It is my firm belief that the "structural problems" and other supposed problems with our schools that everyone keeps talking about have been extremely exaggerated. I believe most of it is nothing but propaganda generated by the Basham administration and the pro-consolidation forces in the county to scare everyone into supporting new construction. It's all a load of hogwash. I know these things because I graduated from Pound in 2002. There are no major problems with Pound's High School.

Most of the things that could be pointed out as "wrong" with our schools are purely cosmetic, not structural. And, somewhat like swvacsas stated earlier, "if" and I repeat "if" our schools are in such bad shape, then why are they so? Obviously that is due to neglect or oversight. There are many examples of much older school buildings than our own that are still in use today.

The smaller communities in this area are devastated enough these days with so many younger people moving away for various reasons. The last thing that needs to happen is for them to lose their schools. The small schools represent something that a community can rally around, something that remains uniquely their own.

It all comes down to this... If it's not broke, dont fix it. Our small schools serve us well. The buildings can be fixed and maintained for many years to come for a price comprable to what it would cost to build new schools. And when you can fix something that is old, I think that you will find that it is many times better than anything new that you could build. Notwithstanding the nostalgia, tradition, and community identity that can be preserved.

And, on a final note... to all the people out there who keep complaining about how much it will cost to fix these schools... Its time you stopped worrying about your pocketbooks and started worrying about what is best for the students of the schools and the people of the communities that would lose their schools if consolidation were to happen. It's easy to support consolidation, say, if you live in Wise, or in Big Stone Gap, because you know that no matter what, your school, or at least a school in your town, will survive. Put yourselves in the shoes of someone in Appy or Pound. Then its not so appealing, is it?

If Wise County is inevitablty headed for consolidation, then like was said before.. Appy and Pound would be better off out of Wise County.