Cumberland County board hears sustained public opposition to school-closure plan; rescinds two reassignment decisions

Hundreds of parents, students and community leaders spoke at a packed Cumberland County Board of Education meeting on March night, urging the board to halt or reconsider proposed school closures and consolidations that would affect year‑round schools, alternative programs and several neighborhood campuses.

Mayor Kia Anthony of Spring Lake told the board that the district’s earlier move to begin a closure process for Manchester Elementary “is not yet complete and that's why I'm speaking now before another damaging decision is made,” saying the town would be left with only one county elementary school if Manchester closes. Her remarks echoed a steady stream of testimony that linked the district’s facility proposals to concerns about equity and community stability.

Teachers and program leaders described concrete harms they said would follow relocations. Emily Hall, a virtual high‑school science teacher at Cumberland Academy, told the board, “Do not take our home,” arguing that repeated moves and a plan to place Cumberland Academy inside a large high school would disrupt testing, tutoring and the program’s identity. Melissa Henneky, a counselor for Carmel Academy, said the virtual K–12 program relies on a stable, quiet in‑person hub for services and that another relocation would threaten student access.

Educators and parents pressed the board to protect year‑round options and specialized campuses. Jan Swope, a Reed Ross Classical School teacher, highlighted academic rankings and argued for “school‑within‑a‑school” solutions rather than closures. Breonna Gullon, a Douglas Byrd educator, urged the board to pause consolidation proposals, saying the changes would intensify racial and economic isolation at already high‑needs campuses and called for a full equity analysis before any final action.

School alumni and community leaders framed the debate as part memory and part demand for equitable investment. Several speakers urged immediate rebuilding and reinvestment in E.E. Smith High School rather than closure or long delays; student speakers described mold, HVAC and safety issues they said make modern facilities necessary.

Board action and process: The board responded to the public forum by voting on motions brought through the Auxiliary Services Committee. Members voted to rescind two prior reassignment motions (see “Votes at a glance”): one reversing the February 9 decision about Ramsey Street High School and another reversing a decision to relocate Algie B. Wilkins (alternative program) into Douglas Byrd. Board member Mr. West summarized the district’s facility study, saying consultant reports (commissioned over three years) show system‑wide underutilization and repair needs and that the recommendations are intended to move students into newer facilities while generating operating savings for reinvestment.

Why it matters: Speakers repeatedly urged the board to weigh community history, program identity and child‑centered impacts alongside facility condition data. Multiple commenters noted that certain communities have already endured loss of neighborhood schools and said closures would further weaken long‑standing neighborhood anchors, particularly in majority Black and lower‑income areas.

What’s next: Board leaders and the policy chair reiterated that state policy and statutory procedures (Policy 2340 was cited) and court precedent (Leandro v. State referenced in remarks) govern closure and consolidation steps; the chair emphasized the process is ongoing and that no final closures had been executed that evening. The board scheduled follow‑up work and the next regular meeting for April 14, 2026.

Reporter's note: The article relies on direct remarks recorded during the public forum and on board motions and roll‑call summaries made on the record; where speakers used different spellings or titles in the transcript (for example, variations of the superintendent’s name), the article reflects the form used consistently by speakers during the meeting.