By Nicole Bowman-Layton

GATESVILLE — The Gates County Board of Education voted during its regular meeting Monday, March 9, to consolidate the county’s three elementary schools into two, but ended the night in a 2-2 deadlock over which school should close.

The regular board meeting was held in the Gatesville Elementary School library and drew a large crowd. Several adults in attendance wore shirts representing schools across the district. Information about the rest of the meeting appears in a story about the lunches at Central Middle School.

The board approved a plan to move to two elementary schools — T.S. Cooper serving the east and either Gatesville or Buckland serving the west — beginning in the 2026-27 school year along with a reduction in force expected to save about $840,000 annually. But members could not reach an agreement on whether Buckland Elementary or Gatesville Elementary should close.

After two votes resulted in ties, the board agreed to hold a special-called meeting on March 17 to continue discussions. The vote was split with Terri Riddick and Sallie Ryan voting to close Buckland Elementary, while Ronnie Riddick and Leslie Byrum voted to close Gatesville.

The closed school would become the new home to the district’s central offices and some early college programs.

The vote came after months of meetings and presentations about declining enrollment and funding losses.

“This is based fully on financial facts,” board member Terri Riddick said during the discussion. “We cannot afford to keep three elementary schools.”

District officials said state projections show Gates County Schools will lose about 50 students next year, reducing state funding by about $451,287.

“We have lost almost 150 kids in three years,” one administrator told the board. “And in a small district, that’s a big number.”

Public comment

Several residents used the public comment period to question the district’s financial management and the potential impact of a reduction in force.

Darryl Ward told the board she attended a previous meeting about consolidation and was troubled by how staffing reductions were presented.

“RIF was an acronym that was used numerous times during the presentation,” Ward said. “But for those who weren’t there, it means reduction in force.”

Ward argued that budget shortfalls over the past several years have repeatedly led to staff reductions.

“That’s a total of $1.579 million in three years that we’ve been short,” he said. “We don’t have a money problem; we have a management problem.”

Ward also criticized the district for cutting classroom positions while leaving administrative positions intact.

“The people who suffer are teachers and students,” he said. “Neither of whom had a hand in creating the situation.”

Another speaker questioned whether layoffs are necessary, saying teacher attrition has already reduced staff numbers.

“Before the 2024-25 school year, we lost four teachers in the elementary school system between retirement and resignations,” one resident told the board. “So why are we still talking about reducing force?”

The same speaker also questioned spending decisions, including a transportation study connected to consolidation.

“We approved a three- to four-thousand-dollar transportation study to figure out how long it’s going to take somebody to get to and from school,” he said. “We don’t have anybody in this county already that can figure this out?”

Speakers also expressed frustration that some district officials left a previous consolidation meeting before public comments began.

“That makes the public feel like you really didn’t care what the public had to say,” the resident said.

Debate over which school to close

While the board agreed consolidation was necessary, members sharply disagreed over which campus should close.

Riddick argued that the district should keep Gatesville Elementary open because of its size and capacity.

“Why would we close our newest and largest elementary school to send students to the smallest elementary school in our county?” she said.

Board member Ryan supported that view, saying the board had to think about future needs.

“I think we have to look maybe two or three or four years down the road and which facility is going to be better able to meet whatever needs we have,” Ryan said.

But Byrum emphasized another factor: property ownership.

Gatesville Elementary is the only school deeded directly to the school board, while Buckland and other campuses are owned by county commissioners.

“If we were to give up Buckland School and no longer need it, we would have to declare it surplus,” Byrum said. “We would have the same problem that we had with Sunbury Elementary School.”

Sunbury is currently unoccupied and in a state of disrepair.

Concern about rushing decision

Board member Ronnie Riddick said he was not prepared to make the final decision during Thursday’s meeting.

“I’m just not personally ready to make a decision,” he said. “I just want to make sure we’re making the right decision.”

Other members said delaying the decision could create problems for staff and families.

“I think we need to attempt to make the decision so that we can move forward,” Terri Riddick said. “Right now I feel like we’re all just sinking in quicksand.”

Long-term proposal for a single elementary school

During the discussion, board members also talked about a longer-term idea: eventually replacing the county’s elementary schools with a single new campus.

Byrum said the board should consider developing a five-year plan to pursue state funding for a new school that could serve all elementary students in the county.

“I would hope that the school board would create at least a five-year plan that we consider building a brand new elementary school,” Byrum said.

He suggested the school could be located in the middle of the county and potentially replace multiple campuses.

“We would have one elementary, one middle and one high school,” Byrum said. “Based on the demographics and the population of Gates County, that is the most realistic and the most economical thing to be done.”

The administration told the board the district had previously explored applying for state funding to build a new school, noting that an application was filled out for $42 million for a new elementary school. The application was never submitted, as it lacked the required signatures before the deadline.

Despite that, Byrum said the district could pursue the idea again.

“That’s not too late,” he said. “We can go forward and reapply.”

Election certification affects vote

The board is currently operating with four voting members because the election of a fifth member has not yet been certified by the state.

Byrum read a letter from newly elected board member JoJo Legg, who said she will wait until the state certifies the election results before taking office.

“Official certification at a state level is a necessary step before I can formally assume my duties and take the oath of office,” Legg wrote in a statement read by Byrum.

Legg said she plans to attend upcoming meetings, but will not vote until certification is complete.

That certification is expected March 25, meaning Legg cannot vote at the board’s special-called meeting scheduled for March 17.

After the deadlocked vote, the board scheduled the special-called meeting to continue deliberations. That meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m., March 17 at the Gatesville Elementary School library.

“We have talked about this for a very long time,” Terri Riddick said. “At this point, I feel like if we delay a vote, it is unfair to our students, our parents and our staff.”