Re: Sup. Rivers... a "tool"
I think one big difference about the comparison of Scott vs. Wise County schools you mention in the up keep. Scott County put in HVAC over a decade ago at these old schools. Scott County has done a great job of keeping their schools in shape and up to date as much as possible. Just looking at Wise County schools from the outside, they do look to be about to fall apart in spots. Thats just when i go call a game at a school or watch a ball game. I havent toured any classrooms or anything like that. It just seems to me that Scott County has had a much better vision for their schools over time and got the job done. To get Wise County schools to that standard, it looks like it would cost about as much to build a couple of new schools.
Re: Sup. Rivers... a "tool"
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sup-rbeast
The consolidation debate usually brings out the worst in folks..but, politics in general does that. In the beginning, I thought consolidation was the way to go..then later I wasn't so sure. After the way it has been politicized by both sides, I, now, don't believe consolidation is the way to go. My reasoning is that, at this point, both sides see it as a means to an end and only stand pro or anti if they feel it will put a feather in their cap. Buildings don't dictate success..individuals dictate that. In today's culture, folks never want to shoulder responsibility for their own failures..instead, they want to list every reason or excuse they can to make themselves feel better because they failed in the first place.. Once someone comes up with a plan that keeps the children, community, and school employees in mind as priority #1..and is fair to all of them, I'll support it. Until then I won't. IMO, the committee of 100 just looks out for a group of businessmen, and CEASE just aims to keep the status quo at all costs. Neither of these groups have my support, but I think CEASE's aim is purer than the committee of 100. I don't think anyone who is not a citizen of Wise county should have any sway whatsoever in this because they aren't the ones that will have to live with it..and the City of Norton isn't part of the county. With that logic, I don't think many of the committee of 100 have a horse in this race. They just push in order to try to improve their businessess or earnings in the future..and I can't abide that. So, really I come down in the middle somewhere I guess. But, I do think that if Perry is gonna push this consolidation that he sould be REQUIRED to remain as super for the 1st 5 years of it..and not cut and run before then. That's what breeds the mistrust of Perry to a large extent IMO. Scott county's schools are as old as Wise County's..and including elementary and middle schools they have as many schools or near it as well. And, Scott county is amongst Virginia's elite in test scores.. All of the Scott schools have been retrofitted with a/c and fiber optics..something Wise Co .could do as well. Furthermore, Scott county pays a higher percentage per student than Wise county does..and given the recent funding increase from the state, Wise county has no excuse to force consolidation this year..there's just too many tight wads in Wise county that don't want their taxes raused a cent in order to fund the system. Too many folks can't see the forest for the trees on this issue IMO. I don't care who agrees or disagrees with me either, but that's just how it is..
Good post! And I think that in the short term at lest a property tax rate increase can keep all 6 schools open business as usual.....2 BIG things need to be addressed However (#1) - Scott County has kept up with improvements Wise Co has not this is a fact and NOT in dispute this does not mean that is possible or feasible for Wise Co to make 25 years of renovations in in 2 or 3 years (#2) Scott County has half the High Schools of Wise Co. but more than half the Students.......on top of that GC (Scott Countys Flagship school) is roughly the same size of any of the 3 potential consolidated schools (On a side not GC itself is a consolidated school of Shoemaker and (Webber City I Think))
Re: Sup. Rivers... a "tool"
Quote:
(you all know who you are, I don't have to give names in order to make myself feel important)
No, you just have to put a poster's name and a moderator's name with whom you disagree with in your screen name. Nothing petty and/or needing to feel "self-important" about that at all. Not to mention, the same name combination reversed (r13cane) in your sign-up e-mail addy. Real transparent.
Interesting how that IP address tracks back to Appalachia as well. Could this be an old friend from the past, with whom Cdawg helped moderate a board? Nah...I doubt it. Could be BAMA MAN's alter-ego sticking up for himself, more likely. If it is--why doesn't this dude speak that eloquently all the time? We wouldn't have an issue, if that were the case.
Post like an idiot on here, that's how you'll get treated. Post like a troll on here...well, you'll get outed as one to the rest of the board.
Re: Sup. Rivers... a "tool"
Quote:
Originally Posted by
1inStripes
I think one big difference about the comparison of Scott vs. Wise County schools you mention in the up keep. Scott County put in HVAC over a decade ago at these old schools. Scott County has done a great job of keeping their schools in shape and up to date as much as possible. Just looking at Wise County schools from the outside, they do look to be about to fall apart in spots. Thats just when i go call a game at a school or watch a ball game. I havent toured any classrooms or anything like that. It just seems to me that Scott County has had a much better vision for their schools over time and got the job done. To get Wise County schools to that standard, it looks like it would cost about as much to build a couple of new schools.
