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Parents and teachers urge board not to close JW Cooney Elementary at public hearing
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Summary
Dozens of parents, teachers and staff told the Cumberland County Schools board they oppose a proposed closure of JW Cooney Elementary, citing smaller class sizes, strong special-education supports and anxiety caused by uncertainty; multiple speakers asked the district for a clear transition plan if closure proceeds.
Board members held a public hearing on a possible closure of JW Cooney Elementary, during which parents, classroom staff and teachers urged the Cumberland County Schools board to keep the school open or to provide a clear plan for students and staff if a closure moves forward.
“Please don’t close the school down,” Amber Craven, who said she is both a parent and a staff member at the school, told the board. She described smaller class sizes and specialized supports that helped her son improve academically and warned larger classes at other schools would risk students getting "lost in the crowd."
Dr. Kimberly Godden, who identified herself as the autism classroom teacher for grades 3–5, said established routines and specialized instruction are critical for many of the school’s students and that uncertainty about next steps had "amplified fear and anxiety for students, staff and families." She urged the board not to proceed without a solid plan for exceptional children and staff transitions.
Educator Shamija Burns said she supports students having access to newer facilities and equitable investments across attendance zones but asked the board to address staff recruitment and retention if JW Cooney remains open another year. "Because teachers seek stability, longevity, and environments where they can invest and grow," Burns said, asking the district to explain how it will recruit high-quality teachers under the current timeline.
Parent Jasmine Davis said the school feels like "a family" and that closing it would uproot students who look forward to attending each day. Several speakers emphasized the school’s role in serving students with special needs and called for any plan to protect continuity of services.
The chair and meeting moderator outlined public-comment procedures at the outset: three-minute limits, decorum expectations, and that the board would not respond during the hearing but would consider submitted remarks before making a decision. The hearing record will be considered along with district analysis before the board takes any formal action on the school’s status.
No final decision on JW Cooney Elementary was announced at the meeting. The board moved on to other agenda items after the public-comment period closed.
