The Bedford County School Board is facing widespread community opposition to a proposed redistricting plan that would reassign 143 elementary students to different schools. During a public hearing, parents, students, and teachers unanimously voiced their concerns, citing emotional distress for children and the disruption of established school communities.
Key Takeaways
- A proposal to manage overcrowding would move 143 students from five elementary schools in the Forest area of Bedford County.
- The plan is a response to current capacity issues and anticipated growth from new housing developments.
- At a public hearing, every speaker—including parents, teachers, and an 8-year-old student—opposed the plan.
- A school board member suggested an alternative "overflow model" to keep existing families at their current schools.
- Board members expressed frustration with a lack of communication and financial support from the County Board of Supervisors.
Details of the Proposed Redistricting
The Bedford County School Board has been considering the redistricting plan since May. The proposal aims to address overcrowding at five elementary schools within the Forest community, which the Board of Supervisors has designated as a primary growth area for the county.
According to information provided by the school division's executive team, the plan would directly affect 143 students. The changes are intended to balance enrollment ahead of new housing projects planned for the region.
Who Would Be Moved?
The plan outlines specific reassignments for students currently attending New London Academy and Forest Elementary School.
- 83 students from New London Academy would be moved to Otter River Elementary School.
- 60 students from Forest Elementary would be rezoned to three different schools:
- 52 students would attend Thomas Jefferson Elementary.
- 4 students would move to Boonsboro Elementary.
- 4 students would be sent to Otter River Elementary.
School officials have stated that these adjustments are necessary to create capacity and prevent future overcrowding as new families move into the Forest area.
Community Delivers Unanimous Opposition
During a public hearing on Thursday night, the school board heard from nearly two dozen community members. Every speaker who addressed the board expressed strong opposition to the proposal, raising concerns about travel distances, community ties, and the emotional toll on children.
Mallory Evans, a mother from New London Academy, argued that moving her child to a school farther away would limit her ability to be an engaged parent.
"You hold the power to keep me right now as a present mom at New London Academy or to make me an absent mother moving forward at Otter River," Evans told the board.
Another parent highlighted the perceived unfairness of moving established families to make room for potential residents who are not yet part of the school system. James Holley, another parent, shared how the uncertainty is affecting his daughter.
"Dad, when I tell my friends on the playground that I still may not be here, she says that they become sad and she does not want them to be sad over her," Holley said. "Our kids should not have to be dealing with these things."
A Student's Plea to the Board
The most direct testimony came from eight-year-old New London Academy student Brigette Evants, who used a stool to be seen and heard by the board members.
"I don't want to be a new kid because I think it will be scary," Brigette said. "My favorite teachers at NLA have been Ms. Leeds, Ms. Shav, Ms. Thrasher, and Ms. Jessup. I will miss them, and they will miss me."
Lauren Shellenberger, a parent from Forest Elementary, criticized the plan for not aligning with where new development is actually taking place. "I ask that you adjust these plans because they do not take into consideration where the development is actually occurring and instead disproportionately punish rural students by sending them even farther away from their currently zoned schools," she argued.
Board Member Proposes an Alternative Solution
In response to the community's concerns, school board member Steven Hill introduced an alternative concept he called an "overflow model." This approach would prioritize keeping current students and their families within their existing school communities.
"Doing an overflow model to where we can keep those people who are plugged into the community plugged into the community," Hill explained. He suggested that new residents moving into the area could be assigned to nearby schools that have available capacity, rather than displacing current students.
This model, he argued, would allow families who have already invested time and energy in their schools to remain, while new families could integrate into other nearby school communities.
Frustration with County Supervisors Surfaces
The public hearing also revealed underlying tensions between the School Board and the Bedford County Board of Supervisors. School Board member Dora Purvis voiced significant frustration over what she described as a lack of communication and financial support from county officials.
"I have a lot of angst about the lack of communication between the school board and the planners who are planning our county," Purvis stated. "A lot of the things that you are complaining about need to probably be addressed with them... We have tried to talk to them, we've had conversations over and over with them. They do not listen to us; they don't care."
Budgetary Concerns
Purvis noted that the Board of Supervisors approved only an additional $1 million for the school division in the county's 2025-2026 budget. She argued this amount is insufficient to provide competitive teacher salaries and the necessary resources to manage growth without constantly redrawing school boundaries.
Her comments suggested that the redistricting issue is a symptom of a larger problem related to county-level planning and funding for public education.
What Happens Next
The School Board did not take a vote on the redistricting plan during the Thursday meeting. Board members stated that the primary purpose of the hearing was to listen to public feedback before making a decision.
Several members thanked the community for their input and ideas. The board is scheduled to meet again next month, where further discussions on the redistricting plan and potential alternatives are expected to take place.
