Board to seek public input on proposed Reesville elementary merger, staff cite cost savings and $44 million plan

District officials presented a plan to merge two elementary campuses and build a single new school intended to speed construction and consolidate resources.

Dr. Perkins, presenting on behalf of district leadership, told the Rockingham County Board of Education the merger would allow demolition and construction without students on site, give architects a full 15-acre site to design traffic flow and playgrounds, and make it easier to deliver Title I resources. "We're projecting anywhere between $650,000 and $750,000 by merging and closing an elementary school," Dr. Perkins said, and later described the end goal as "that brand new $44,000,000 school." The district indicated the merger is partly a response to a projected roughly $3,000,000 decrease in state funding for next year.

Why it matters: presenters said combining the two schools (Mall Street and South End) could increase the combined school's Title I allotment because a larger enrollment band qualifies for higher per-student funding. The administration said moving students temporarily to nearby sites would reduce disruption and could reduce long-term operating costs.

How it would work: the proposal would use Mall Street to house pre-K through second grade, with grades 3–5 using the Booker T Washington Learning Center during construction. The district said Mall Street would stop using its own school code and the combined campus would continue under South End's code while adopting the proposed name; staff said the board could revisit the facility name later. The presentation included counts of available classrooms (Mall Street: 23; Booker T: 21) and a plan for transition teams and committees, led by principals Goodson and Albertson, to make staffing decisions and reassign displaced employees across the district.

Community process and schedule: presenters cited North Carolina General Statute 115C-72, which requires a public hearing before a school closure. They recommended a parent meeting Monday, March 16, at Reidsville High School (media center) for parents from Moss Street and South End, and asked the board for permission to hold a public hearing and vote at the March 23 work session. Board members expressed support for prompt engagement but noted the timeline is tight for human resources and staff planning.

Concerns and logistics: the administration acknowledged questions about student transfers, SRO coverage, day-treatment relocations, cafeteria and playground accommodations at temporary sites, and licensing for summer programs at New Vision. Presenters said some staff changes (for example, consolidating duplicated positions such as data managers and bookkeepers) would be handled by HR through interviews and reassignment; presenters emphasized the district's stated goal that "nobody loses a job." The presentation also noted the district is exploring relocation options for programs such as Head Start, day treatment and a SparkLab donated to the district.

Next steps: the district said it will post Q&A materials for staff and parents, proceed with a parent meeting March 16, revisit the timetable at the March 23 work session, and—if the board directs—schedule the required public hearing prior to any closure vote.