Petition to Keep W.B. Beam Intermediate School Open /Cherryville Education Alliance

We respectfully ask the Gaston County Board of Education to keep W.B. Beam Intermediate School open. Beam provides an 
age-appropriate learning environment for Cherryville students and plays an important role in student success, school 
capacity, and future growth planning. We request that Beam be removed from consideration for closure. 

Save W.B. Beam Intermediate School in Cherryville, NC
W.B. Beam Intermediate School has served Cherryville families for generations, providing a stable, age‑appropriate learning environment for students in grades 4 and 5. The proposed closure of Beam would permanently disrupt students, families, and the Cherryville community, while producing only minimal financial savings for Gaston County Schools.

Beam plays a critical role in the Cherryville school cluster. It allows 4th and 5th grade students to learn in a setting designed specifically for their developmental and academic needs. Closing Beam would force these students into schools that are already operating near or at capacity, creating overcrowding, strained schedules, and loss of programs. Cherryville Elementary already faces space and cafeteria constraints, and John Chavis Middle School was not designed to absorb additional grade levels without significant impact to students and staff.

Beyond logistics, Beam is an important part of Cherryville’s identity. School closures remove more than a building. They erode community trust, weaken neighborhood stability, and reduce educational continuity. 

This petition calls on the Gaston County Board of Education and district leadership to pause any decision to close W.B. Beam Intermediate School and instead:

• Keep Beam open and fully operational
• Conduct a transparent, school‑specific feasibility analysis that includes overcrowding, transportation, and student experience
• Consider Cherryville’s ongoing residential growth and future enrollment needs
• Engage Cherryville families and community members directly before making irreversible decisions

Our students deserve learning environments that prioritize their safety, development, and success. Our community deserves a voice in decisions that shape its future.

Please join us in urging Gaston County Schools to keep W.B. Beam Intermediate School open.

Sign and share this petition to protect Cherryville’s children, schools, and community.