At the School Board meetings in Craven County, there is an opportunity for public comment. Some people do a lot of research before speaking before the School Board. Below is one example of a public comment that needs to be shared. I have omitted the name of the person making the comment out of respect for their privacy.

Here is the comment:

I am concerned that there are many, many discussions on classroom sizes and as a tax payer the county is paying for 25 public school buildings, when there are only enough students to fill 20.

In 2019 there was a study purchased by the Craven County School system to look at all the schools and recommend closing some of them. The study was done by professional contractors that looked at the physical conditions of the school. The study has been put on hold. There has been no discussion about upgrading this study. Some have said this study is still accurate which cannot be true based on budget actions to improve the physical conditions.
For example, some schools have replaced HVAC systems, put fences in, and other upgrades so it is imperative this study be updated. We heard on Tuesday many upgrades to several buildings using ESSER funding is occurring, further showing the study needs to be updated to reflect the
current physical state of the schools. Additionally, there are new security concerns, both process and physical, not just physical, that need to be considered as part of an upgraded study. Finally, this study needs to incorporate the county population changes with new communities appearing such as those in Carolina Colors. People are moving and where the students are and the current schools are is shifting.

Since closing of even one school will affect the entire district, I am recommending closing at least 3 schools to put the county tax money to better use for the school system. Since the closing of even one school will affect the entire county, I am further recommending all three be done at the same time and a complete redistricting plan be put in place based on these items:  current physical state of the schools, additional changes to schools needed, and future anticipated population. Updating this study is a fast, cost–effective manner towards obtaining this end goal. It is understood that there may be more than 3 schools closed with the building of one or two new schools so all schools are in an acceptable physical state – but the net
closure will be at least 3.

I am hoping to see in the budget submission this study upgrade occurring over the next year, so that actual closure can be considered for the 2024–2025 school year or the 2025–2026 school year depending how much redistricting is needed and time to work with the county planners is needed. Without this study, there is no firm basis of fact to have the hard discussion of school closure and the redistricting that will result out of this action. There will be no basis of fact to discuss the physical states of the school, except by opinion, no basis of fact to discuss the population centers, except by opinion, and same for security.