When The Doors Close

Have you been on some of the road in Wise Co.?

Sandy Ridge alone is a nightmare. And some God awful place called Beans Gap or something like that. Barely could get two vehicles in some areas of that place.
I almost got sick with all the winding roads and quick stops.
Then of all things a school bus. Going to pick up students to bring back to the area?

I am for consolidation if done right. But don't compare it to a few level areas.

And i do know you mean well. And i think you do know the area i am talking. I would never take a bus to some of that area.

I've lived here almost my whole life and never knew some of these place existed.

Never again will i question a snow schedule or a snow day. That was experience enough. And more than let me know why we don't have school on those days.

You made a very good point LPDFTBL. The people raised up in these small communities like Pound, possess a certain sense of pride and respect that these "city people" obviously don't have. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] Being raised in a small town in the country is not such a horrible thing like people make it out to be. It doesn't consist of a bunch of inbred hillbillies like it's perceived to be. We are a laid back group of individuals who have been raised with morals and values that most people this day in time don't possess. People from around here respect others and don't judge them based on outward appearances. However, like in this situation, you insult us and we will fight back. This all goes back to us having pride for our community.

Just so you know Pound used to have more businesses than wise did, it has only recently changed. And again you assume that we want a big school and we DO NOT!

As for the longer bus rides, the kids should have slept and done homework the night before, and a school bus is no place for CHILDREN to be making out. If things like that are a common occurance now adays, then it is no wonder our world is in such a pitiful state.

I am glad that we do get funding, but my point is let us keep OUR coal severance tax. Dont send it to these [censored] out in wise and BSG that will only use it for OUR destruction.

I wish you idiot would make up your minds about whether our county was develope or not, I keep hearing that we're backwards, but then we're developed. Give me a break, that fumble is way to easy to go after.

We are not clinging to a mascot or whatever you want to call it, we are also hanging onto our pride. We have pride in our schools, our students, and our communities, and if you are too blind to see that then you do not need to be here.

You should try some of the roads on South fork, they are nightmares too, if you hit one of the holes you're liable to loose your vehicle, yet buses drive over them every day. Actually I cannot remember the last time that they were paved.

Is Sandy Ridge bad? Of course. I hate driving up there during the middle of summer, much less in the middle of winter.

But Scott Co. is the same way. Ever heard of Dean Hollow? Little Duck? [censored]'s Neck (not near BSG)? Chestnut Ridge? Corn Ridge?

Hell, over half (and I'm just throwing a number out there, might be more, might be less) of Scott Co's roads are still graveled. Yet Scott only has 3 high schools. I knew kids who rode a bus from darn near RCHS all the way to TSHS.

Every county around here has narrow and winding roads. I would even put 72 between Dungannon and Coeburn against Sandy Ridge Rd.

I know those in Appy, Pound, (and to a lesser extent) St Paul want to keep their identity and school. I'm sure those in Dungannon and Nickelsville felt the same way in the late 60s. Or those in Jonesville, Pennington, Dryden, and Keokee in the late 80s.

But as I see it there just isn't any way to keep all these high schools open. Granted I'm looking from the outside in as I have no children in Wise Co. schools and most likely never will. And I think that detachment gives me a unique perspective. I've been in every high school in the county save Pound and I've yet to see a school in good shape. Twin Springs High School is almost 40 years old and is still in pretty good shape. SCSS has done a good job of maintenance with that school.

Would it be good if all of the WCHS's could be remodeled? Yes. But some of these schools were built what, 60 or 70 years ago? Before computers, before televison, before air conditioners. One must compare what it will cost to remodel the schools versus what it will cost to build one or two or three new schools that, with proper care, will last into the 22nd century.

Perhaps I am too single-minded, but I tend to look at things like this solely from a financial point-of-view.

I dont think you will ever understand because it is not something that threatens your way of life and probably never will. IMHO it would cost about the same to renovate the 6 schools we've already go than to start from scratch. The buildings we have now are perfectly good, they are stronger, sturdier, and safer than what you would have built today. These buildings were built when people took pride in their craftsmanship, not just how big their wallet was going to become for doing it. Like I said earlier, if we were talking about an 50-60 old college or university building here, there would be no questions about it, it would be renovated. Why is it different for a highschool? It makes no sense. And if you dont mind me asking, if you're "looking from the outside" and have no children in the school system, then what concern is it of yours?

When Wise and Dickenson counties do consolidate, our Grandchildren will be the ones who benefit. elp6n will be superintendent and NotSoSilentBob will be head guidance counselor!!!!!!!!!!!!! [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

Maybe in an acid dream

Is an aphrodite close kin to a morphadite???????????? [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

last time I checked Aphrodite was the Greek goddess of love. Think you might need to brush up on your history a little.