School Board to discuss, in detail, possible closings

By Bob Stuart

Published: October 1, 2008

Ladd Elementary School in Waynesboro has a particular hold on Chrissy Fauber.

She is the president of the Ladd PTO, the mother of a second-grader and she attended the school herself.

“I love this school and I would hate to see it close,’’ Fauber said Wednesday. “I’m very pleased with the faculty and staff and the personal attention you get.”

At 5 p.m. today, the Augusta County School Board will meet in a work session to discuss closing Ladd and Beverley Manor Elementary School outside Staunton. Wilson, Riverheads and Cassell elementary schools would be expanded under the move. School administrators unveiled the plans in August.

Ladd’s enrollment is 355; Beverley Manor’s is 371.

“There are some efficiencies in closing the schools down,’’ North River board member Nick Collins said.

Board Chairman Chad Shomo, who represents the Riverheads District, said the closings would not reduce the number of teachers but might lead to savings in administrative and support staff, such as fewer custodians.

The school district also could recoup some of its costs for expansion through the sale of the Ladd. Superintendent Gary McQuain said in August that the expansions of Cassell, Wilson and Riverheads elementary schools would cost more than $12 million each.

Shomo said it’s possible Beverley Manor Elementary could get some other use, such as the new location for the Central Shenandoah Valley Regional Governor’s School.

The school board might ask to meet with Augusta County supervisors late this month or early next about the idea, Collins said.

“I think there is some merit to the possibility,’’ he said.

Augusta County Supervisor Tracy Pyles put together his own proposal for school reorganization earlier this year and submitted it to school board members.

He favors closing Ladd because of its congested Waynesboro location and relative proximity to Wilson and Cassell elementary schools.

Pyles does not favor such a scenario at Beverley Manor.

He suggests moving the elementary school to Beverley Manor Middle School, and using a combination of area high schools and elementary schools to accommodate the students now attending Beverley Manor Middle.

In his proposal, Pyles said the old Beverley Manor Elementary School could serve as the new location for the school district’s central offices.

In addition, Pyles proposes changing the grade configuration at Craigsville, Churchville, North River, Beverley Manor and Riverheads elementary schools from the current K-5 to K-7, and adding the eighth grade to Buffalo Gap and Riverheads high schools.

“This would be tough to sell to educators, but not to parents,’’ Pyles said.

He said the money saved on transportation and administration could be directed toward elementary school education.

Pyles suggests expanding Cassell, Wilson and Verona elementary schools and Wilson Middle School.

He said the savings gained from the sale of the Ladd facility and from closing one school would go far toward paying construction costs for the renovated schools.