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State BOE approves closure of McDowell County elementary school

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Anawalt Elementary School in McDowell County will close at the end of this school year.

On Thursday, members of the state Board of Education approved the McDowell County Board of Education’s shutdown plans which will send Anawalt’s current students to Kimball Elementary School and Welch Elementary School starting with the next school year.

Modular buildings have housed students at Anawalt Elementary School in McDowell County since 2013.

Carolyn Falin, McDowell County superintendent, said parents of students, school staff and community members have had plenty of notice about the closure which has been debated for years.

“Last year, we told them affirmatively that it would close. We listened to their concerns. We considered every comment, recommendation,” Falin said during Thursday’s state BOE meeting in Charleston.

“The only thing they really want is to keep that school open. I understand that but, for 39 kids, it’s just not feasible.”

Safety hazards previously forced the closure of Anawalt Elementary in 2012.

The school building was demolished at that point and replaced with modular buildings that have been in use for grades PK-5 since 2013.

In the debate about a permanent closure, some parents have criticized the travel distance to Kimball Elementary and Welch Elementary and members of the state BOE heard from some of them on Wednesday.

With the change, three bus routes will exceed recommended transport time limits and the BOE signed off on that as well.

Falin said flexibility has been extended to allow for student transfers to other schools.

“We have been transparent through this entire thing,” Falin said.





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