March 8 2024- The Franklin County School Board has voted 5-3 in favor of closing Burnt Chimney and Henry elementary schools starting from the 2024-2025 school year. The decision aims to save approximately $1 million dollars for each school. The vote follows a special meeting with school administrators after the district faced a $3.7 million loss in state funding for the upcoming school year. Board members cite a fifteen-percent student loss in Franklin County as one of the reasons for closing the schools, with the hope that combining them will ensure full-time teachers for everyone and address declining class sizes. The closure decision has raised concerns among parents about bus ride times and the impact of longer commutes on their children.
https://www.wdbj7.com/2024/02/29/franklin-county-school-board-votes-close-two-schools/