Both Coalton Elementary and Midland Elementary will remain open after votes from the BOE swung in both schools’ favor. The Board voted 3-2 against the closing of Midland and 4-1 against the closing of Coalton. 

BOE President Rachel Burns and fellow members Ed Daniels and Sherri Collett voted against closing Midland. Dr. Phil Chua and Janie Newlon voted for Dilly’s recommendation. Chua was the lone BOE member who voted for the closure and consolidation of Coalton.

The crowd in attendance at the Elkins High School Theatre erupted in applause after the votes, which were taken just after 9 p.m. 

The BOE voted Oct. 8 to close Harman K-12 School and North Elementary School. Beginning next year, students from those schools will be sent to Jennings Randolph Elementary School, Elkins Middle School and Elkins High School. 

Superintendent Dr. Shawn Dilly, right, speaks to attorney Jason Long and Brad Smith, left, Treasurer.

On Oct. 14, a public hearing and vote on the closure of Pickens K-12 School was canceled approximately 90 minutes before it was slated to take place. The Superintendent  announced on social media that the hearing had been canceled following “new information related to funding, as well as ongoing community effort that may support keeping Pickens open for an additional year.” 

Students from Coalton Elementary and Midland Elementary would have been transferred to Third Ward Elementary and Beverly Elementary. 

After each group of speakers regarding Coalton and Midland spoke Tuesday night, Dilly answered questions from both citizens and the BOE. 

Newlon asked Dilly, “My concern is how are we going to handle the flow of traffic in Beverly?” 

Dilly replied, “It’s a challenge. But to be honest, it’s a challenge at every school right now and it will continue.”

A truck from the Coalton Volunteer Fire Department led a ‘Coalton caravan’ of more than 50 vehicles into the Elkins High School parking lot Tuesday evening for a public hearing and vote on closing Coalton and Midland elementary schools.

The Superintendent’s answer drew a loud negative response and criticism from the audience. Burns said, “I need the audience to be respectful please.”

Dilly continued, “We have a large number of parents who drop off and every school has done an excellent job of organizing a pattern that is in the best flow that they can in the situations from Midland to Beverly and everyone else.”

After close to 30 citizens spoke on behalf of Coalton, Dilly addressed those who made the trip from Elkins.

“I want to commend the Coalton community as they have done a great deal of work to prepare for this evening,” Dilly said. “I appreciate the thoughtfulness and consideration that you guys brought this evening.”

Collett then asked Dilly several questions, one of which had to do with Third Ward’s capacity if Coalton students were to be moved there. 

“The building capacity is at 348 and the utilization is at 95%,” she asked. “The projection enrollment at Third Ward would be 389. The building capacity is 430, which I don’t understand can get bigger if we don’t have any construction. Can you explain those numbers?”

“Dividing some of the spaces as well as reconfiguring the school, it changes the capacity because in some cases, for example, we currently have two special needs classrooms in there supporting multiple regions of the county,” Dilly said. “So, they are being shipped in, so we have been talking about relocating one of those classrooms to George Ward or Beverly…  Also, I think people are forgetting that we are moving the fifth-grade students out of the building. So overall we are only increasing the enrollment between 30 and 40 students within the existing building.”

After a delegation of three spoke on behalf of Third Ward, Dilly fielded more questions. Chua asked the superintendent, “How close to capacity is Beverly going to be after absorbing the students from Midland?” 

Dilly replied, “I’m trying to remember the exact number. I know it gets us very high and I believe it’s up around 90 to 92% is what it will get us to if I recall correctly. I don’t have it here in front of me.”

Collett then found the numbers within some of her paperwork and told Chua it would be at 89%.  

After the fourth and final public delegation session of the evening, during which members of the community were allowed three minutes each to speak, the BOE and Dilly decided to move on to the voting process. 

“Does the Board want to take a few minutes or go right into the vote?” Burns asked. “It’s up to you guys, whatever you would like to do.” 

After the BOE members agreed to proceed, Burns said, “I would like to remind everyone, I know we have a lot of people in here, and there is a lot of nervousness and excitement. If we could try to, until everything is voted on and complete, to try and keep the interruptions to a minimum. Because we do have a couple things to vote on. We want to be clear and respectful and make sure our minutes get recorded well.”

Section 6 of the meeting’s agenda included the votes for the two schools, along with a vote to approve a Waiver Request and an Amendment of the Comprehensive Education Facilities Plan. 

Burns asked Dilly about the two end items and he said neither would have to be voted on if his recommendation wasn’t approved. 

The BOE then voted on the fate of both schools, and cheers rang out after supporters learned that their respective schools would remain open.