Community rallies against Shell Point Elementary's closure (update: more protests)

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Update December 10: The Island Packet late last night posted its coverage of Tuesday's school board meeting where parents again protested the proposed closing of Shell Point Elementary School.

You can read the piece here.

The coverage includes more of the impassioned response we'd expect from the community. We'll see if that translates into action on the school board level.

Update December 7, school board meeting: The Beaufort Count School Board meets today, December 7, and Shell Point Elementary parents are planning to voice their opposition.

The meeting is at 6 p.m. in Beaufort County Council Chambers.

There will also be a public hearing by the school board on Wednesday, December 8, at 6 p.m. at the Battery Creek High School Auditorium, with supporters rallying at 5:30. Supporters are encouraged to bring signs and shirts.

It is a week until the vote on closing the school. 

Update November 23, parents organize: The parents of Shell Point Elementary students continue to try and grapple with the decision to shutter the school.

On Monday night a gathering was held at the school to try to understand and develop a counter plan to the closure of what parents are saying is one of the area's best schools.

WSAV was at meeting and has a nice video report; take a watch here.

Updated November 17, attendance and budget woes: A new picture was painted at Tuesday night's Beaufort County school board meeting where parents and teachers packed the room in protest of a plan to close Shell Point Elementary.

Seems the issue isn't about closing an under-utilized school, but rather not being able to afford to keep the school open. Those issues likely aren't without overlap, but still it's tough to get a clear picture on the rationale behind these school closings. Is it attendance or is it money? 

You can read the full report on Tuesday's school board meeting over at the Island Packet.

Also, below is Holly Bounds' interview with parents who are opposed to the school's closing.

Afternoon update: WSAV's Holly Bounds offers the first "official" report on this whole Shell Point Elementary protest. 

Looks like a couple of parents showed up to rally in front of the school, and the district offered a response. You can check out Bounds' report here.

Bounds also is reporting via Twitter that the protesters are calling on the school district's elected officials to forgo a year's pay in order to save the school.

Reported 10:30 a.m. Nov. 16: You may recall that over the weekend The Island Packet reported that Shell Point Elementary is one of two schools (the other being St. Helena Early Learning Center) that the Beaufort County School District is considering closing due to low attendance numbers. Basically there aren't enough kids to fill the classrooms.

Well if the district is going to close Shell Point, seems it's not going to happen without a fight from the community.

It was just a matter of time, but a Save Shell Point Facebook page has sprouted up with about 100 members. The page and others are calling on concerned parents and residents to attend tonight's 6 p.m. school board meeting at Beaufort County Council, 100 Ribaut Road.

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Word is people will be rallying outside the school board meeting starting at 5:30 p.m.

Everyone's favorite television reporter, Holly Bounds, is meeting with the parents today, and we'll update with her report as soon as we see it.

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