Residents urge Upshur County board to halt plan to close Rock Cave Elementary

Jan Craig, president of the Upshur County Board of Education, convened a public hearing on the proposed closure of Rock Cave Elementary School and its consolidation into French Creek Elementary School and reiterated that no decision would be made at the hearing and that the board will take a vote in open session on Nov. 20, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.

Superintendent Christine Miller summarized the administration's impact statement and executive summary, saying the district has suffered a systemwide enrollment decline and significant budget pressure. "For the current school year alone, we have seen an additional loss of 183 students, which translates to approximately $1,600,000 in reduced funding," Miller said, and she described consolidation as a measure to preserve programs and supports across the district. Miller noted French Creek was built for 328 students and currently serves 221, while Rock Cave was built for 154 and now serves 71.

Several members of the public who signed up to speak strongly opposed the proposal. Cheyenne Troxell said the hearing process was unfair because the state-appointed superintendent proposed the closure while the State Board of Education will decide the outcome. "This is not a fair hearing. This is a predetermined process disguised as due process," Troxell said, and she urged the board to reject the impact statement, arguing the document contains inaccuracies and lacks the factual analysis necessary for informed decision-making.

Jelora Brown, identifying herself as a lifelong resident and taxpayer, warned of consequences she linked to rural school closures: longer bus rides, overcrowded classrooms, reduced parental involvement and local economic harms. "Our children, our families, and our future deserve nothing less," Brown said, urging officials to restore local control and reconsider the plan.

Abigail Jeffries challenged the legal sufficiency of the impact statement under State Board Rule 6204, arguing a separate hearing should be held for each affected and receiving school and warning that substantive errors in the impact statement could be grounds for a legal challenge that might halt or require parts of the process to be redone. "A significant error in the impact statement could lead to the document requirements being deemed unfulfilled and potentially halt or reverse the closure process through legal action," Jeffries told the board.

When the board invited administration to respond to public comments, no further response was offered at the hearing. The board closed the hearing and, following a motion to adjourn, took a voice vote; President Craig declared the meeting adjourned at 5:54 p.m.

The board will deliberate and vote on the proposed closure and consolidation at the Nov. 20, 2025, meeting in open session.