Parents, teachers and students urge Raleigh County board to keep Mapscott Elementary off closure list

Dozens of parents, staff and students told the Raleigh County Board of Education during the public‑comment period that closing Mapscott Elementary would harm students who rely on the school’s wraparound services.

"Please do not close Mapscott Elementary. Our students need us and the supports that we can provide," said Lindseay Hedgins, a 16‑year Raleigh County teacher, who described the school’s Title I supports, mobile dental visits and distribution of clothing, holiday assistance and thousands of food bags for weekend food insecurity. "We provide approximately 2,500 food bags, more than 200 backpacks, and frequent home visits to support attendance and basic needs," she said.

Teacher Bethany Wymer, who said she has taught at Mapscott for 12 years, told the board that many of her students depend on the school for stability and daily meals and that the school’s musical and choir programs provide critical social and developmental opportunities. "When you discuss numbers and budgets, please think about the children behind those numbers," she said. Student speakers described personal success stories tied to Mapscott’s Title I and counseling supports.

Several speakers named specific services they said would be disrupted by a closure: after‑school programming funded by a 21st Century grant (administered through the Salvation Army of Raleigh County), a mobile dentist program that has provided restorative and preventive care to district students, weekly counseling sessions, and targeted tier‑2 and tier‑3 academic supports.

Supporters cautioned the board about potential political consequences if community schools are removed: "When you start shutting down community schools like this, you're going to start dividing people up," said Al Hudgins, a longtime Raleigh County teacher and parent, arguing closures could undermine future levy support.

The superintendent reiterated that proposed closures are still in a planning phase driven by enrollment and building utilization trends. Dr. Starcher reminded the board that the state advised districts to examine schools operating below 60% utilization and that the central office expects to present closure proposals to the board in early September.

What’s next: the district will develop proposals on building utilization and staff reductions tied to enrollment trends and present them to the board in the fall. Community members who addressed the board asked for the district to provide further detail on the alternatives considered before any formal closure vote.

Ending: Board members acknowledged they are taking public comment into consideration but noted they cannot discuss or act on non‑agenda personnel or pending closure deliberations during the meeting.