Carter County BOE votes to close Little Milligan Elementary

The Carter County Board of Education voted Thursday to close Little Milligan Elementary School with a 6 to 1 with one absent vote. School leaders said they are concerned about the budget moving into the next year and said the main reason for closing Little Milligan is the amount it costs per student compared to other schools in the district. Several parents spoke against closing the school during the public comment part of the meeting, with many pointing out that the school is top 5 in the state for TCAP scores. Some parents said they are looking into the homeschooling option to avoid much longer bus rides, and overcrowding. Last year, the school board approved transferring 6-8th grades from Little Milligan to Hampton Elementary, making Little Milligan a pre-K through 5th grade school.