared you got to tell them, ‘Hey you are going to have to ride the bus even longer,’ ‘Hey you’re going to have to a different schools.’ A lot of children can’t handle change. I mean it’s hard for some children and to me it’s not fair.”

The Board of Education meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday at the central office on U.S. 701 across from Elizabethtown Middle School.