What's Latest On School Renovation vs Consolidation

[blitzer44]

What's up on the school issue? Heard the Consolidation voices are being heard loud & clear by the board of supervisors. Taxpayers apparentley don't want to foot the bill for an ill advised, stripped down renovation project, would prefer to get more bang for thier bucks with new / fewer schools. Any new info?

[imported_elp6n]

Another article in the Coalfield about it today.
They've tossed in "6 new buildings (or fewer)" as an option now.
Slowing squeezing in that consolidation option...

[Merlin]

Well, like it or not (I'm not specifically directing that at you elp6n [img]/LDPforum/ubbthreads/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif[/img] ), if the SB didn't at least consider other options including new construction in one form or other, then IMO they are remiss in the duties and responsibilities of the offices to which they were elected. And, until the curriculum disparity issues are addressed, no plan should be presented to the BOS or approved. Like I've said in many posts in the past, our school system is broken and it goes far beyond the aging and crumbling high school structures that has been the main focus of the discussion (and I use that term sarcastically) thus far.

The 'revised' renovation plans still retain nearly 80% of the original cost presented, which as was pointed out in the beginning was about what it is expected to cost just for refurbishing the existing buildings and their infrastructures without consideration of any new space or improvements to provide for better instructional capabilities.

IMHO it still too expensive an option for what little improvement will been provided to the children in terms of accessibility to equal course offerings and the needed improvements of overall instructional capabilities of the school system as a whole.

This area is the "Red-headed step children" of the state as most of you already know. "The state ends at Roanoke" has been uttered by folks from these parts for as long as I can remember. In order for us to gain respect and due consideration from both other areas of this Commonwealth, as well as, other areas of the country then we have to not simply match the performance of those other areas, but exceed them. This is even more relevant for our children and their education than any other aspect of life in these coalfields. "Just getting by" or "good enough" simply doesn't cut it anymore.

So, whatever form the final solution takes, I hope those elected to oversee this process and to do what is best for all citizens take all the time required to review as many options possible in order to provide the absolute best educational facilities, instruction methods and opportunities that this County can afford. Our children deserve no less. Don't you agree?

The bid that came in at 3/4 of the projection on PV's gym screwed up the whole warped process. Get ready to fix all the schools. Yeah, I know somebody is gonna say "never happen." Same thing was said when I said Basham kicked the wrong Dawg.

[Merlin]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Spuds</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The bid that came in at 3/4 of the projection on PV's gym screwed up the whole warped process. </div></div>

Huh? What are you trying to say here?

That if you use the 24 million in cuts and the 4 mill projection bid and 3 mill bid for that gym, then the renovations of all 6 high schools come down to about 55 million. The article was in the local paper. My concern was spending cash for classrooms that would be free when PV was closed, but when you look at the bids, it changes the whole story.

[Unchained]

This thing may go back and forth for years (which would be worse for the kids). Do one or the other, so we all will know where we stand.

[imported_Counts]

IMHO that is where we are heading However after reading the paper now at least the SB is looking at the new schools option