Buckingham County has a new education complex, but had to lose four small schools in the process. Buckingham's newest school at the Carter G. Woodson Education Complex, is home to all of the county's kindergarten through fifth grade students.
School officials say it's a change for the better, and the change is growing on initially skeptical parents. Now, 950 students walk through the doors of Buckingham County's new school complex every day and some of them have had a bus ride as long as an hour and 15 minutes.
Buckingham County Schools Director of Facilities Ivan Davis says that this time, bigger is better.
"Buckingham County - even though it is very large in size, it's a very tight-knit community and the fact that we closed these schools we've brought everybody together ," he said.
Parent Ruth Wallace says she was disappointed at first. "I like the small school atmosphere," she said.
But three weeks into the school year, she says the move was a step in the right direction. "Our kids are all together, they're all receiving the same services, the same technology, the same opportunities," she said.
The high tech school is filled with special features like a kitchen where students can learn to cook, chairs that bounce so students don't get restless, and resource rooms for computers, art, and music.
Justin Kapuscinski, a fourth grade student said, "I like the gym because I used to go to Buckingham and we had to either go outside onto a field or into a cafeteria."
And with new friends and new resources, the students say they're happy with the move.
