During a meeting with parents of students at Salem Elementary School Monday, Dallas County Schools Superintendent Hattie Shelton announced plans to close Orrville’s only elementary school and consolidate its students into Keith High School.

“We’re just looking at cutting costs as we move forward,” Shelton said. “It just seemed now was a good time for that closure.”

Shelton stated that the Dallas County Commission’s plan to repeal a half-cent sales tax that was split between the county school system and Selma City Schools was a big factor in her decision, which will go before the Dallas County Board of Education during its regularly scheduled meeting April 18.

“Right now, I don’t have any funds,” Shelton said. “Looking long term, I had to do a move so we can be financially stable.”

Shelton said parents were hesitant at first, noting concerns over the possible loss of teachers and students as young as preschool age attending school with high school students, but seemed supportive by the end of the meeting.

“It’s a change they’re not really excited about,” Shelton said. “I believe in the people in that area. They’re going to support their children.”

Shelton said the elementary students would be housed in buildings separate from the main building and that teachers from the school would move over with them.

Shelton noted that other schools may be closed in the future, but those plans have not been discussed with parents and details could not currently be shared.

Orrville Mayor Louvenia Lumpkin, however, had a different assessment of the meeting.

“I’m very disappointed with that decision because of the way they presented it to the parents,” Lumpkin said. “The parents had no input. I have not seen one person reaching out to the parents.”

Lumpkin said she only learned of the meeting “at the last minute,” but scores of parents showed up to express their disdain for the planned closure and flooded her phone with calls Tuesday.

“When you take a school from a community, the community starts fading out,” Lumpkin said, noting that Salem will be the fourth school closed in the area over the past several years, with only one other Dallas County school being closed beyond the Orrville community. “That’s not fair to the Orrville community.”

Lumpkin took exception with the closure of Salem, which currently has around 180 students, when J.E. Terry Elementary School in Plantersville currently has only 126 students and 11 teachers.

“It’s not about enrollment in the schools,” Lumpkin said. “I can’t take that explanation.”

Shelton stated that Salem was chosen because there is another school where students can be housed, whereas other zones lack such an option.

Lumpkin was further dismayed by the decision to inform parents only a month before the end of the school year and felt the meeting was just a formality.

“Their mind was already made up,” Lumpkin said. “I’ve only got one school left in Orrville and I’m wondering when they’re going to come after that one.”

Shelton said she will bring the recommendation to close Salem Elementary School before the Dallas County Board of Education at its next meeting and hopes the board will take a vote that night.