Caldwell County board approves transfer closures for four schools, posts parent-organization policy for public comment

The Caldwell County Board of Education on Jan. 13 approved closing four elementary schools to new student transfers for the 2025–26 school year and posted proposed revisions to Policy 5010 on parent organizations for a 30-day public comment period.

Andy Poole, assistant superintendent for the district, presented the recommended transfer closures and said the practice is triggered when buildings approach 90% of their recommended capacity. "These are the schools that we try to close for transfers... We base that based on the school capacity when the school approaches 90% capacity," Poole said, naming Davenport Elementary, Granite Falls Elementary, Lower Creek Elementary and Balmain Elementary as the recommended closures. The board approved the list without discussion.

The changes to Policy 5010 were presented later by Dr. Thomas Howe, assistant superintendent for human resources. Howe described the draft as "a living document" and said the district plans to solicit feedback from principals and the public before finalizing it. Under the proposed revisions, the district would remove a sentence that currently bars school-system employees from serving as…