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Board denies sale of Burkeville (Ingleside) Elementary after widespread public protest
Summary
After more than an hour of public testimony about historic, community and food‑security uses, the Nottoway County Board of Supervisors voted 5–0 to deny the Nottoway County School Boardrequest to sell Burkeville (Ingleside) Elementary and to pursue other options.
The Nottoway County Board of Supervisors voted 5–0 to deny a request from the Nottoway County School Board to sell the former Burkeville Elementary School (also known in public testimony as Ingleside). Citizens, the town mayor and nonprofit volunteers urged the supervisors to keep the building in public hands for community use.
Brookville Mayor Gerald Smith, addressing the board during the public hearing, said the town had infrastructure (water and sewer) tied to the property and urged the county to "take consideration before you go selling that building." Dr. Jackie Green August, who described herself as a preservation advocate, framed the issue as historical justice: "If this property is sold or closed to community use, in that case, we will repeat the same injustice over and over again." Community groups including a food pantry and registrar's office currently use portions of the building.
Board members discussed the legal mechanics of a sale: the school board holds the deed and must seek county permission to sell, but the county retains discretion whether to approve the sale. After hearing citizens emphasize the building's ongoing community services and historical significance, a supervisor moved to deny the request and the board carried the motion unanimously on roll call (O'Rourke Aye; Ingram Aye; Norton Aye; Collins Aye; [fifth member] Aye).
The denial means the school board will not proceed with a sale that would have allowed it to retain proceeds for capital projects; the supervisors said they will coordinate further with the school board and consider options such as surplusing the property to the county, conditionally retaining it for community groups, or performing an independent county feasibility evaluation before any future action.
The public hearing record included two written communications opposing the sale. Board members said the record will help shape follow-up steps: whether to request additional feasibility work, explore grant funding, or consider temporary county support to preserve community uses. The board recessed after the vote for a short break and then continued with other business.
