Caldwell County Schools public hearing on Kings Creek draws a crowd

Monday was a long evening for the Caldwell County Schools Board of Education as 18 speakers shared their sentiments on the potential closure of Kings Creek School.

Seven more wrote comments that Chief Information Officer Nathan Pope read during the meeting.

No decision was made that night, and Pope said there likely won’t be a decision until after the new year.

Pope said there may or may not be another public hearing for Kings Creek. Whether to have a second hearing has not yet been decided.

The meeting was not livestreamed, Pope said, so it cannot be watched by those who missed it. He said most people spoke through the lens of nostalgia rather than logistics.

Written comments are available to read on the district’s website.

Most of the written comments do not have a name attached.

“My youngest child is currently in fifth grade. When she learned that Kings Creek might close, she cried,” wrote one person. “Think about that for a moment. Our children are already worried about losing a place they love … where they feel comfortable and supported.”

Another commenter, Veronica Walsh, said her father, herself, and her children all attended Kings Creek. In a couple of years, her grandson will as well if the school stays open.

“Children need a school close to home. They need to play outside after school more than they need to ride a school bus. They need to be kids, together, in their own community,” Walsh said.

Walsh also touched on the issue of growth, stating that although enrollment is declining now, the 220-unit Palisades of Lenoir housing development may reverse that.

“So, I have to ask: What happens if we close Kings Creek, and then we need it back?” Walsh wrote. “You will never buy Kings Creek back for what it costs to keep it open today.”

Enrollment across the district has steadily decreased in the last five years, falling from 10,645 to 9,719.

At Kings Creek, there were 20 kindergarten students five years ago.

Now, there are only seven.

The school, located in northeast Caldwell County, has a total of only 120 students. It was built to hold almost three times that amount, with a capacity of 358.

One writer expressed concern about how closing Kings Creek would affect the schools receiving its students: Lower Creek Elementary (K-5), Happy Valley School (K-8), and William Lenoir Middle (6-8).

“Moving more students into these schools could lead to overcrowded classrooms and place even greater demands on teachers,” the person wrote. “Children who need one-on-one attention and additional support could struggle even more when teachers are stretched thin.”

According to the district, there is plenty of room in the three schools. Lower Creek has capacity for an additional 428 students, Happy Valley has room for 491, and William Lenoir has room for 600.

If the school is closed, district staff said the change would not take effect until the 2027-28 school year.

FUNDING IS PART OF THE ISSUE

School funding is directly tied to enrollment. Most funding comes from the state, which provides a certain amount per student.

“A school building doesn’t shrink when enrollment does,” district staff said. “Kings Creek still needs a principal, an office, a cafeteria, a custodian, heat, lights, and a teacher in every grade whether a class has seven students or 20.”

Heating, cooling, electricity, and maintenance at Kings Creek cost $786 per student each year, according to the district. The district average is $291 per student.