Craven County Schools board approves closure of Grama a Barton Elementary School effective June 30

The Craven County Schools Board of Education on Tuesday approved a recommendation to close Grama a Barton Elementary School effective June 30, 2026, authorizing the superintendent to take the steps required by law and district policy to implement the closure.

Superintendent Dr. Cheeseman told the board that staff had assembled the information required under the state’s school-closing procedures — including program structures, staffing and enrollment data — and recommended the board move forward with the closure after that review. "Any superintendent or any board of education truly does not want to close a public school," he said, explaining the recommendation was made only after examining the district’s budget and program needs.

Board members discussed the decision at length. Several members acknowledged the difficulty of closing a community school while describing the move as necessary given districtwide enrollment and budget constraints. One board member said the decision was ‘‘well informed’’ and taken with the long-term interests of students in mind; another stressed the need to consider the broader district of more than 11,000 students and the requirement to be good fiscal stewards.

The board received public input earlier in the meeting from parents and community members who urged delay so that staff and families could participate in the process. John Waddell, a substitute teacher and attendee, urged the board to ensure staff and parents had opportunities to participate and to recognize the assets and commitment present in the affected school community.

After deliberation, the board moved, seconded and voted unanimously to approve the closure and to authorize the superintendent to take all necessary actions to implement it "in accordance with applicable laws, policies, and administrative procedures." The board did not provide further operational detail at the meeting; the superintendent’s office will undertake required notifications, administrative actions and next steps under state rules.

What happens next: The motion authorizes district staff to follow the state’s school‑closing procedures. The board’s action does not itself specify student reassignment or staffing decisions; those operational details and timelines will be developed and published by district administration as required by law and district policy.

Provenance: Coverage based on superintendent recommendation and board discussion recorded in the board work session (topic introduction: SEG 2542; topic finish: SEG 2697).