WARREN COUNTY, N.C. -- The county's Board of Education will vote Tuesday afternoon whether to close South Warren Elementary School. It's home to nearly 200 students and staff.

  • The board's chair tells Spectrum News ongoing pipe issues have taken a toll on the aging building's HVAC unit.
  • Some faculty members say students have to bundle up during the winters even while indoors.
  • Repairs could cost the county up to $1.7 million amid an already tight budget.

The board's chair tells Spectrum News ongoing pipe issues have taken a toll on the aging building's HVAC unit. 

"They've shown us different pictures of pipes that are not in good condition," said Chairwoman Ebony Tally-Brame.

Some faculty members say students have to bundle up during the winters even while indoors. Tally-Brame says repairs could cost the county up to $1.7 million amid an already tight budget. She believes closing the school is better than keeping it open and risking student lives.

However, some students and staff would like the board to find a way to make the repairs and keep the school open.

"The school is almost like home and the children who come through here feel the same way," says Lenora Clark, a teacher's assistant for more than 20 years.

The board will hold a special meeting Tuesday afternoon at 12:15 to make a decision.