HAMLET — The Richmond County Board of Education voted Tuesday to rescind a proposed closure study for Ellerbe Middle School following strong opposition from community members and concerns about the process.
The motion to halt the study passed 4-3 after discussion among board members, stopping a plan approved last month at the work session meeting, to explore closing the school as a cost-saving measure.
Ellerbe residents filled the meeting room, many voicing concerns about the potential loss of the only middle school serving the northern part of the county. Before the meeting, speakers Brett and Olivia Webb and Michael Puckett addressed the board during public comments.
“I want to start by acknowledging something clearly. The challenges being discussed here today are not unique to this district. Across the state, districts are facing enrollment shifts, funding pressures, and difficult decisions,” said Brett Webb. “And I understand that this board and this administration are not an easy position. But that is exactly why decisions like this must be handled carefully, transparently, and with all options fully explored. And as of now, I do not believe that standard has been met.”
Webb said he created a petition with more than 1,200 signatures supporting keeping the school open and submitted documentation outlining potential impacts of a closure, noting the information is publicly available.
“There have been serious concerns about how this process has been handled. And the bigger issue is this: This is part of a larger systemic problem affecting public schools across this state,” Brett Webb said. “And if that is not addressed, decisions like this will continue to happen, and communities like ours will continue to feel the impact. We’ve heard concerns about enrollment and funding, and those matter. So, I think we all deserve a clear answer.”
Webb questioned whether officials had worked with state and county leaders before proposing the study and raised concerns about the scope of options being considered.
“What we are seeing is a plan built almost entirely around reductions, not on solutions. If the only path being explored is cutting, then we’re not solving the problem— we’re simply managing for decline,” Brett Webb said.
He also questioned whether the study was meant to explore options or “to confirm a direction that has already been decided?”
“And even when options are presented, if they all lead back to the same study and decision, that’s not a full evaluation—that’s heading in one direction. What we’re talking about here is not minor,” said Brett Webb.
Webb also raised concerns about transportation impacts for students.
“And when we talk about distance, a map-based estimate does not reflect reality. It doesn’t account for bus routes, multiple stops, or the actual time that a child spends on a school bus. In this area, that matters,” Brett Webb said.
“We have to stay grounded in our priorities. Schools exist to educate children first— everything else comes after that. So this board has a choice,” said Brett Webb. “Stop and fully evaluate every option, or continue moving forward despite what hasn’t been addressed. Because if this is the wrong path, that responsibility is going to be clear— and this community is watching.”
Olivia Webb also raised concerns about transparency and public engagement in the process.
“This board has a statutory obligation to place the welfare of children at the center of any consolidation or closure study. The language and data presented so far do not reflect that obligation,” said Olivia Webb.
“This board has a duty to advocate for all children at every level of government until public school options across all communities are stable. It is also your responsibility to ensure parents are fully informed and that standards of equity and access are applied consistently,” Olivia Webb said.
She pointed to the district’s consolidation webpage, saying public questions are “vetted and selectively answered.”
“If a question remains unanswered, are we expected to stop asking? Assume it’s not relevant or worthy, or maybe it was a stupid question? That creates a chilling effect,” said Olivia Webb.
Olivia Webb continued, “Public trust depends on process. A timely data-backed presentation tied to a petition of over 1,200 concerned citizens was not placed on this agenda. What message does that send? Internal studies produce internal results. If this can happen in Ellerbe, it can happen anywhere.
“The direction in which this board is being led concerns me, but I believe this is a teachable moment. Set an example, raise your voice, and please, when you do, choose our children,” Olivia Webb concluded.
Michael Puckett echoed concerns about transportation and potential academic impacts.
“Now, unless the school is going to start later, these students are going to have to get up at least a half an hour to an hour earlier to get the bus back to that site.”
Similar transportation concerns were also raised during the board’s March 24 work session by members Scotty Baldwin and Ronald Tillman.
Puckett said longer travel times could place additional stress on students and families and affect academic performance.
Superintendent Dr. Joe Ferrell acknowledged concerns and apologized for how the proposal was initially presented.
“I own my mistakes and learn from them moving forward. Looking back on the presentation from the March 24th bud budget work session, I realize there is something that I probably should have handled differently,” Ferrell said.
Ferrell said the district, like others across North Carolina, is facing financial strain and declining enrollment.
“Right now, we are spending around $1 million from our fund balance each year just to make our budget work. And that fund balance has dropped to just under two million.”
He said the district has reduced nearly $2.9 million in positions through attrition in recent years to avoid deeper financial issues.
“If we had not reduced these nearly $3 million in positions, our fund balance would already be in the negative when we would be like many of the school districts that have been on the news for having no fund balance and unable to keep their budgets moving forward.”
Ferrell outlined potential consolidation options, including possible West Rockingham Elementary School closure, but noted challenges related to class size laws, redistricting and facility capacity.
“Now, if the board chooses at some point to conduct a school closure study for West Rockingham, we would look at all available spaces throughout the county at our K-5 schools. This option would require adding more classrooms at the new LJ Bell while construction is going on, which could eliminate some of the other things that are planned for that school. It would also require redistricting and likely have significant impacts on our current attendance zones,” Ferrell said.
Ferrell also addressed transportation concerns and said options such as express bus routes could be considered.
“I would like to revisit it. I’d like to include some of the other studies if we’re going to study instead of just one.”
Following discussion, Vice Chairwoman Bobbie Sue Ormsby made the motion to rescind the study after consulting with the board attorney. The motion passed with Ormsby, Scotty Baldwin, Jerry Ethridge and Bess Shuler voting in favor, and Tillman, Chairman Cory Satterfield and Daryl Mason opposed.
Board members who voted against the motion cautioned that difficult decisions may still be necessary.
“I’ve said this before, we’re going to have to at some point, going to have to make some tough decisions, period—whether it’s Ellerbe being closed, whether it’s West Rockingham,” said Ronald Tillman.
“Folks, you’ve got to be careful about it. We’re losing jobs, losing schools. This is so important— make sure we have to do our homework to make sure this is right,” said Satterfield.
Mason warned that delaying decisions could lead to state intervention.
“So, either we’re going to do it, or the state’s going to do it— because it’s going to happen one way or another. We as a board, the people in the community, can make the decision to what schools will be closed or to consolidate, or we can keep kicking the can down the road and let the state come in because once we go into the red, the state’s coming in and taking over,” Mason said.
Mason referenced a recent case in South Carolina where the state took over the Marlboro County School District, facing a multimillion-dollar deficit, declining enrollment, and missed budget deadlines.
Satterfield encouraged board members to bring forward ideas for future study.
“Our homework for next month is to bring back ideas to Dr. Ferrell about what types of studies we want to do because we can continue to kick this can down the road, but until we give the man some work to do, we’re not going to know what to do,” said Satterfield.
Satterfield added that identifying cost-saving measures will be necessary moving forward.
“I have sent a list of things to Dr. Ferrell just to think of. I hope you guys have done that as well, because that’s the only way we can try to save money. If that’s closing an elementary school or a middle school, or cutting positions, it has to be done.”