Hundreds of residents urge Marion County School Board to preserve historic Fessenden (Pheasant) and Anthony Elementary schools

At the Marion County School Board meeting on Jan. 28, 2025, more than two dozen residents, alumni and civic leaders pressed the board to preserve Pheasant (commonly referred to in testimony as Fessenden) Elementary School and Anthony Elementary School rather than close or repurpose them as the district considers operating changes tied to new construction and budget balancing.

Speakers said the schools are living landmarks and community anchors. "Pheasant Elementary is a cornerstone of our community and a beacon of education since 1868," said Abigail Rose McCoy, vice president of the Marion County NAACP Youth Council and great-great-granddaughter of Thomas B. Ward. "Closing this institution would erase a vital chapter of our heritage and disrupt students' education."

The meeting drew multiple speakers with long family ties to the schools. "Pheasant has been an institution of learning since 1868," said Louvetta (Loretta) Jenkins, a former principal at the school who noted the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Former school board member Bobby James and Reverend Dr. Joe McFadden Sr., president of the Pheasant School Alumni Association, called for full disclosure of the financial spreadsheets and alternatives considered before any closure decision.

Other speakers emphasized community impact beyond heritage. Laurie Rangel, a music teacher at Anthony Elementary, said many families walk to the school and lack transportation; moving students to…