Board approves several consolidation steps, begins statutory processes for school closures and calendar changes

The Cumberland County Board of Education on Feb. (date not specified) approved a series of motions to consolidate programs, begin statutory processes toward possible school closures, and transition some year‑round elementary calendars to traditional schedules.

Board members voted 5‑4 to relocate Ramsey Street High School’s program into available space at Douglas Byrd High School after staff presented capacity and facility reuse plans and noted significant deferred‑maintenance needs at several older campuses. The board member who announced the outcome said, “That is a split vote. 5 4, so it passes.” Opponents recorded on the transcript were Miss Jones, Miss Joyce Gray, Dr. Hills and Dr. Jordan.

The board also voted to "activate the statutory process" to consider a final decision on a possible closure of Manchester Elementary School; the motion carried 6‑3, with Miss Jones, Miss Musgrave and Dr. Hills opposed. Board members discussed proximity of alternative seats for Manchester students and cited potential annual savings and building capacity when weighing the move.

A separate motion to relocate the Alta B. Wilkins program into space at Douglas Byrd High School likewise passed 5‑4 after prolonged questioning about how Wilkins’ intensive program and supports (food pantry, community‑school services) would be reproduced on the Douglas Byrd campus. Staff said a maximum of about 200 Wilkins students would be housed in a dedicated wing and that plans would seek to maintain existing supports.

Members also approved motions to begin statutory steps for possible consolidation or closure at Reed Ross Classical Middle and High School and to transition several year‑round elementary schools to traditional calendars; those calendar and closure motions were repeatedly framed by board members as difficult tradeoffs between preserving parental choice and reducing deferred‑maintenance and operating costs. The transcript includes staff deferred‑maintenance estimates cited during debate (examples: approximately $6.7 million and $4.1 million on specific schools; a combined figure for certain repairs of roughly $11 million), and a districtwide needs figure discussed in the meeting transcript (cited as approximately $809 million). Staff emphasized that deferred‑maintenance savings would free funds for other schools if those buildings are closed or repurposed.

Not all items were unanimous. Multiple board members pressed for more time, additional data and clearer plans for preserving programmatic supports and student separation where needed. Several said they opposed eliminating year‑round options without a longer transition.

Separately, the board unanimously approved an administrative recommendation to allow open compensated high‑school enrollment for students residing on Fort Bragg beginning in the 2026‑27 school year; staff said transportation routes and services for those families would remain unchanged.

Next procedural steps cited by staff include returning with more detailed proposals and implementation plans for each relocation or closure as the statutory process advances. The board set future dates to continue consideration; no final school closures or building sales were recorded as completed during the meeting.