Wise SB and BOS still dont seem to make nice

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It is rediculess that the Wise SB is worried about the BOS steping on there toes as poorly as the whole consoladation issue was handeled. At the same time from the artical at least it seems that the BOS may not be as against consoladation as the vote they held would lead folks to belive. I am going to stick to my prediction made a year or so ago and say it would not suprise me if Wise Co. is consoladated in 5 years (4 years now) and I have no dought it will happen in 10 (9 now)

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?n...8544&rfi=6

WISE - The idea of establishing a task force to study school capital needs has been dropped.
The task force, a joint effort between the school board and board of supervisors, could have studied the feasibility of renovating existing high schools or building entirely new buildings, board of supervisors chairman Fred Luntsford said following a supervisors meeting Thursday.

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And the issue of school consolidation could have been addressed since Luntsford seriously doubts Wise County would build six new high schools.





The county school board could have been the leading force in the group, Luntsford said.





When asked, Luntsford believes it would be good, in principle, to continue with establishing a task force.





But after talking with school board chairwoman Margaret Craft earlier in the day Thursday and after reading newspaper accounts from last Tuesday's school board meeting, Luntsford says it's clear that supervisors won't have the support of several school board members.





"Without their support, it would be a failure," Luntsford said.





THURSDAY'S MEETING





When a proposal to consolidate schools was made public and "sprung" upon county supervisors in March, Luntsford said, "we reacted."





Some school board members mistakenly believe supervisors are trying to "usurp" the school board's power and authority, Luntsford said during Thursday's board of supervisors meeting.





"That's not what we intended to do," Luntsford said. "Our resolution was purely an exercise in fiscal responsibility," he explained.





County supervisors approved a resolution last month opposing the "arbitrary closure" of Appalachia, Pound and St. Paul high schools at the end of the current school year and calling for more study on the school system's long-term capital needs and alternatives to school closings.





Michael Basham, schools superintendent at the time, withdrew his consolidation recommendation the day after the resolution was adopted.





School board members decided last week to pursue a state attorney general's opinion on whether a supervisors' resolution was improper.





"The sovereignty of the two boards, at best, is clouded," school board member Milas Franks said last Tuesday. The action by supervisors has derailed any effort the school board might have made toward proceeding with capital improvements, he argued.





School board members requested, without a formal resolution, that interim schools superintendent Nolan Kilgore ask the Virginia School Boards Association how the Wise County School Board should pursue the attorney general ruling.





"It's a disappointing surprise to me that they would pursue that avenue," Luntsford said after Thursday's meeting.





It's well-documented that supervisors have worked diligently to establish better dialogue with the school board, including pushing for joint meetings, Luntsford told those attending the meeting, which included Craft.





Two joint meetings were held last year.





Luntsford said he was pleased Craft attended Thursday's meeting and invited her to future meetings. Craft was given an opportunity to speak but said she was there to listen, not make comments.





The resolution adopted by supervisors March 10 was a reaction to Basham's recommendation, Luntsford says, which was made without any consultation with the board of supervisors, the local funding agency.





Supervisors didn't know how the consolidation plan would be implemented and how it would be funded, Luntsford said after the meeting. Supervisors wanted more details about the plan, the overall price tag and how it would affect the board of supervisors and Wise County, he said.





Supervisors were also concerned whether consolidation could occur within the time frame identified by school administration, Luntsford explained.





After last month's resolution opposing the consolidation plan, Luntsford approached Craft and school administration about establishing a joint task force to tackle school issues and develop a long-range plan.





The idea of creating a task force was the result of conversations Luntsford had with supervisors. "That was the thing we decided to offer to the school board to help with direction," he said after Thursday's meeting.





Luntsford withdrew the task force proposal and offer of help Thursday, saying it's up to the school board to develop a plan. Supervisors will monitor the situation and continue to practice fiscal responsibility, he added.





"That's not to say we're closing our lines of communication," said Luntsford, of District One. Dialogue will continue, he said.





In related news, supervisors approved a five-year capital improvements plan Thursday without public school projects included. The county planning commission recommended public schools be removed from the plan until the school board provides details on capital needs, construction plans and how money would be spent.





The capital improvements plan is typically updated and approved by the planning commission annually. The plan is simply a planning tool, not a commitment to fund projects listed in the document.




©Coalfield.com 2005

The original construction of what the BOS stated, when all this mess happened, is that they voted no to consolidation at this time.
It was not that they would not look into it, or it was not an option. But that at this time the plan was not feasible, and also the money was not available.
And basically this was already told to Mr. Basham, before he went to the media and got what he wanted, a buy out of his contract.
The BOS wants a full study done, looking at all possiblities with all plans.
From renovations to consolidation, to possibly building of new schools.
Their idea is and was, to get all available options and plans together working with the school board, and lay out all plans with cost analysis and time frames.
As you can tell the school board or some members of it. Took this wrong as they do most things.
Like i told some. It's not just the citizens, a few on this school board need to change their attitudes toward, the citizens and the other boards they work with.
I thought what the BOS wanted to do was a good idea.
Two important local governments working together. But i guess the SB knows better. At least the BOS made and offer to make it a joint venture. But oh well.

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From what I have read I have to agree with the BOS a study needs to be done and even if it is a SB function to provide for these studys it is the BOS that has to foot a good portion of the bill in my mind it is a no brainer that the two boards should work together.....

