The Bedford County School Board voted 5-2 in favor of closing Stewartsville Elementary on Thursday night in a move that parents say will mean longer bus rides and the loss of a community hub.

A redistricting proposal in Bedford County has sparked strong opposition from parents, as the school board weighs a plan that could reassign more than 140 students to different schools.

The school board is planning to make a decision on March 21.

Thursday’s school board meeting was the first since the incident.

UPDATE