I attended tonight’s board of supervisors meeting and like any other meeting I’ve ever attended I was the only attendee between the ages of 18 and 40. This meeting was unlike others I’ve attended over the last three to four years. At this meeting, residents of Appalachia and Pound raised their voices to drown out applause on the rare occasion that someone spoke out in support of consolidation. These residents resulted to name calling when addressing those who live in the town of Wise, calling them arrogant and stuck up. As usual, only two to three citizens spoke out in support of any consolidation plan; therefore, continuing the belief that the citizens of this county do not want consolidation. As most of us know, this is simply not the case. We, the people of Wise County elected candidates who ran on a pro consolidation platform. I, like most of these people have felt that it is unnecessary to attend these meetings and address either the board of supervisors or the school board in the public comments section. However, it is becoming apparent that the representatives we elected are on the verge of abandoning their constitutes in favor of appeasing the loud minority.
A game of political chicken has turned into an embarrassing situation for the residents of this county. J.H. Rivers and Virginia Meador were elected by the people of Big Stone Gap to consolidate the schools, build a new school in the district they serve, and improve the education of our children. Rivers has used his power or belief of power to manipulate not one but two governing bodies; a champion for consolidation and the education of the youth has reserved his position. Rivers’ wife, Betty Cornett (a school board member), and Virginia Meador now are simply no more than puppets serving on a government board. J.H. has effectively convinced two adults into doing as he says on all political matters dealing with Wise County Schools. Meador has voted against funding to build new schools while Cornett has taken the position of her husband, voting against measures that would consolidate our local schools. It is important to remember, not one of these elected representatives was put in to office to preserve our current six high schools.
We enter the later stages of 2010 with several possible scenarios playing out. Recently, Dr. Jeff Perry, Superintendent of Wise County Schools, proposed three schools on one site in the city of Norton. Representatives from Appalachia and Pound supported this plan because it would force every community to hurt just as their community hurt. That system would send our county into the complete opposite of what it currently is. Today, we have an excessive amount of pride and identity. If any plan with multiple schools on one site passes, this county will have no identity. This plan like every other plan introduced by either board in the last decade failed, J.H. Rivers and his cronies defeated the measure by voting against it. Having a school in Big Stone Gap is crucial to Rivers hopeful political advancement. Rivers believes that with a school in Big Stone Gap he would be a political hero in the community, riding the success all the way to the commissioner of revenue office. At tonight’s meeting, supervisors discussed a two school on one site plan. Again, this plan would leave students with no identity, even further travel for school, and advanced travel for athletic competition. Two schools in this county would be approximately 900 students each, this would place the schools as a AA, Division 3 school by the Virginia High School League. Rivers proposed that the county build two schools, one to serve Wise and one to serve Big Stone Gap. While this plan would eventually allow for school identity it would leave the schools at approximately 900 students each and more travel. These unquestionable facts are the same rallying cries that the consolidation opponents have long fought.
What happens now? Shortt and Lundsford are not going to vote for a school in Wise and Big Stone without one in Pound and Appalachia. Rivers, Meador, and Cornett have long wanted a new school in Big Stone Gap so they can improve their social standing in the community. Thus, the game of chicken continues. One just has to wonder who blinks first and how long this will drag out. The silent majority is watching from a distance and controls the vote. If JH caves and puts two schools on one site in Wise, any chance he had at a higher political office in this county will go out the window. Shortt and Lundsford are in the same unflattering position; any vote that keeps a school in Big Stone and Wise sends them to the house when their seat comes back up for re-election. Meanwhile, Dr. Perry and the school board could close Pound and Appalachia in a forced closure consolidation. Sit tight boys and girls, the three ring circus aint over yet.
Originally Posted by retiredteach
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