5-0 vote to close Belle Elementary and consolidate into new school, pending funding

This move is the first in a plan to close four elementary schools and consolidate them into one new school building on the site of the former Dupont Junior High School, according to school officials. This plan is contingent on receiving funding from the School Building Authority to build the new school.

Fletcher was one of the 17 people who signed up to speak against consolidation at a public meeting at Riverside High School on Tuesday. He said personal connections, including being part of the parent teacher association that built the school’s playground in the 1980s, and being part of a line of Fletchers — including his own children — who have attended the school.

He described Belle Elementary as a community centerpiece that uniquely benefits from local community, church and business involvement with the school’s operations.

“[The town] has also [made the] town hall [available] each year for dances, graduation. I think everything’s gone pretty well with those things being right here in the area,� he told the school board.

The mayor also shared concerns with student safety if a new school is built, as he argued that Belle has areas less prone to flooding than the proposed site, a dedicated street cleanup crew for when it snows, and a low crime rate.

Questioning the numbers

According to the Kanawha County Board of Education’s proposed closure documents, Belle Elementary’s enrollment numbers have not been consistent since 2012 when 283 students were enrolled. In the 2022-2023 school year, there were 291. As of this writing, there are 270.

The estimated utilization of the Belle Elementary building is only 72%. Kanawha Schools Superintendent Tom Williams previously explained that the goal for each school is 85%, which is what the new proposed school’s utilization will be.

“As we lose population, we have to constantly reevaluate,� the superintendent said in a previous interview. “Unfortunately, the rural schools are the ones where people are moving out, which is why the numbers in those schools are going down.�

Operating this school costs $1,921,357 annually, including transportation, utilities, and personnel costs, according to the finance section of the closure proposal. That same section cites $1,810,442 in savings from closing all four elementary schools and opening a new school.

There is no explanation or breakdown of the origin of these numbers in the file. They are only broken down into the following categories: transportation, personnel, maintenance, utilities and other.

Fletcher, who has been in the banking and finance sector for more than 50 years, said, “Economics is important, and saving money is important...I just question some of those numbers.�

However, the mayor said he has not had the chance to check the board’s numbers since he did not know about the possible closure until about a week or two ago when he was told by a member of Belle Elementary’s staff.

“The community said the school board would close these schools for forever, but nobody came up and said this was actually happening,� Fletcher said.

While he has advocated and voted for bonds and levies for the school board before, Fletcher said this “slap in the face� has left him “disappointed� in the school board.

“If [the board] called me tomorrow and asked for my help, I am not sure if I’d be able to give it to them.�

What’s next

Kanawha County Schools Communications Director Briana Warner said, “The proposed closure vote is pending receipt of SBA funds. We will know in mid-December whether we receive those funds. If we receive them, we will start the process of building the new school.�

Belle Elementary, and any of the other elementary schools approved for closure, would not close until the new school is complete, which the school board previously said would likely be in the fall of 2028.

Mayor Fletcher said he feels like “the board’s mind was made up,� especially since the board had already submitted its application for SBA funds in September.

Fletcher said the town will make the best of the time they have left with Belle Elementary.

Meanwhile, more consolidation hearings are ahead.

The Board of Education will decide whether to close three other Kanawha schools. As with the East Bank, McKinley and Belle decisions, the vote will be taken immediately after public comments are heard at the end of each scheduled meeting. The public meetings will be held on the following dates:

• Thursday: Mary Ingles ES closure; 6 p.m. Riverside HS
• Oct. 21: Malden ES closure; 6 p.m., Riverside HS
• Oct. 22: Midland Trail ES closure; 6 p.m., Riverside HS