On March 14, the Pickens County School Board voted to close A.R. Lewis and Holly Springs Elementary Schools, leaving a void in these two communities. Despite an overwhelming public outcry against it, as well as feasible alternative options offered up by a stakeholders committee (made up of two parents from each school), the school board voted to close the two rural schools which have proudly served their communities for generations. This decision was also made in spite of recent multimillion dollar renovations to the school, which the taxpayers are still footing the bill for. The school board also voted for consolidation despite extensive evidence that school closures are an ineffective and counterproductive means of remedying financial problems. Furthermore, it creates problems for the displaced children through lower grades, lower test scores, increased disciplinary problems, and a higher dropout rate. It is our hope that someone (school district or government official) will stand up for what is best for our children and do what is right by reopening these two schools and returning the rural children to their home communities. We also ask that no other schools be consolidated.