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Rockingham County leaders propose merging two Reidsville elementary schools; parent meeting set for March 16
Summary
District leaders told the Rockingham County Board of Education they plan to merge South End and Mall Street into a single Reidsville elementary to speed construction of a new school, citing an estimated $650,000–$750,000 in savings and a projected new‑school cost of about $44 million. A parent meeting is scheduled for March 16; a board work session on March 23 could include a public hearing and vote under state law.
District administrators on March 9 asked the Rockingham County Board of Education to consider merging Mall Street and South End into one new Reidsville elementary school and accelerated the public engagement timeline to move the project forward.
Dr. Perkins, presenting the proposal, said consolidating the two campuses would allow the district to demolish the existing South End site and build the new school without students on campus, which would speed construction and reduce disruptions. "Were projecting anywhere between $650,000 and $750,000 by merging and closing an elementary school," Dr. Perkins said. The presentation also cited a roughly $44 million price tag for the new facility.
The district outlined a temporary plan for students and staff while construction proceeds: Mall Street would house Pre‑K, Head Start through second grade, and grades three through five would use the Booker T. Washington Learning Center; the district said it would continue to use the South End school code but rename the facility Reidsville Elementary for the transition. Leadership described options for relocating day treatment, SCORE and other programs to New Vision and for using Booker T. and other district spaces as swing sites.
Administrators emphasized the timeline was driven by human resources and funding allotments. The presentation cited General Statute 115C‑72, which requires a public hearing before closing a school, and recommended a parent meeting on Monday, March 16 at Reidsville High School and a board work session on March 23 to consider holding the formal public hearing and a potential vote. "If we waited until Aprilwe risk putting Human Resources really late in making final allotments to schools," the presenter said.
Board members pressed for detail on operational logistics. Topics raised included: whether school resource officers (SROs) would serve both campuses during the transition; how cafeteria service and playground access would be handled if students were relocated; the status of the Spark Lab equipment (district staff said equipment is being moved to Reidsville High and an available Spark Lab room would be at Booker T.); and the plan for staff transfers and interviews. The district said staff could apply for vacancies through July 1 and that HR and principals would handle assignments; a Q&A document for staff and a public Q&A version for parents will be posted online.
Several board members urged clear, frequent communication with families. One board member called the consolidation plan "temporary" and said the district should emphasize that the moves are to enable the new facility and avoid permanent displacement. Staff said they would form transition teams, led by Principal Goodson and assistants, to advise on assignments, mascots and school culture for the merged site.
Next steps: the district will hold the parent meeting March 16 at 6 p.m. at Reidsville High School and bring the consolidation plan back to the March 23 work session, where the board may schedule the state‑required public hearing and a vote.
