ROANE COUNTY, W.Va. –The Roane County Board of Education voted Thursday night to close two of their elementary/middle schools and consolidate their students into nearby schools.

Board members voted 4-1 to close Geary Elementary/Middle School and Walton Elementary/Middle School. Their K-5 students will be consolidated into Spencer Elementary, grades 6-8 will move to Spencer Middle, and Pre-K students will be placed in the space at Roane County High School currently occupied by the Office of Student Support Services.

The vote comes after the county experienced a significant decrease in student enrollment and was placed under a State of Emergency by the state Board of Education in July. The state board took over due to financial issues and the county’s failure to develop a consolidation pla

See Full Page