The Shadow
Dear Editor,
I am an advocate of small elementary schools. Study after study has shown that children who attend small elementary schools are more successful in life and more likely to graduate on time and enter college.
It is proven that smaller schools strengthen interpersonal relationships and a sense of community. Smaller schools are also associated with stronger parental commitment and have higher rates of parental involvement.
I am a strong believer in volunteer programs in schools.
The benefits of small schools are greater for minority students and those of low socioeconomic status.
Sharon Elementary School currently has more than 50 percent of its students on free or reduced lunches. However, according to the Virginia Department of Education Report Card, Sharon school is consistently at the top when it comes to SOL scores, not only in Alleghany County, but also in Botetourt, Rockbridge and Bath counties.
At Sharon, the community of dedicated teachers, staff and parents work together and produce high results and we don’t leave those with unfortunate circumstances behind. Because of these high results, Sharon Elementary School has been given many prestigious awards throughout the years, including one of the highest honors, the National Blue Ribbon Award.
According to the Virginia Department of Education report card, Mountain View had 533 students enrolled last year and Sharon had 194 students enrolled. Combined that would give the new Mt. View 727 students. That is more students than any elementary school in Alleghany, Botetourt, Rockbridge or Bath counties.
As a matter of fact, Mountain View already has the largest enrollment of any of the schools in our county and all of the three surrounding counties and cities including Lexington and Covington out of a total of 20 schools.
Study after study has proven that larger elementary schools are not beneficial to individual children, especially those with low socio-economic status. Too many children may fall through the cracks in a larger MountainView Elementary.
I also understand that should the school board choose to close Sharon Elementary School and Boiling Spring they would save a little more money than the closure of Boiling Spring and Falling Spring.
Although I am an advocate of keeping all the small elementary schools open, it just makes sense to keep Sharon Elementary School open due to the following reasons:
1. It is the only Blue Ribbon School in the Alleghany Highlands school system and would be the first Blue Ribbon School in the country to close their doors, do we really want that on our resume for the Alleghany Highlands?;
2. With the construction of the McKinney Hollow bridge and the ability to transport students via bus over that bridge next year, we would encourage more students from the Fairfield Farms and Glen Wilton areas to attend Sharon School, so our enrollment would increase even more so (we already have the second highest enrollment in the elementary schools in Alleghany County). Due to the economic development potential on the eastern end of Alleghany County we would bring even more students into our school systems. So from an economic development standpoint, it just doesn’t make sense to close Sharon Elementary School.
3. Most Sharon students and families are within 11 miles of Eagle Rock Elementary School in Botetourt County, some will decide to move their students to this small high performing elementary school, so in effect losing $6,000 per student.
The question the school board and board of supervisors need to ask themselves, is can we really afford to lose even more students and families in this area due to the closures of our small, high performing elementary schools?
I personally would have to say “no” there are other alternatives and I would definitely have to say “no” to closing Sharon, our only Blue Ribbon School and our only school on the eastern end of Alleghany County, the gateway to the Roanoke Valley, a prosperous and expanding community.
Sincerely,
Jennifer Seckner
Evans Lane
Clifton Forge
