The Shadow
MILLBORO, Va. (VR) – Concerned residents gathered inside the Millboro Fire Department building to attend a special community meeting on Monday evening to address what has become an all-too-common rumor over the past couple of decades; the potential closure of Millboro Elementary School.
Both elected and appointed officials were on hand to take in the discussion and ease the concerns of everyone in attendance by unanimously pledging to keep the school open for at least the near future. The meeting, called by former Millboro School Board representative Jeff Grimm, brought together current school board members, county supervisors, and roughly 15-20 residents to confront speculation about the school’s future directly. Members of the community emphasized the school’s importance to the community, highlighting its status as one of the highest-ranked small schools in Virginia. Superintendent Dr. Jesse, a recent arrival to the Bath County area, addressed concerns about internal discussions regarding the school’s potential closure. While he admitted to making internal inquiries about the closure’s logistics, he stressed that no plans exist to shut down the school.
School board members Linda Puhle and Clara Tennant along with Bath County Board of supervisor’s representatives John Lockridge and Lynn Ellen Black repeatedly stated their opposition to closing Millboro Elementary. “I will never vote to close Millboro Elementary School,” stated Supervisor Black, echoing sentiments shared by multiple officials.
Community members passionately defended the school, citing its small class sizes, dedicated teachers, and critical role in local education. Jeff Grimm noted that closing the school would devastate the community, potentially causing families to pursue other avenues and leave the area. Grimm spoke on behalf of the community as a whole when reminiscing about the reason these rumors are taken so seriously stating that “This isn’t the first time closing Millboro has been brought up, it’s been brought up year after year and even though it’s the newest school in Bath County Millboro Elementary is always the one on the chopping block”.
The meeting concluded with a call for community involvement, particularly in upcoming budget sessions. Residents were encouraged to attend future meetings and continue supporting the school. The meeting served as a clear demonstration of community unity in protecting their dreams for the future, which in this instance involves knowing that Millboro Elementary School will remain open.
