NBC29Educators Rally for Community Schools

Educators Rally for Community Schools

Hundreds of Albemarle County parents, students and teachers rallied in support of saving the county's community schools at Thursday's school board meeting.

Anne Conrad teaches at the Scottsville Elementary School and took part in the rally before the meeting. She says the group's message was simple: "It's saying that there are a lot of people who feel smaller, community schools are worth while."

Conrad has been a school teacher for more than three decades and says the thought of closing down any combination of the Yancey, Red Hill, or Scottsville Elementary schools in favor of one larger school is a bad idea.

"The school board needs to see that we are not just saying words, that there are people standing behind us that feel these schools are what makes us strong," said Conrad.

Fifth grader Hannah Pickens transferred to Scottsville Elementary School from a larger school last year and says the experience has been great.

She addressed the school board Thursday night, saying, "My experience in the last year in Scottsville was completely different. All of the teachers in the school know me by name, the fourth and fifth grade teachers work together so the students are challenged all the time."

Albemarle County Assistant Superintendent Bruce Benson says school leaders are listening to the concerns and that no decisions have been made on the future of the community schools.

"We're a long ways away from any kind of recommendation being moved through the process, to where it's being implemented," said Benson.

Conrad says she'll work during the summer break to make sure her message sticks. "It's worth fighting for, these kids are going to get lost in a larger school," stated Conrad.

The Albemarle County superintendent is expected to make recommendations about the future of the county's elementary schools in August.

Reported by Keith McGilvery
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