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Parents and teachers urge board to keep Dutch Fork Elementary open and deliver promised new building
Summary
More than a dozen community members, teachers and students urged trustees to proceed with the Dutch Fork Elementary School replacement approved in the 2024 bond referendum, warning that closure or reassigning students would harm a Title I, majority-minority school and disrupt critical programs.
Dozens of parents, teachers and students spoke at the May 4 Lexington County School District 5 board meeting to ask trustees to proceed with a new Dutch Fork Elementary School and to reject proposals to close or reassign the school.
Multiple speakers recounted personal experiences of the school's special programs, small class sizes and wraparound supports. Jennifer Martinson, who identified herself as a Lexington County resident and Dutch Fork parent, told the board her son received early identification and support that helped him succeed. "Closing Dutch Fork and moving all those students to Oak Point and River Springs will have detrimental effect on everyone," she said.
Educators highlighted academic gains and community-building at Dutch Fork. Teacher Glenna Shealey cited improvements in math and reading MAP growth and a drop in chronic absenteeism after targeted interventions, and asked the board not to reverse previously approved plans without seeing the school in action. "We have built a community and identity that says we belong here," Shealey said.
Several speakers noted the school's historical significance and magnet programs. One speaker described Dutch Fork as a Rosenwald school founded to provide educational access for Black children and said it is now a Title I, majority-minority school with environmental science programming.
Why it matters: speakers warned that displacing Dutch Fork students would increase class sizes across other schools, strain intervention and special education services and remove a unique community resource. Trustees heard repeated appeals to honor the bond referendum voters approved in 2024 and deliver the promised replacement building.
Board response and next steps: administrators said the Dutch Fork project is part of the board-approved long-range plan and that work to finalize bids and procurement is ongoing. Trustees did not take an immediate vote on the school's status at the meeting; public comments were followed by action items on capital projects, bonds and the budget. Members of the public were directed to board policy pathways for complaints about instructional materials.
Speakers quoted here were members of the Dutch Fork community during the public participation portion of the May 4 meeting.
