Rockingham facilities committee offers five options for Reidsville elementary schools; staff to price top choices

During the March 31 work session the Rockingham County Schools facilities committee presented five options for Reidsville-area elementary schools and recommended applying for a needs-based grant from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Ms. Young, speaking for the facilities committee, outlined five options: (1) apply for the NCDPI needs-based grant (staff described a $42,000,000 grant amount) to build a new state-of-the-art school and repurpose Booker T. Washington Learning Center in cooperation with the City of Reidsville; (2) leave South End and Moss Street open and close Lawsonville Avenue with other relocations; (3) close South End and expand three nearby elementary schools (Moss Street, Monroeton and Williamsburg) and perform redistricting; (4) close South End and Lawsonville Avenue and renovate Moss Street and Booker T. Washington Learning Center; and (5) close South End and redistrict students without major construction.

The committee discussed advantages and disadvantages for each option, including operating-cost savings, historical preservation concerns, transportation implications, impacts on community schools, and renovation costs such as an estimated approximately $4,000,000 HVAC upgrade at Booker T. Washington Learning Center mentioned by facilities staff. Committee members noted the grant would require a 5% local match ($2,100,000 on a $42,000,000 project) and that the district may apply for two separate needs-based grants if county commissioners support both applications.

Board members and staff asked for more precise cost and transportation analyses. Several trustees said they were concerned about leaving a vacant building in a neighborhood and emphasized preserving community schools where possible. The facilities committee reported that initial conversations with the City of Reidsville had been "very productive" but no commitments existed.

After discussion the board indicated consensus to remove options 2 and 5 from further study and directed staff and the facilities committee to prepare detailed financial and transportation analyses for the facilities committee's preferred option (option 1, applying for the NCDPI needs-based grant) and option 3 (close South End and expand Moss Street, Monroeton and Williamsburg) and present refined information at the board's April 28 meeting. Staff said they would also present western-side district options in the same format and that grant applications require county commissioner support.

The committee noted prior studies (Cropper report) and demographic projections showing declining birth rates but said those forecasts could change with future development. Staff also discussed short-term temporary solutions, including the existing trailers at South End and potential relocation or surplus disposition.