What parents of Middleburg Elementary School students consider an asset of the school may just be the bane of its existence. Low enrollment there, and at other public schools in the county, is viewed as a red flag to county officials, said Carla Passarello, Head of Small Schools Committee and the mother of three.

"The main threat is that the administration argues that they aren't cost efficient," said Passarello, "and that simply isn't true."

Passarello explained that officials don't take into account that newer, and therefore lesser paid, teachers are often assigned to the newer, bigger schools, while more experienced, higher paid teachers often opt to relocate to the smaller rural schools. This makes schools like Middleburg Elementary seem expensive to run; higher salaries going to instruct fewer students.

Passarello said that the parents of Middleburg Elementary students have been staving off various threats to close the school for decades. School board officials prefer bigger, newer schools than the smaller, older ones in rural settings like the one Middleburg residents have come to value so much, according to Passarello.

At the present time, only 72 students are enrolled at Middleburg Elementary, however the school's capacity is 137 students, according to Principal Gary C. Wilkers.

What compounds the threat to small schools like Middleburg is the overcrowding at some of the other Loudoun County Public Schools.

Wilkers said that in an effort to ease the overcrowding the county adopted a new policy, which took effect on January 27. This policy allows county residents to transfer their elementary student into an under-enrolled school, if they provide their own transportation.

"We have had one student transfer in from Lincoln Elementary and have had several other parents from the Leesburg area come and take a tour of the school," said Wilkers, who is hopeful that he will gain more transfers for the coming school year.

"I would expect, realistically, that we would get six or seven kids next year and that it would grow each year," said Passarello, "My hope for Middleburg is that they experience growth, naturally, which will increase enrollment as well."

Passarello also noted that a development site for new town houses has been approved by the Town and considers it a positive prospect for bringing in new Middleburg Elementary students.

"Right now we're in a holding pattern," said Passarello, "just monitoring the transfers and as the school year winds down and parents start to think about the next school year, I will get to many of the overcrowded schools to get the word out about the new policy."

Although her youngest child, Meghan, will be graduating from Middleburg Elementary this summer, Passarello said that she will continue to be vigilant of the county's intentions toward the school and others like it.

"It's not a matter of privilege," said Passarello, "the school has a high number of minority and learning disabled children. If they close Middleburg Elementary all of those children would be disenfranchised because they don't have the wherewithal to go to a private school. These are kids that already have problems."

Although Wilkers said that no one at the county has mentioned closing the school, he agrees that ensuring its future within the Middleburg community is key.

"I think it's a subject that needs to be thought through very carefully, considering the impact it will have on the children and their community," said Wilkers, who noted that Middleburg Elementary is the oldest school in Loudoun County to still occupy its original building.

Built in 1911, the school has a lot of history, charm and connection with the residents in Middleburg.

"For many of the children, not only did their parents go here, but their grandparents as well," said Wilkers, "so a lot of the families have a big investment in the school. For our new families, it's a comfort to them that their child won't be just a number; this is a very special place."

Lisa Patterson, owner of Mellow Out, supports the school as well, although her daughter, Remy, is still four years away from starting Kindergarten there.

"For me, it's incredibly important for the school to stay open," said Patterson, "I think it's very important for the community to have a public school in town, without it I think we'll lose a demographic. And I don't think elementary kids belong on a school bus for an hour a day; I think it's unreasonable to ask it of."

Parents who are interested in transferring their children into Middleburg Elementary will need to submit an application with the county between May 1 and the 10th day of the 2005-2006 school year. Forms and information can be obtained at www.loudoun.k12.va.us. Wilkers also welcomes inquiries about the new program; he can be reached at 703-771-6680.