It'd be nice to know where Wise County has dumped their money over the years...besides studies and Supers..lol...cuz the school system has been mismanaged to the point of incompetence. Wonder which fat cats from the past have fat pockets at the expense of the taxpayers?
Re: Sup. Rivers... a "tool"
From the outside looking in, it does appear to be as different as daylight and dark on how the two systems have been run. I know someone (I think pvfan) made the comment that Wise County would rather spend money on weightrooms than classrooms (in jest) but still Scott County schools have all seen recent upgrades in their athletic facilities while keeping the schools up to date. I am currently very glad to be living right in the heart of Scott County and not needing to worry about this personally.
Re: Sup. Rivers... a "tool"
I've seen the sports facilities at all of the Scott County schools and they are on or above par with most all of the Wise County schools. It's really not a question of spending money..it's how it's spent that makes the difference IMO.
Re: Sup. Rivers... a "tool"
It's really hard to take anyone against consolidation seriously to me now, every argument put forth is pretty flawed in several ways or just on emotion and not facts...here's some...
The county can't afford to keep all six schools open, nor should there be a reason to have six schools open for 2046 kids - does anyone not know how ridiculous that sounds? Especially when they're all of 10 miles apart from one to the next. Really, just because your town is dead(which has a lot to do with these tiny, **** poor schools), doesn't mean the county should try to foot the bill because your local economy depends on 5 football games and 10+ or however many basketball games. Sorry. It's not about anyone being greedy and not wanting to pay taxes, it's about using some **** common sense. Yeah, it's 20 cents now, but there seems to be this notion that's a permenant fix or even a fix for more than a few years? Complete bull, those taxes would increase and increase and increase as inflation goes up, enrollment drops and you're still funneling money into these buildings who will be getting older and older. Forgive them for not wanting to throw money down an endless tube all while the same problems exist and grow larger.
No buildings themselves don't determine sucess, but they create a much better learning environment and offer much much more in terms of up to date classroom technology and not just expanded cirriculum...but BASIC classes they should already have. This is undeniable, that does improve education and it's not even close, why can't people grasp that? Oh that's right, blinded by school pride.
And consolidation would improve the area as a whole, why the hell would a city right in the middle not be involved? If the others schools consolidate all around them, they would end up having to do the same, so obviously they should be involved and the kids at that school deserve the benefits of new schools also - yet there's personal beef with some with Norton, I get it and everyone else can too.
Like I said, I can't really take anyone anti-consolidation seriously, they really don't have many valid points and essentially everything points to consolidation. Only personal problems and failure to use simple logic for whatever dumb reason is what fuels the anti crowd. Sad.
Re: Sup. Rivers... a "tool"
You can look at it however ya want I guess.. I can remember when I was 20 and knew it all too. But, as I said earlier, everyone involved wants what's best for them and not for the ones that matter..you included. One day it might make sense that government (schools included) has to be funded...that's not negotiable. I know there's a sense of entitlement to many in this area, but when the dust settles folks are inevitably gonna have to man up and pay for the things they want...not everything in life is in the form of a hand out.
Re: Sup. Rivers... a "tool"
Quote:
Originally Posted by
sup-rbeast
You can look at it however ya want I guess.. I can remember when I was 20 and knew it all too. But, as I said earlier, everyone involved wants what's best for them and not for the ones that matter..you included. One day it might make sense that government (schools included) has to be funded...that's not negotiable. I know there's a sense of entitlement to many in this area, but when the dust settles folks are inevitably gonna have to man up and pay for the things they want...not everything in life is in the form of a hand out.
So what do you think should be done? (I know you said the schools should have never been allowed to get in there current shape however turning back the clock is not an option on that one)
Given the current state of the schools the student populations and Local and State funding what do you think would be a good plan going forward......Because i really do not see how keeping all 3 schools up and running is doable without big cuts in programs or a big boost in Local or State financing
Re: Sup. Rivers... a "tool"
I think they should ride out the recession and make do until the power plant goes online to get a concrete number concerning what normal funding levels will be and go from there. The crisis in funding is only temporary..but any consolidation is a decades long decision. I don't claim to have the answers, but I do claim to have some common sense..lol. Those that cling to the assertation that the students leave with a poor education might want to push for the hiring of better teachers and some parenting classes..cuz that where the effectiveness of education lies..it starts at home.
