Parents, residents and leaders urge Caswell County board to keep Stony Creek Elementary open
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Summary
Dozens of parents, a county commissioner and religious leaders told the Caswell County Board of Education on March 23 that closing Stony Creek Elementary and changing start times would harm students and the community, citing long bus rides, equity and loss of neighborhood supports. No board action on closure was recorded at the meeting.
Dozens of parents, residents and community leaders urged the Caswell County Board of Education on March 23 to halt plans to close Stony Creek Elementary and to reject proposed school-start time changes, saying the moves would disrupt children and increase travel times for young students.
“All of our kids are known and valued,” said Allison Bowles, a Stony Creek parent and PTO vice president, who told the board she has collected more than 440 signatures opposing a closure. “Closing Stony Creek wouldn’t just mean losing a building. It would mean disrupting a community and taking away a place where children are safe, known, and excited to learn.”
Why it matters: Speakers said Stony Creek’s small size (about 140 students, according to public comments) fosters close relationships that help struggling learners and build community ties. Commenters warned that consolidation would lengthen elementary students’ bus rides—some commenters cited historical minutes suggesting rides could reach two hours one-way—undercutting child well‑being and parents’ ability to work.
Amy Howard, PTO president at Stony Creek, urged the board not to approve proposed start-time changes on the district’s timetable, saying rural commuters and limited before‑school care options would leave working parents “choosing between risking their jobs or ensuring their children are safely supervised.” Howard also read from a March 19, 2026, letter from the interim superintendent noting ongoing discussions about aging infrastructure at Stony Creek.
Religious and civic leaders framed the decision in broader terms. “Let us not sacrifice our children on the altar of convenience,” Reverend Dr. Frankie Jones told the board, calling the matter a moral and social‑justice issue and citing research he said links very long commutes to poorer outcomes for young children.
Finch Holt, a county commissioner who said Stony Creek is in his District 2, told the board he strongly opposes closure and said prior discussions with county officials warned consolidation could be costlier than keeping the school open. “I’m gonna fight this, best I can,” he said.
Affect on planning and process: Several speakers questioned why Stony Creek was not included in recent renovation grants and asked the board to consider alternatives to closure, such as reallocating enrollment to reduce overcrowding elsewhere or targeted repairs. Written comments presented at the meeting urged the board to prioritize upgrades at Stony Creek before proposing closure.
Criticism of administration: Jennifer Sparks, who identified herself as a local resident and later referenced two decades of paramedic experience, criticized the acting superintendent’s conduct during public engagement and said the superintendent had announced a closure decision without adequate public input.
What the board did: The meeting record contains no vote or formal action to close Stony Creek during this session. The board held an extended public comment period and read multiple written statements; the transcript does not show a decision or timetable for any final board action on the school’s status.
Next steps: Board members did not announce a vote on Stony Creek at the meeting. Several speakers urged the board to delay any decision and to pursue community‑informed alternatives and repairs before consolidating schools.
