FOREST CITY, N.C. (WSPA) — A meeting was held by the Rutherford County Schools Board of Education on Monday night regarding the proposed closure of the Rutherford Opportunity Center (ROC).
The ROC is an alternative school that provides students in grades 6 through 12 with individual academic and scheduling needs, serving as an alternative to the traditional high school program.
“We are a nationally accredited trauma-skilled school,” said Karen Glover, an educator at the ROC. “To close the ROC is to close the door to opportunity, healing and hope for our students.”
At the meeting, multiple residents shared stories about how the alternative school has made a positive impact in the community.
“I say this with urgency,” said Sherry Bright, the executive director for family Resources of Rutherford County. “There are no equivalent services currently in place to meet the needs of [the ROC] population. Closing the ROC without a comprehensive fully-developed alternative is not just short-sighted, it is harmful.”
From 2019-2024, Rutherford County claimed that the school district’s student population had reduced by an additional 744 students, bringing the total loss of students to over 2,600 since 2008.
According to the district’s expense fund, RCS is dealing with a $6.1 million funding gap for the next school year.
The shortfalls are caused by a $5.4 million loss in nonrecurrent revenue and expected state budget cuts, $228,800 in new costs for School Resource Officers, and $522,988 in additional teacher supplement expenses, the documents explain.
There are currently 18 public schools in Rutherford County. Due to the budget gap, the district’s board of education has proposed closing the ROC, Mt. Vernon-Ruth Elementary School and the Rutherford Early College High School.
The district board will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday to discuss the proposed closures of the elementary school and early college.
“The official decision regarding closing the ROC should be made during the June 26th meeting,” ROC leaders posted to Facebook. “No matter what the outcome of the final decision, we will still continue to find the best opportunity for our students.”
