School Board Meeting for March 8 postponed

[imported_UKCats1]

The school board meeting for March 8 has been moved to March 14.

[bishop4uk]

Wise County Public School Board website says its rescheduled to Monday, March 14 @ 6pm in Conference room A in the Education Center

[imported_UKCats1]

I got an email from my principal saying the date had been changed to the 15th. His email may be wrong.

[imported_UKCats1]

I edited my earlier post. It is the 14th according to the webite.

[The_Sage]

Parents sue Wise schools chief over study recommending consolidation
BY KATHY STILL
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
Mar 8, 12:25 AM EST






WISE ? Some Wise County parents allege in a lawsuit filed Monday that a recent school resources study that promotes consolidation should not be used because it was obtained in violation of Virginia's procurement laws.

Robert and Joyce Delauder of St. Paul and John and Kellie Brooks and Don Estridge, all of Appalachia, filed the lawsuit against Superintendent Michael Basham in Wise County Circuit Court.

They claim that Basham violated procurement laws because he failed to seek competitive negotiations in awarding the $38,401 contract. The Virginia Public Procurement Act is designed so that public bodies get quality goods and services at reasonable costs and all qualified vendors have access to public business so no one can be arbitrarily excluded, the lawsuit states.

Basham did not immediately return phone calls for comment Monday.

The parents contend that because of how the Commonwealth Educational Policy Institute study was procured, it should not be used to justify consolidation or for any other purposes.

The parents claim that Basham has been "obsessed with the goal of reducing the number of high schools in Wise County" and developed a "strategy of misinformation and disinformation" to reach his goal. The study is a product of Basham's strategy, the lawsuit states.

A number of parents, particularly some from Appalachia, have accused school officials of moving toward consolidation in recent years. Last year, local residents were told they could comment when the study was released, but the School Board did not allow public comment after CEPI head William Bosher spoke to the board about the study's findings.

The parents claim their right to comment was denied. They also claim that Basham has said he would make a school consolidation proposal at a Wise County School Board meeting originally scheduled for tonight because the CEPI study said immediate action should be taken. The meeting has been postponed until Monday.

The CEPI study is Basham's sole justification to act quickly to close some high schools, the parents allege. The lawsuit asks the court to declare the contract void and require the superintendent to recover all payments. They want the court to rule that the superintendent violated his commitment to citizens and prevent him from acting on any study information until there is public discussion. The parents also want to be given the opportunity to question CEPI officials about the study.

According to the lawsuit, Basham recommended to the School Board on Aug. 10 that a qualified and independent firm recommended by the Virginia School Board Association be hired to conduct a school resource study. It was approved in a 5-3 vote.

CEPI, based in Richmond, submitted a written proposal in September and Basham signed it without review of the School Board, the lawsuit states.

The study was presented to the School Board last month. Although Basham and some School Board members said the study would not deal with consolidation, the report was filled with the advantages and disadvantages of school closures as well as the cost savings. Wise County could operate only three of its six high schools and still have a small-school atmosphere, Bosher said.

Residents rally to keep Wise County schools open
BY KATHY STILL
BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
Mar 8, 12:24 AM EST






ST. PAUL ? More than 150 town residents and a few from Appalachia vowed Monday to fight together to keep all Wise County schools open.

But two School Board members who represent the St. Paul community warned that only three of the eight members stand solidly against consolidation.

"It's five to three," School Board member Ann Gregory said. "Kyle (Fletcher) and I are on the wrong end of that five to three, but we're working on that. It's not just St. Paul and Appalachia that will be affected. Everyone is Wise County will be affected, and they need to know it now, not later."

The St. Paul rally was hastily organized after residents learned that Superintendent Michael Basham planned to make a consolidation recommendation at tonight's School Board meeting. But the crowd found out that the meeting was postponed until Monday because agendas were not provided to board members on time.

Appalachia residents have been battling consolidation rumors for more than two years, but St. Paul High took several hits last week when a school resources study recommended by Basham touted the closure of three of the six county high schools as a cost-saving measure. The study, which did not specify which schools should close, also recommended quick action.

Many in the crowd said students at small schools excel in academics. Others said the superintendent is pushing consolidation and they blamed the School Board for renewing his contract last year.

"If we had second sight, wouldn't it be wonderful," Gregory said.

Fletcher said the November election could change the board's make-up since half of the seats are up for grabs.

Others attacked the school resources study the superintendent commissioned from Commonwealth Educational Policy Initiative, a Richmond-based firm.

"The report from CEPI won't pass for good toilet paper," St. Paul resident John Jones said.

Some in the crowd suggested a buy-out of the superintendent's contract.

Monty Salyers, a St. Paul resident, said Appalachia has been fighting consolidation for years and other communities must join the battle. St. Paul and Pound will be targeted next if they are not already grouped in the initial closure plan, he said.

"We will not let that happen," he said. "We have to be together and be unified."

Jack Kiser, St. Paul's mayor, said school consolidation would not mean lower taxes. Poor fiscal management is to be blamed if the county can't support its schools, he said. Leland Branham, a county supervisor who represents St. Paul and Coeburn, said rumors that the Board of Supervisors supports consolidation are false.

"I'll stand behind you," Branham said.

Supervisor Robbie Robbins, who represents the same area, said the financial argument for consolidation is flawed. Consolidation comes with a price, and the county cannot afford to finance the renovations necessary to house additional students at three high schools without a significant tax hike, he said.

"It is going to cost you money, big time, to do this," he said.

The current tax rate of 57 cents per $100 of assessed value would jump to more than $1 in any consolidation scenario, Robbins said.

The School Board will likely vote to close the schools, Robbins said.

The school system could save $200,000 annually for each high school that is closed, he said.

"That's $600,000," he said. "That is minute. It's really nothing."

The school resource study also recommends that the school system charge up to $3,000 in tuition for students who live in other localities but attend Wise County schools. St. Paul, a town that sits in Russell and Wise counties, has a high number of those students.

But the crowd said the school system would lose more money if those students decided to attend school in other districts. The students fill empty seats in Wise County and bring more than $5,000 each year in state and federal money, several pointed out.

The meeting ended with the crowd singing the St. Paul High alma mater.

Looks like Basham may have found his calling, I think I can hear the AC/DC "Bell" I've been listening for, I hope he can too. Good to see some of the board members open their eyes, thanks Ms Gregory.

[imported_six4three]

town meetings are a better source of finding out what the people want and how to keep the average citizen informed.

lawsuits....well you know what they say about lawsuits.....anybody who has the filing fee can sue anybody else.....doesn't mean they will win.