BEDFORD — Residents, teachers and parents voiced opposition to school closures, job cuts and pay reductions before the Bedford County School Board on Thursday.

A large crowd is expected to flood the Bedford County School Board’s public hearing Thursday to protest the prospect of closing two elementary schools and cutting more than 120 employees.

BEDFORD — Facing community pressure to not consolidate two elementary schools asprojected budget cuts loom, some Bedford school officials say they would support studying “across the board” pay reductions for employees.

Bedford Schools Superintendent Douglas Schuch said Friday that eliminating 124 full-time jobs and closing two elementary schools is not “ideal” but necessary to deal with mounting budget cuts.

Bedford County Schools Superintendent Douglas Schuch recommended a budget proposal Thursday that would eliminate 124 full-time positions and close two elementary schools.

BEDFORD — Bedford County Schools Superintendent Douglas Schuch said Thursday he would recommend focusing on staff cuts in the next fiscal year while beginning to plan potential school closures for the following year.

BEDFORD — An expected shortfall projected at $5.3 million for 2010-2011 caused Bedford County school officials to bring up the possibilities of staff reductions and school closures as they deliberated how to fill the budget hole Thursday.

BEDFORD — The Bedford Academy of Virtual Learning, a program that has offered online learning to county and out-of-county students for the past two years, is logging off.

Bedford County School Board members will roll up their sleeves Thursday for the first of several planned work sessions to piece together the division’s upcoming 2010-11 budget.

BEDFORD — In an effort to receive $800,000 or more in federal funds next year, the Bed ford County School Board voted Thursday to participate with the state Department of Education in pursuing a nationally competitive grant.

BEDFORD — The Bedford County School Board agreed Thursday to present a draft long-range facility plan to county officials with a projected investment of at least $48.8 million.

BEDFORD — The Bedford County School Board took its first steps Thursday to establish a long-range facility plan to address the school division’s needs over the next decade.

In a meeting with area media this morning, Schuch outlined plans for a months-long transition process that already has included meetings with staff from schools and the school system’s central office.

Schools in the Forest zone of the Bedford County school division have high student achievement, technology use and parental involvement, but could use some improvement with instruction for special education students and those who speak English as a second language, according to an internal review.

The Bedford County school district will lose another longtime educator and top-level administrator after this school year.