The 'Oppose to Close Lowes' campaign ended last night with a four to one vote

Lowes Elementary School in Graves County to permanently close its doors. 

Lowes Elementary in Graves County, Kentucky will close its doors this year. It's the decision of the Graves County Board of Education made Thursday evening, March 18 during a long meeting. 

The Board voted four to one in favor of closing the school. Kenneth House was the only dissenting vote.  With the final decision made, the school will close permanently on June 30, 2021. 

At Thursday's meeting, there were people wearing Oppose to Close Lowes t-shirts in a last ditch effort to keep the school open. The Board followed Superintended Matt Madding's recommendation to shut the school down. 

More than 200 students attend Lowes Elementary and will have to move to other schools within the district. Students also took to the podium at Thursday's meeting expressing the impact the closure will have on their family and friendships. 

Superintendent Madding said any teacher tenured at Lowes will not be out of a job and will have the option to teach at one of the other schools in Graves County. 

A letter will go out next week notifying parents of the Board's decision that will include information on which school their child will attend. Each family will receive the letter by U.S. mail (March 22-26) informing them of the recommendations for enrollment during the 2021-2022 school year. 

K-6 will remain in elementary schools and 7th grade students will attend Graves County Middle School. Parents will have an opportunity for open enrollment for a different Graves County school. 

If you don't receive your letter by March 29, contact Lowes Elementary for your child's information. Eight weeks are left in the school year. There will be an end of school and community event Mary 17 -21. 

Lowes Elementary was one of the first schools in the area to enroll in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program. Almost all preschool children at Lowes are enrolled in the program. Preschoolers receive a free book every month until they're five years old. The program is designed to improve literacy and better prepare students for entering kindergarten.