PTO President Releases Statement on Potential W.B. Beam Intermediate School Closure

Cherryville, NC (WNN) - Previously, on March 4th, 2026, W. Blaine Beam Intermeadiate Principal Lynn Whitesides released a statement concerning a feasibility study that would see fourth-grade classes moved to Cherryville Elementary and fifth-grade classes moved to John Chavis Middle. Currently, there are no formal plans to complete this action. However, due to parent concerns, PTO President Jamie Sherrill has released a statement encouraging parents to take action.

It states that while most parents are not concerned about fourth grade returning to the elementary school, many feel fifth grade is too young to be introduced to the middle school environment. The full statement from Sherrill is shown below:

A statement from W. Blaine Beam Intermediate PTO President Jamie Sherrill made on March 13th, 2025

Jamie Sherrill

For those wishing to show their continued support for decisions like these and monitor the situation, the full Gaston County School Board meeting schedule can be found here. This will also include meeting agendas. Continued public concern is one of the most powerful ways to address an issue, so it is encouraged for those who want to ensure the best decision is made for Cherryville Schools.  

Community and Official Concerns

During the March City Council Meeting, Mayor Wade Stroupe expressed his personal concerns over the feasibility study. Despite the principal’s assurance that there are no current plans to take action on this, Mayor Stroupe feels that if it weren’t a possibility, then a feasibility study wouldn’t be necessary. Stroupe plans to be fully involved in the process and ensure that council representation will be at all future school board meetings concerning this topic. He noted that the Cherryville Education Taskforce was created approximately 25 years ago, specifically to address overcrowding in Cherryville Schools. This directly led to the opening of W. Blaine Beam Intermediate School, leaving it confusing that over two decades later, Cherryville schools would see a large enough decline in population to undo this decision. 

Mayor Wade Stroupe speaking on his concerns over the feasibilty study being done on Cherryville Schools - Cherryville, NC - March 9th, 2026

Mason Beam (WNN)

He also echoed the concern of Cherryville’s GCS Board Representative, Robbie Lovelace. Lovelace, instead of hearing the news from other board members, first learned of it when Cherryville city personnel reached out to her on March 3rd, 2026. The full statement from Lovelace can be read in the article linked here, along with the original statement from Principal Whitesides.

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