What happened with consolidation?

**R13** · July 16th, 2009, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by Rich_Kotite

When we talk about a broader range of classes and a higher education, Im just really uncertain about this. Ok, for example, we are talking about adding new classes which arent tought to the curriculum. There are a few problems here and one being that there arent any new students, just new buildings. So you give some students more options but youre taking students out of other classes to do so. That means youre going to have smaller class sizes which could be good, but it also means youre going to have to have more collegiate professionals which means a larger budget. Lets be honest here, Wise County Schools isnt about higher education first, they are about being able to maintain a school system. They still have to make solid business decisions whether kids are getting a higher education or not. So you have 500 kids taking 4 classes(for example) so thats 2000 classes. Before with 2 schools, it was still 2000 classes. Students might want to take classes that would better them but the reality is, for every student that is interested in the betterment of their education, there are 5 that want to take general classes to get them through their high school lives before they move into the real world. Having a wide variety of classes would be great, but 500 kids for each school still isnt very much and it would come at a high price in the long run for 6 kids to be able to take German and 4 kids be able to take Mandarian each year. Im not saying thats wrong or that they dont deserve to take those classes but the main point Im trying to make is, with budget contraints already, I think we are just building buildings with no real short term educational improvement. I cant prognosticate what would be the long term ramifications because the global economy is too unpredictable.

That's a terrible argument about the addition of classes. I doubt they'll open a class for "4" students, they'll offer a lot and see how many sign up for them and decide which ones have the most interested then open them - that's how it works now or at least it was at Norton.

**Rich_Kotite** · July 16th, 2009, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by Burton13

That's a terrible argument about the addition of classes. I doubt they'll open a class for "4" students, they'll offer a lot and see how many sign up for them and decide which ones have the most interested then open them - that's how it works now or at least it was at Norton.

Im not arguing against the addition of classes, what Im telling you is, the budget will have to increase to hire more teachers. You cant just put flyers out to see how many kids are going to take the class because when you hire a teacher, you are also in someways promoting job security. If kids want to take German one year and noone wants to take it the next, you end up getting rid of that teacher which is bad business all together. It creates a reputation and in the long run, rubs alot of employees the wrong way. You have to ensure that a program like German is going to have "staying power"

What will happen is where there is a lack of interest in most classes, particularly in wise county, they just do interactive television from satellite locations. That way, they can stick paraprofessionals in those classrooms that dont get paid much and they are supposed to handle classroom management by making sure students dont cheat. Cheating has been a major problem with these types of classrooms though.

Outsourcing their education allows them to extend the curriculum, keep the budget in tact, and build the buildings everyone wants. Of course, many people arent going to be happy with outsourcing but thats currently what is done and I would venture to say, it will be a continuing trend.

**The_Sage** · July 16th, 2009, 06:08 PM

What are you talking about in reference to classes offered?
Are you saying students/parents get to choose what cirriculum that they want???

The school board sets the classes offered and then students decide what they want to take...

Some of your terminology confuses me.

**imported_Guest** · July 16th, 2009, 10:00 PM

Originally Posted by Rich_Kotite

Im not arguing against the addition of classes, what Im telling you is, the budget will have to increase to hire more teachers. You cant just put flyers out to see how many kids are going to take the class because when you hire a teacher, you are also in someways promoting job security. If kids want to take German one year and noone wants to take it the next, you end up getting rid of that teacher which is bad business all together. It creates a reputation and in the long run, rubs alot of employees the wrong way. You have to ensure that a program like German is going to have "staying power"

When I was in school there were certain classes that were only offered during one block per semester or sometimes one block per year. There weren't a lot of people taking French 4, Trig, or Calculus so they were only offered once or twice a year. To keep those teachers employed they taught other classes as well. Also there were some part time teachers when I was in school that only taught 2 classes a day, and they went home at lunch.

**simple man** · July 18th, 2009, 08:13 AM

Originally Posted by Burton13

How many meetings are they going to do with that? Wish Appy, SP would accept a good thing when it comes and stop *****ing

As soon as JIB joins the county schools and gets in the mix with their tax dollars. It would be a shame to keep the kids from Norton from having the chance to get all the new classes and sports.

**royalflush** · July 18th, 2009, 04:00 PM

VHSL Helper, you are in Buchanan County, where the last consolodation in this area happened. How did people from Whitewood and Pilgrim's Knob feel about it?

**cosmo99** · July 18th, 2009, 04:48 PM

Does anyone know what the 3 new High schools will look like or whether or not it had it in the paper. I can't remember but I think it had it in the Coalfield awhile back.

**simple man** · July 19th, 2009, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by cosmo99

Does anyone know what the 3 new High schools will look like or whether or not it had it in the paper. I can't remember but I think it had it in the Coalfield awhile back.

http://www.wise.k12.va.us/High%20Sch...ment%20(2).pdf
There is the bottom line- more than 100 million, without the complete line of sports facilities. The BOS says the county can't stay inside the law and carry that much debt. And I just don't see the county being happy with the tax increase that was mentioned in the same story.

**simple man** · July 19th, 2009, 12:05 PM

You know, I kinda been staying from this subject- but the school website says it will carve almost a million bucks by firing teachers....but I can't seem to find any cuts for the central office on that site, not even one.