Fight to save Manchester Elementary unites Spring Lake community
SPRING LAKE, N.C. (WTVD) -- Spring Lake residents are raising concerns about the possible closure of Manchester Elementary School, rallying neighbors to keep the nearly 60-year-old campus open.
Community organizers have one message: save our schools. In Spring Lake and across social media, fliers calling on residents to join the fight have circulated as the threat of closure looms. If Manchester Elementary closes, Spring Lake would be left with just one elementary school.
"You've got to stand for something, or you'll fall for anything. So I'm going to continue to stay until they tell me that it's a done deal," said Robin Chadwick, a community organizer. "The fight to keep schools from closing in Cumberland County is far from over. "Give our community a chance. Give our babies a chance."
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Manchester Elementary has served generations of students for nearly six decades, but now faces the threat of closure along with several other schools in the county. School board officials say the closures are needed to address aging buildings and overdue repairs, potentially saving the district millions of dollars.
"I was heartbroken," Chadwick said. The news was especially hard for her, as both she and her son attended Manchester.
Now, Chadwick and Spring Lake Commissioner Jackie Jackson are leading the charge and rallying neighbors.
"When you have school closing, you can't have growth. Spring Lake is on a mission to grow, so you can't have growth slash reduction," Jackson said.
For Jackson, the issue is personal.
"My grandchildren are right here, my grandchildren right here in Spring Lake. So if something happens, I'm there. I don't have to worry about anything. My grandson, he's autistic. So sometimes he have meltdowns. So if my son or his mother can't come, I'm there. So now you're telling me I got to worry about my son if he has my grandson, if he has a meltdown, how am I getting a favor fast enough to him? You have to be careful about them. Babies," she said.
Spring Lake has faced consolidation battles before. In 2022, Lillian Black Elementary closed, sending students to W.T. Brown Elementary and forcing families to adapt once again.
"Our children deserve a piece of the bread. And a lot of times we're left with crumbs. We've been advocating for our schools in our town for a long time," Chadwick said.
Both Jackson and Chadwick are determined to make a difference before time runs out. "If they continue to still want to close our school, it won't be because we didn't fight," Jackson said.
Jackson and Chadwick are urging the community to join their cause by attending the first town hall meeting on Tuesday at 6 p.m. and adding their names to the petition.
They also plan to attend the school board meeting on March 10.
