‘Everyone has been in suspense long enough,’ said Randolph County Schools Board of Education member Gary Cook. After nearly a year of rumors, controversy and meetings about grade reconfiguration, and an early option that could have converted Archdale Elementary School into a sixth grade school, the Board voted to keep the status quo.

The reason? There isn’t enough money.

The consensus was drawn at the Jan. 12 winter retreat held at Pinewood Country Club. The vote was held following the retreat.

The Board reviewed how to use existing facilities to meet existing needs. The Board had wanted to establish two feeder systems — one for Wheatmore High School and the other for Trinity High School. The development of two feeder systems also would have allowed the Board to address that some elementary schools were being under-utilized and others were overpopulated.

“This was really the only alternative that we had,” said Superintendent Donald Andrews.

“Based on all relevant information received, community input, the current financial limitation as well as the financial forecast, it is recommended to the Randolph County Board of Education that the Archdale-Trinity area schools remain intact with no grade change configuration at this time.”

Three options were reviewed and none were affordable.

In Option 1, Archdale Elementary’s 408 students would be transferred to other elementary schools so that it could be converted to a sixth grade only school and Braxton Craven into a seventh and eighth grade school to feed into Trinity High School. Archdale-Trinity Middle School would feed into Wheatmore High School. Modifications were estimated at a minimum cost of $171,000 to $191,000.

Archdale Elementary School’s PTA had implored the Board to keep their school intact.

Option 2 would keep Braxton Craven as a sixth grade school and ATMS for grades seven and eight with two athletic tracks — one to feed WHS and the other THS. The minimum cost was estimated at $86,000 to $91,000.

In Option 3, ATMS would be converted into a sixth through eighth grade school to feed into WHS. Trindale Elementary would house kindergarten through sixth grade and Braxton Craven would house seventh and eighth graders to feed into THS. Modifications for this option were estimated at $180,000.

The Board would have had to ask Randolph County Board of Commissioners for the additional funds required for grade reconfiguration modifications. According to Assistant Superintendent of Operations Marty Trotter, Commissioners said that no additional construction funds will be available until 2015. Any changes would have been a temporary fix until funds are available to construct another middle school.

In long-range facilities planning, Trotter said that property on Surrett Drive, in close proximity to Trinity High School, as well as property on Finch Farm Road at Wheatmore, are under consideration as sites to build a middle school. Also on the slate for the future are renovations to Trinity High School and the possible conversion of Braxton Craven into an alternative school.

A long-range school building plan will be presented to Randolph County Commissioners in March.