RALEIGH COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Concerns over the potential closure of Mabscott Elementary School and Cranberry-Prosperity Elementary School dominated the public comment portion of Tuesday night’s Raleigh County Board of Education meeting.
No official announcement has been made regarding the future of either school, and the board of education has not taken a vote on any proposed closures.
However, multiple parents, educators, elected officials and community members used the public comment period to urge the board to keep the schools open.
Among those addressing the board was State Sen. Rollan Roberts, R-Raleigh, who said he was speaking on behalf of constituents concerned about Mabscott Elementary.
Roberts said the school has lost about 45 students over the past decade but remains at roughly 68% to 69% occupancy and has been well maintained in recent years.
“A major concern they’ve shared with me involves students with special needs,” Roberts said. “We don’t want any of these children to slip through the cracks. We want their needs to be met.”
While acknowledging the financial challenges facing school systems, Roberts told board members he respected their leadership and hoped to work with them moving forward.
Delegate Eric Brooks, R-Raleigh, also spoke in opposition to the potential closures, saying he was representing both himself and Delegate John Jordan.
“I am here because I believe Mabscott and Cranberry-Prosperity Elementary Schools are worth fighting for,” Brooks said. “This is about much more than a couple of buildings. It’s about the children, families, neighborhoods and the future of our communities.”
Brooks said neighborhood schools provide stability and strong relationships between students, teachers and families that are difficult to replace.
“Every decision made by this board should begin with one simple question: What is best for our students?” Brooks said. “I personally believe keeping these schools open is the answer.”
He also urged the board to exhaust every alternative before making a decision.
“Leadership is often measured by the decisions we make when faced with difficult options,” Brooks said. “Tonight, I respectfully ask you to choose our children, choose our communities and choose hope for Mabscott and Cranberry-Prosperity Elementary Schools.”
Mabscott Mayor Ron Martin, a retired Raleigh County school bus driver, appealed directly to board members to visit the school before making any decisions.
“Before you make your final decision, please come take a look,” Martin said. “If you don’t have a ride, I’ll come get you.”
Martin also highlighted the school’s facilities, including its separate cafeteria and gymnasium, and said he would continue fighting to keep the school open because generations of his family have attended it.
Parents also shared personal stories about the impact the schools have had on their children.
Kelsey Hamrick, whose three children have attended Cranberry-Prosperity Elementary for the past seven years, said the school has played a vital role in their academic and personal development.
“When you look at Cranberry-Prosperity, you may see a school building,” Hamrick said. “I see a place that has helped raise my children alongside our family.”
She praised the school’s teachers and staff for knowing each student personally and providing the support that has allowed her children to excel academically, in leadership and in character.
“Our children deserve more than being shifted from one building to another because of numbers on a spreadsheet,” Hamrick said. “They deserve the opportunity to continue learning in an environment where they are known, encouraged and given every chance to succeed.”
Hamrick closed by asking the board to think beyond enrollment figures and finances.
“I respectfully ask you to reconsider closing Cranberry-Prosperity Elementary School,” she said.
While concerns over the schools were the focus of the meeting’s public comment period, the Raleigh County Board of Education did not discuss the issue during its regular agenda.
As of Tuesday night, no official proposal or vote regarding the potential closure of Mabscott Elementary School or Cranberry-Prosperity Elementary School had been announced.
