Wise county consolidations

**Merlin** · March 9th, 2005, 11:07 PM

There are several threads on this issue and if you can muddle through some of the more confusing stuff you can probably get an idea of what's actually going on. But, here's a recap as I understand it thus far:

1. Many irrate people trying to organize to stop something that hasn't even formally been presented yet while others are asking for patience and understanding until something factual and real actually is presented.
2. No real proposal on the table thus far -- just a lot of rumors, speculation, accusations and misinformation.
3. The superintendent is supposed to give his recommendation to the school board on Monday concerning a possible scenario for school "closings" or consolidation.
4. His recommendation is reportedly similar to the one that came out in 2000 where Appy is merged with PV, Pound with JJK and St. Paul with Coeburn, BUT no one really knows this yet because he hasn't presented it yet.
5. The School Board will probably reject his plan because A) it is flawed and simply isn't workable and B) there isn't any reason to be in such a hurry to do anything this quickly.
6. My head hurts from reading all the stuff that has already been posted on this topic and we still don't have anything concrete to fuss about.

Well that about covers it so far. Check back soon. I'm sure there will be more "discussion" about this topic.

**Merlin** · March 9th, 2005, 11:25 PM

You are exactly right Moonlight. The education of the children should be the primary concern and being able to provide the most opportunities to all children with the limited resources that the county has is what it all boils down to. We are essentially looking at reinventing the county's entire school system -- from the curriculum and course offerings to the facilities to staffing, you name it. It will all have to be looked at and eventually restructured so that all resources available to the school system can be used to their maximum effectiveness to provide the best educational opportunities to ALL county children. I'm just sorry that thinga have already been stirred up to a fever pitch when there really isn't anything officially "on the table" for consideration. I hope cooler heads will prevail so that an open, honest, and fair evaluation can be allowed to go forward, but that may not happen now. We'll just have to wait and see.

**R0cketer** · March 9th, 2005, 11:33 PM

There have been several issues lately where the region has worked together to form a more unified proposal to get things in this area. To a lesser extent that is what the school system needs to do, like Merlin said. A restructure overall, a more unified way to better prepare all the students. They should in no way, shape or form try to ship students from one school into another, that isn't fair to the students in either. However, a new school and 2 schools being combined into it allows all to become unique and reinvent themelves. I know I would never have wanted to have been a Haysi Tiger no matter what, however if they had put both in a new school, with a new name and a new mascot, as much as I would have not been thrilled, I wouldn't have felt like someone else was being considered better and could have a lot more readily accepted it.

March 10th, 2005, 12:04 AM

Just on channel 11 news. Wise County school superintendent to ask that Appy, Pound and St. Paul to be closed to save 2.5 million dollars. With 31 people laid off.

**R0cketer** · March 10th, 2005, 12:07 AM

Didn't see it but if thats his grand idea, it will be voted down, at least in my opinion.

**Merlin** · March 10th, 2005, 12:07 AM

Wish I'd seen that. It'll probably be in the paper tomorrow though.

March 10th, 2005, 12:09 AM

WJHL was doing a look at the problems schools in Va. and TN. are having and that was their words. So i guess that kind of puts out a little info. as to what the meeting Monday will involve.

**R0cketer** · March 10th, 2005, 12:10 AM

There is an article with quotes from Gregory and Craft on the Kingsport Times website and why information was released.

**imported_six4three** · March 10th, 2005, 12:11 AM

from the kingsport times news:
Wise County School Board confronts toughest decision
Thursday, March 10, 2005

By STEPHEN IGO
Times-News
APPALACHIA - Ann Gregory's phone was in meltdown mode Wednesday evening after word spread through Wise County of School Superintendent Michael Basham's recommendation to consolidate the county's six high schools, requiring closure of three in Pound, St. Paul and Appalachia at the end of this school year.

Gregory is one of eight school board members and a resident of St. Paul. She said she didn't like what she was reading in Basham's report to the board - to be presented at J.J. Kelly High School on Monday - or what she was hearing over the phone from outraged residents of St. Paul.

"I'm terribly disappointed. I think it's a disaster for our community and our school," Gregory said.

She said Basham's recommendation is "unfair and it's uncalled for and it's trying to fix something that isn't broken. I was not surprised at the recommendation, but I was surprised (Basham) released it today."

Gregory said she hadn't had a chance to digest Basham's recommendation because "Oh, my God. I'll say" people across the county are upset. "I've been on the phone for the last two hours, solid. We had a meeting (in St. Paul) on Monday with nearly 200 people in attendance, and all were very concerned, very emotional and caring. We have a good community here, and the school is such a heartbeat of the community, and our people recognize that and they think this is catastrophic. Just a disaster."

Gregory said she has already made up her mind to vote against adopting Basham's recommendation.

School Board Chairwoman Margaret Craft said Basham sent a letter to board members explaining why he released his recommendation several days before next week's board meeting at J.J. Kelly. She said Basham believed since the board session was postponed from Tuesday, "that maybe this would take the pressure off Monday night by allowing people to have time to think it over and consider all the savings and educational improvements and new opportunities and so forth, and so he wanted to go with it now."

Craft said Basham's recommendation contains the sort of hard facts and realities that are often upsetting to confront, but confront them Wise County eventually must. She said she would like to see the annual savings Basham projects from consolidation be placed into a fund "to build new buildings or certainly we need to renovate. I'd like to see us have new buildings, but it would probably take a few years for capital outlay to build up for (three brand-new high school complexes).

"I think it is a serious decision and, of course, we've not voted on it yet. And it may not be accepted. You don't know how your (board) members will vote. You don't know if they'll change their minds because of public pressure or after hearing different viewpoints," Craft said.

A vote Monday on the matter, she added, would probably be to set up a public hearing for later in the month before the board would get to the showdown vote on Basham's recommendation.

"After we hear all of the public input - which we will probably hear on Monday night, too - then we will vote on the actual proposal," she said. "I think the course offerings we can gain and probably the strength in (extracurricular opportunities) will all be worth it for everybody involved. I just think we have a lot of work to do, and I hope by fall we will have (three high school) buildings with no logos on them, and have new school names chosen by a committee of students, and treat it as an entirely new school with a new look, a new student body, a whole fresh start for everyone."

Craft said she realizes emotions will probably be at a high level during Monday's meeting but hopes people don't forget to bring along civility and common decency.

"I want it to go gentle if we can and not have a hateful atmosphere," she said. "I know there's going to be anger Monday night and everything all stirred up and emotions will be really hot. I'm not devoid of feelings, and I don't think anybody in the administration is, either. Sometimes you must make decisions with your head and not your heart. And who knows? The decision may have (consolidation foes) dancing with joy in the halls. What they want might not be best in a year or two or sometime soon down the road because our buildings are not suitable."