Bedford County School Board Faces Backlash Over Proposed Stewartsville Elementary Closure

Parents and teachers urge board to reject plan that would move 300 students to Goodview Elementary

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Dozens of parents and teachers packed a Bedford County School Board meeting to voice strong opposition to a proposal to close Stewartsville Elementary School. The plan, which would move about 300 students to Goodview Elementary, was met with concerns over larger class sizes, strain on teachers, and the impact on young students being bussed with older middle schoolers. The school board is set to vote on the closure this Thursday, but many in the community are calling for a delay to allow more time for input.

Why it matters

The potential closure of Stewartsville Elementary has become a contentious issue in the Bedford County community, with parents and teachers arguing it would negatively impact students' education and well-being. The debate also highlights ongoing funding challenges facing the school district and the need for greater collaboration between the school board and county supervisors.

The details

The proposal to close Stewartsville Elementary first surfaced at the end of a school board budget meeting last week, with a vote already scheduled for this Thursday. More than 50 parents and staff from Stewartsville and Goodview Elementary Schools attended Monday's meeting to urge the board to reject the plan. They warned it would lead to larger class sizes and strain teachers' ability to meet students' needs. The idea of closing Stewartsville is not new - it was proposed in 2024 but later voted down. During the 2024-2025 school year, the board spent over $1.2 million to replace the HVAC system and roof at Stewartsville.

  • The proposal to close Stewartsville Elementary first surfaced at the end of a school board budget meeting last week.
  • The Bedford County School Board is set to vote on the proposed closure this Thursday evening.
  • The idea of closing Stewartsville was previously proposed in 2024 but later voted down.

The players

Jordan Karnes

District 1 School Board member who attended Monday's meeting to speak with parents and staff.

Matthew Holbrook

District 2 School Board member who attended Monday's meeting to speak with parents and staff.

Alicia Botts

A Stewartsville Elementary parent who expressed concerns about 5th graders being bussed with middle schoolers.

Amanda Bryan

A Goodview Elementary parent and PTA president who also voiced concerns about the impact on younger students.

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What they’re saying

“This was an idea that is almost two years old; how did you guys get here again?”

— Hayden Ribertson, ABC13 reporter (wset.com)

“Well, I think just the reversion coming up in 2028-2029, with inflation, we've been putting money back aside along with the board of supervisors to prepare for that, but I think just inflation and other factors have it's just outrun it. And it's not gonna be as soft a landing as we hoped.”

— Matthew Holbrook, District 2 School Board member (wset.com)

“From the horror stories I've been told by my daughter, no 10-year-old fifth grader should be on the bus with middle schoolers.”

— Alicia Botts, Stewartsville Elementary parent (wset.com)

What’s next

The Bedford County School Board is set to vote on the proposed closure of Stewartsville Elementary this Thursday evening.

The takeaway

The debate over the potential closure of Stewartsville Elementary has become a flashpoint in the Bedford County community, with parents and teachers voicing strong concerns about the impact on students' education and well-being. The situation also highlights the ongoing funding challenges facing the school district and the need for greater collaboration between the school board and county supervisors to find solutions that prioritize the needs of students.