Two elementary schools in Augusta County may have to close their doors. Augusta County School Board members say efficiency, complaints, and structural improvements are causing them to consider consolidation.

The school board is in the preliminary stages of deciding what to do with Ladd and Beverley Manor elementary schools.

Board member David Shiflett says, "Ladd, where it is located is in a highly congested area in the city of Waynesboro is certainly a disadvantage. That property is better used for something other than a school."

If this school were to be consolidated, the board says 32 percent of the students may be relocated to Wilson Elementary, 27 percent to Cassell Elementary, and 41 percent to Guy K. Stump Elementary.

In terms of Beverley Manor Elementary school, Shiflett says, "We have some space available at Churchville that we can better utilize. Also it will give us the opportunity to do some renovation that we need to do at Riverheads Elementary and enclose the pod school there."

After the first move, 52 percent of these students may then be moved to Churchville Elementary and 48 percent sent to Riverheads Elementary. Again, Shiflett says they are in the early stages of planning.

He says, "We would hope that it would give us some advantages in consolidating. It would be a more efficient use of our resources, personnel, cut down on some of our expenses of operation because we'd be closing two buildings that may not be as efficient as the renovations and the additions that we would add."

Shiflett says the time frame for this plan, if it goes through, is about 3.5 years down the road. This will not affect students currently enrolled in both of these schools.

School board members are urging the community to come forward about this issue and submit their feedback. They will seek a joint meeting with the Board of Supervisors in the near future.