The Closing of S. W. Snowden – Questions and Concerns Abound | Eastern NC Now

The Closing of S. W. Snowden – Questions and Concerns Abound

OPINION

There has been a lot of conversation and concern about the closing of the S. W. Snowden school in Aurora that was voted upon at last night’s Beaufort County School Board meeting.  Much of this has to do with the process in which this decision was made, the validity of the information used to make this decision as well as some ethical questions pertaining to the process and those who cast votes to determine the fate of the school.

Beaufort County has a population of approximately 45,000, but Aurora specifically has a large minority population and is economically disadvantaged.  The repercussions of closing Snowden, located south of the river, are many.  These include the potential loss for economic development and growth, the decline of the Town of Aurora, and making the area less attractive for people relocating to the county.  I believe that we will also see a drop in the overall school scores of Chocowinity Elementary and Middle Schools, currently two of the best in the county, and the detrimental impact that plays on many people deciding about where to relocate for work, housing or retirement as well.  This drop in scores is not the fault of any school, student or teacher specifically but would follow the trend we see in the scores at Southside High where all students from south of the river are consolidated to attend high school when they leave Chocowinity and Aurora middle schools.

Many of those involved in this decision-making process are supposedly conservative Republicans.  On June 2nd, the Board of County Commissioners voted against a proposal to provide the school system with an additional $300,000 to keep the school open for another year to allow time for a better determination on what should be done concerning the school.  They also voted against extending the approval of the 2025-2026 county budget by one week to allow the School Board an opportunity to consider the $300,000 option to keep the school open.  Both of these votes were defeated by votes from Frankie Waters (R), Randy Walker (R), Ed Booth (D) and Jerry Langley (D).  It is concerning that the two minority commissioners would not do more to assist their constituents south of the river and what those motives may be.

On June 3rd, the School Board voted 6-3 in favor of closing S. W. Snowden.  The votes in favor of closing the school were cast by T. W. Allen (R), Daniel Hudson (R), Carolyn Walker (R), Donald Shreve (R), Gary Carlton (R), and Eltha Booth (D).  There are many issues related to closing this school that were expressed by myself and the public at large over the past few months.  However, there are other issues pertaining to ethics, good governance, and the manner in how this process occurred which were not in line with, if not in direct violation of, certain state statutes.

There are two husband/wife duos currently in Beaufort County government.  Ed Booth and Randy Walker both serve as Commissioners while their wives, Eltha Booth and Carolyn Walker serve on the School Board.  They vote together as a block on all decisions related to the school system which also happens to be in line with the wishes of the School Superintendent, Matthew Cheeseman.  While this relationship and how they vote may not be illegal, it certainly brings ethical questions into consideration.  None of these four have ever recused themselves from any vote on an issue pertaining to both governing bodies to my knowledge.  The four vote lockstep together as they did related to closing Snowden.

I believe that closing the school as well as the process in which this decision was made did not directly follow state statute and may have actually violated it.

I am not an attorney but have reviewed several statutes that I believe are most pertinent to the Snowden issue and relate specifically to N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-318.13(c). and § 115C-72.  Consolidation of districts and discontinuance of schools.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-318.13(c) Means board members may not deliberate, vote or otherwise take action by reference to a document or other item unless copies of the document are made available to the public at the meeting.  In other words, the public has a right to know and understand what the board is discussing and voting upon.  I don't believe copies of any of the studies, documents, or other information the board is using have been readily made available to the public, nor were they the evening of the vote.

N. C. Gen. Stat. § 115C-72.  states a "thorough study of such school to be made, having in mind primarily the welfare of the students to be affected by a proposed closing or consolidation and including in such study, among other factors, geographic conditions, anticipated increase or decrease in school enrollment, the inconvenience or hardship that might result to the pupils to be affected by such closing or consolidation, the cost of providing additional school facilities in the event of such closing or consolidation, and such other factors as the board shall consider germane. Before the entry of any order of closing or consolidation, the local board of education shall provide for a public hearing in regard to such proposed closing or consolidation, at which hearing the public shall be afforded an opportunity to express their views. Upon the basis of the study so made and after such hearing, said board may, in the exercise of its discretion, approve the closing or consolidation proposed."  It is my opinion that this has not been properly done.

It is my understanding that there is legal recourse that can be taken since the School Board voted to close the school.  This pertains specifically to violations of the Open Meetings Law.  I will provide a brief overview of that below.

• Anyone can bring a case in superior court to enjoin or prevent a public body from engaging in an anticipated violation of the Open Meetings Law. N.C. Gen. Stat. §143-318.16.
• Any person can sue in superior court and request a declaration that an action by the public body was taken, considered, discussed or deliberated in violation of the Open Meetings Law. N.C. Gen. Stat. §143-318.16A.
• If the court finds that an action was taken in violation of the Open Meetings Law, the court may declare the action “null and void” upon a consideration of a list of factors centering on the adverse impact of the violation on the public trust. N.C. Gen. Stat. §143-318.16A.
• Such a suit must be filed within 45 days following the “initial disclosure” of the disputed action. N.C. Gen. Stat. §143-318.16A.
• The judge may award the “prevailing party” attorney fees. The court may order that all or any portion of any fee assessed be paid personally by an individual member of the public body found by the court to have knowingly or intentionally committed the violation. N.C. Gen. Stat.§143-318.16B.

Furthermore, although legally elected officials cast the votes which led to the decision to close S. W. Snowden, I don’t believe these officials represented their constituents.  At the two public meetings held to discuss the closing of the school, not one citizen advocated for closing the school.  Their voices weren’t heard, nor their wishes heeded as the resulting vote demonstrated.

Finally, this next point may not be of concern to all citizens, but it is important in my opinion as far as conservative Republican values are concerned.  The closing of community schools and consolidation of schools may not be an explicitly expressed point of the Republican party platform but understanding the key themes Republicans feel about education would lead me to believe that closing community schools and consolidating schools goes against Republican values.  These values include emphasizing parental rights, local control over education and focusing on curriculum that highlights America’s Founding Principles.  Closing community schools and consolidation is a leftist approach to education that limits family involvement in a child’s education and allows for less oversight into what is being taught to our students.  This is what appears to be happening more frequently in Beaufort County.  It is very concerning that so many of the elected officials who identify as Republican voted against these values when they made the decision to close S. W. Snowden.