I am tring to be critical of the Wise SB for shruging off the help offered to them via the Wise BOS and treating this thing as a turf war...IMHO the SB is miffed from the BOS vote to come out against consoladation which in all honisty was oversteping there bounds but things will never get better in Wise Co. if the two boards do not work together on issues like these. Both sides need to worry more about the Kids/Tax payers than someone stealing there thunder or steping on toes

To put this in the proper light, the school board's chairperson got up during the meeting that ended Basham's employment and told a guy that makes a living as a lawyer that he wouldn't understand why the board couldn't discuss the terms of the dismissal. She is also quoted as saying (in the Cornfield ) she was at the board of supervisors meeting to listen, not to comment. I don't think she has ever had an idea of her own! And to think we elected these folks that REHIRED Basham. [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img] [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

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Yea I read about the listen not comment thing and while it is usaly a good idea to keep your mouth shut unless you have something to say after the fireworks of the last month or so I would think that she would have something to say. Another problem is that folks should not talk down to people wheather they are a Lawyer or a bagboy that does bug me however I think the Lawyer should have known that the SB could not discuss the terms of an employee dismissal and not ask for details.

What the lawyer questioned, was it was what, was stated in the agenda.
Had he wanted to pursue it, well the SB would of had even more egg on it's face.
It was to be given out. Yet they stated they had no printers? And as was said. You proposed this when? Yet you leave those with questions in doubt of what was done?
Time to face it Counts.
This SB as well as those in DC have no clue, well a few on WC's SB has no clue, as do some on the DC school board and BOS.
And it's time that those need to be gone.In WC and DC.
When the BOS says come and let's work together for the good of WC and the taxpayers and the SB does what?
Says the BOS is overstepping their boundardies?
In all honesty.
The last meeting they had without Basham directing them, was in all accounts, the first meeting in which they had to actually and offically act. And you can see how that went. Took them 5 or 6 hrs to do the basics.
Not many will be back on this board.
And it's not due to consolidation, it's to lack of ability to do business.
The following will end up gone at some point and time.
Franks, Caldwell, Craft, Robinette and one other person.
Has nothing to do with consolidation no more.
It has to do with the ability to work as a team and work efficiently for the good of WC.
Those mentioned above cannot or will not do that.
They basically told the BOS, we don't need you. Well where is their funding to come from?
It seems pretty clear, they have their own ideas and do not want a joint venture, then anyone questions why they get no respect? This needs to be a joint venture any way they decide to go.
Common sense is common sense.
Basham knew his plan was flawed and doomed, he got what he wanted. Out.
This board well he played them. And they now are lost, cause they have no one to dictate to them.
All i can say.
They let those who voted them in down.
And basically told their other boards, kiss it. We will do what we want.
Sorry but anyone who knows how a county works, knows you don't leave one of your other boards out.
Just an example of what the citizens and others have endured.
Come the next election. Look for a level head of people to be voted in.
And at least 4-5 members of this current SB to be gone. And all i can say, is it is time.
They have ruined WC in every way possible. Because they failed to act, till they had or were forced to.
And no matter how many disagree.
Basham was fired from previous jobs. And this one is just one to add.
It was not all consolidation.
It was i got mad so i did what i wanted, well what he wanted was not feasible.
So he did what he did.
People can get mad or what ever. But the man is not a fool in all ways, he knew he would get what he wanted.
And he did. He wanted out, and he got out. Bought out. At a price of over $200,000 dollars, which was what?
The cost he and others estimated to close one highschool for one year.
Egg on their face. This WC SB. And now their lost cause they have no one to dictate to them.
Time WC moves forward and a change in the SB will be the first step.
Then maybe the BOS can work with some other local body, that wants something good for WC.
But and i will add this.
Don't expect WC to consolidate based soley on DC needing it to happen. As i said not all in WC are stupid to what is needed.
DC right now can't do it. Because of paper work and the ACOE.
And they don't want to do it, till they know, they will have games to play, so they will not be in the same condition of Lee High.
We all know what the game and gig is. Get one done and the others will follow and it will work.
Some say sports is no big deal. Oh okay, well let's be real.
Travel time and expense is a big part of it. So who is kidding and lying to who?
Basham wasn't a total fool. Where is your money and your votes.
Wise- Your county seat. To political don't go there.
PV- Money and rich old alumni. Old Westmoreland money. And just old money all together.
Coeburn- Money and no real clue, just do something. Let us do what we want to, and leave us alone.
Leaves those three in tact. Well you don't lose. Mess with them, you get to much pressure.
Problem is he forgot a Dawg, a Wildcat and a Deacon will stand in the door and say no.
Just like a certain person from Ervinton is standing in the door way, with what DC wants to do.
We all need a fix. But some still say do it right.
Problem is everyone wants a quick fix, but not what is right for all, the kids and the tax payers.
And paying 5% in DC is a lot less than paying for it all in WC.
Im not trying to be a butt or trouble maker, just stating what i know is the facts. From DC to WC.
Something else i like.
Since this with WC has been dropped how many ex posters do we have? Or i guess infrequent posters.
Some just get involved when it's convient, yet they want to question everything. Yet their never around when it's quiet and all the crap is being planned? Has to make you wonder, don't it?