Beaufort County Board of Education Tentatively Votes to Close S.W. Snowden Elementary School

The Beaufort County Board of Education voted 7-2 in favor of tentatively closing S.W. Snowden Elementary School in Aurora before the 2025-2026 school year. This decision highlights ongoing issues such as the reduction in state-funded teacher positions and declining student enrollment in the region. Since 2019, there has been a significant decrease in teacher positions in Beaufort County, coupled with a drop in student population, making it financially challenging to keep schools like Snowden open without additional local funding. There's an ongoing debate wherein board members Gary Carlton, Eltha Booth, and others supported the closure due to these financial constraints, while members like Charles Hickman and Stacey Davis opposed it, citing negative impacts on the local community, especially for Richlands township and the broader Aurora area. The decision has been acknowledged as difficult, with a consensus acknowledging the emotional and logistical hardships involved. Community members and educators expressed concerns over increased student travel times to alternative schools and the potential weakening of Aurora's community fabric. Additionally, the closure might demotivate families and businesses from relocating to Aurora, potentially stunting the town's growth. The Board plans to hold public hearings to discuss the closure further, though no dates have been set. The community's response will be crucial in the final decision.