Faced with declining enrollment and the associated loss of state revenue, the Mathews County School Board is looking at a proposal to consolidate its elementary and middle schools.

Under a preliminary plan presented by superintendent of schools Nancy Welch during a budget work session Tuesday afternoon, the combined K-8th grade school would have one principal, two assistant principals, one registrar, one financial clerk and two secretaries (one for each main office).

Thomas Hunter Middle School and the county’s elementary school already share a single physical plant, as well as a cafeteria/auditorium.

As a whole, the school division had originally projected an enrollment of 950 students. At present, the division is looking at an Average Daily Membership of approximately 890 students, a figure the state uses in determining its contribution to the county coffers.

The proposal opens a couple of opportunities for Mathews schools, Welch said. First, it would extend the Title I ...