Richmond County parents reeling from plan to close pair of schools

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Richmond County parents are still absorbing the fact that the district will be closing two schools as it moves forward with a plan that will consolidate several schools even while new ones are built.

The Richmond County Board of Education made the decision Tuesday to close A. Brian Merry Elementary School and Spirit Creek Middle School.

Since the consolidation plan was unveiled a few weeks ago, some parents feel like it was a done deal, even though several public sessions were held – ostensibly to allow for public input.

Come this fall, leaves will be changing and so will school pick-up for some parents.

“The focus has primarily and solely been on, you know, getting those dollars, which are important. But, you know, to educate the whole student, you have to consider the whole student,” said Richmond County parent Jacquetta Williams.

Williams’ fifth grader goes to A. Brian Merry Elementary School.

“I think the children are probably gonna feel it more than we are. Children are resilient to a degree,” she said. “I think it has a different impact on each child individually each family individually.”

It’s only the second day of spring, but another season of change is right around the corner.

“I hope that they understand that they will run into disciplinary actions by these kids, and that may take them not necessarily with a grain of salt, but that they take that take them with the consideration that their normal has changed significantly over a span of a few months,” said Williams.

It’s a change that not everyone was on board with.

D’Asia Moore, a student at Langford, said: “Going to be mixed feelings having to go to it. I just got to this school and got used to it, and I had to go to another school, so I will have to get used to the feeling. And then I’m going to have to go to another school and have to get used to that, too.”

But with the final vote, they’ll have to be on board.

DeAndria Deboskie, a parent, said: “The only thing that concerns me is the merge and possibly overcrowding because I’m thinking that may happen. But all I can do is see how it goes come the first day of school. And if I am seeing that as the issue, all I can do is just voice my concerns.”

Safety is a concern when it comes to combining two schools.

Moore said: “Education-wise it could be a good thing but behavior-wise, no. I mean some people don’t care about behavior.”

Deboskie said: “I would hope that they’re able to provide the extra for the staff, especially in the beginning, in the beginning, and then really throughout the whole year.”

Over the course of six meetings, the school system and consulting group went to the schools impacted by this plan.

“We heard a lot from our parents and our community leaders. As opposed to just having the two meetings that are required, we had six public hearings, so that we can make sure that we heard clearly from our stakeholders before making a recommendation,” Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Bradshaw said Tuesday.

Belair Middle School and Richmond Hill Elementary School will open to students from the current Richmond Hill and Belair K-8 schools.

Tutt and Langford middle schools would combine to help expedite construction at the new Langford Middle School, which looks to open in 2027.

To see where your student will be going to school next year, click here.

Also Tuesday, the board decided on a traditional school year calendar for next year, with a 10-week summer.

There had been an option to adopt a modified schedule that skews closer to year-round.

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