Bernd Elementary Parents Protest School Closing

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Tonight’s Bibb County Board of Education meeting overflowed into the hallway–filled with parents hoping their presence would save Bernd Elementary from closing.

It’s one of the five schools on the board’s list of closures.

Bernd Elementary received a reward school highest Progress Academic Achievement Award tonight.

But parents continued to pack the room even after the award was presented.

“I think they should strongly consider–or reconsider, this closure,” said Edward Barnes.

Bernd Elementary on the school closing list? Parents like Edward Barnes thought the irony was obvious.

“It’s a proven school in the community,” said Barnes. “Bernd was one of the only schools that was awarded tonight for high test scores and they’re on the closure list. That doesn’t make any sense to me.”

And the board’s response didn’t seem to please the parents.

“I understand how dedicated you could become to your place,” said board member Ella Carter. “But I want them to have background information on how we get on the replacement list and I think with a little information they’ll have a better appreciation for what we’re trying to do.”

And though the board decided to keep Riley Elementary in Macon open at the last board meeting, they consider this a different situation.

“We’re not big bad wolves that sit back and say ah, that school is old let’s put the–there’s some criteria that the system follows to get a school on a list,” said Carter. “They bring up some good ideas–they’re even bringing up ideas of rebuilding the school right there on their own campus. Hey, that might be an option.”

For now, the board will have to wait to decide.

The board wants to visit Bernd to assess the current situation.

The closing of the school is part of the board’s five year plan to revitalize the entire school system.