Preston County Board Hears Pleas to Save Fellowsville Elementary Ahead of Nov. 18 Vote

Residents filled the gym at Fellowsville Elementary on Oct. 29 as the Preston County Board of Education held a statutorily required public hearing on a proposed closure and consolidation of Fellowsville Elementary School.

Superintendent Martin summarized the administration's recommendation to close Fellowsville at the end of the 2024'5 school year and move preK through fourth-grade students to South Preston School. Martin told the board Fellowsville has suffered "a 50.8% decrease in student enrollment over a 10-year span," a net loss he said totals 63 students at Fellowsville and roughly a 16% districtwide drop of about 736 students. He said facility assessments (2019) rated Fellowsville in fair condition and South Preston in excellent condition and reported South Preston's 2024 assessed program capacity at 629 students, which the administration says could absorb Fellowsville's current 59 students and others in the attendance area. The superintendent said the board's estimate of savings from consolidation is about $683,747, primarily from personnel reductions that the presentation said would remove six professional and four-and-a-half service positions.

Community members, parents and school staff mounted repeated appeals to keep Fellowsville open. Craig Schmidt, introduced as a district principal with 25 years of service, said the school is "family and community oriented" and urged the board to preserve the small-class environment. Parent and Preston County Schools employee Candace Burlesson said Fellowsville is "the only safe place some of them have" and implored the board: "Prove to these kids that they matter more than money." Katie Jennings, a parent who reviewed district figures for the audience, noted the administration's projected savings would amount to roughly 1.4% of this year's general fund budget and argued Fellowsville's academic and behavioral indicators compare favorably to county averages.

Several speakers also raised operational and equity questions. Roberta River told the board she had collected state testing and disciplinary data to show Fellowsville's consistency on key measures and asked the district to investigate alleged misappropriation of funds circulating on social media before closing schools. Edward Knox, a longtime resident, linked population shifts to local infrastructure problems (he cited lack of public water in parts of the attendance area) and said administrative transfers, homeschooling and charter enrollment are factors that have reduced public-school rolls.

Superintendent Martin thanked speakers for their testimony, reiterated that no decision would be made that night and reminded the public the board will deliberate and take a vote in open session Nov. 18, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at Preston High School. The hearing closed with a motion to adjourn led by Mr. Hovatter, seconded by Mr. Ziggler; the chair announced the voice vote passed, 5-0, and the meeting ended at 8:36 p.m.

The board record for the next meeting will include the administration's impact statement and the written statements submitted tonight; the board said it will conduct deliberations and vote in open session on Nov. 18.