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I think both boards can agree that the only thing that can set things right and fix the school systems short falls is........ANOTHER STUDY :)
In all honisty with one board member calling for home schooling as an alternative to to Consoladation or even renovation it shows me that some board members are clueless......IMHO WC will end up with what amouts to the Bashem Plan from a few years ago (More and more it seems like that man knew what he was doing)
Basham wasn't the first to talk consolidation..that was going on as early as the late 80s. He just got the albatross hung around his neck for trying to see it through. Really he's not a bad guy..as anyone familiar with him would attest. One thing we can all agree on is that this issue needs to be settled in an equitable manner..and the only way to do that is through a countywide vote. Money is the reason for both action and inaction on this issue. So, IMO, county residents should be TRUTHFULLY informed on what it will cost to consolidate and what it will cost to continue to operate six high schools. Any grants or aid available for each proposition should be revealed as well. Then, residents should be presented the total cost for each plan PER TAXPAYER PER YEAR PER EVERY $5000 OF GROSS INCOME(that way total cost will be shared by all residents based on income)..and stress that no taxpayer will be exempt for his or her share for any reason. Then you will see how many folks are willing to put their money where their mouth is. And then, let the residents decide in November. That is the only fair way to go about this issue...the school system should have to open their books to show where their money has gone over the past decade, because really they haven't presented any evidence which either proves the dire financial situation of the county schools or a concrete net savings annual amount that consolidation would supposedly provide. They just expect us to swallow everything they tell us just because they say so. And, that's not how to win support for this issue. In this amount they should consider the initial cost as well. IMO There is something in the books the school system is trying to hide. Whether it is past allocation of funds or evidence that shoots down the consolidation argument..who knows. But there's something there they don't want folks to see or they would have already opened them by now. But, they need to understand that what they are trying to do is the same as if someone was trying to sell a house for an unknown price. And, all they had to show the potential buyer was a badly drawn picture. That's an impossible sell..and until the county school system becomes transparent with their finances and speaks honestly to the residents on the actual costs associated with this issue, the whole thing will remain a no go. It's time to quit the whining, biotching, and excuses on both sides and put this before the county voters in November or sooner.
You always supply some interesting points and well thought out. I did think, however, that a referendum was not legal on this issue. A bond issue would be, but not the vote for yes or no on consolidation. I could be wrong. Always like reading your thoughts.
I did support Basham's proposal and told him so in an email the next day. I did question the timing of trying to do it before the start of the next school year. I always thought he was set up on that deal anyway. He was fed the info that if he proposed that event when he did that the support would be there. He won because his contract was bought out which cost the County a lot of money which could have been used elsewhere.
Basham's biggest problem lay in the changing argument- first he wanted to ADD space to the schools because people were going to leave the cities after 9-11-01, then we didn't need all the space. In Jan one year, we had 54 million to "consolidate" the 6 schools into 3, but by June we had gotten to the point we needed to close Appy and buy "mobile calssrooms" to put these kids in to save 1 mil. There is still something that is funny about that funding formula.
Just thinking out loud here....
Isn't PV a consolidated school?
Why not ask the anti-consolidation crowd "What's wrong with PV? Why doesn't it work?"
Thanks...Coming from you I consider that a compliment. The "legality" issue is one of the excuses I refer to. If they wanted a vote on this it would have already been done because they would have found a way to get it on a ballot. IMO, the reason it hasn't is because the pro-consolidation group is afraid that consolidation would be shot down in a vote...and they're probably right.Quote:
Originally Posted by retiredteach
Most all, if not all, of the schools in Wise county resulted from consolidation at some point. The difference is that the schools that were put together way back when were essentially part of the same community or town. That's not the case now...they want to incorporate multiple towns who already have a school into one school...so it's a larger scale, and that's where the problems lie.Quote:
Originally Posted by VHSLhelper
If it ever came to a vote, it would be very interesting. Guess I travel in the circle of pro consolidation, but have only spoken with very few folks who are against it. I taught in Appy at the beginning of my career. Started back in 1969. Also taught in St. Paul for three years. Both communities were very good to me. I also understand why they don't want to give up their schools as that is a big identity for them. In the interest of progress, I do feel that it would be best to join them together.
I do know that the continual battling of this issue has swayed some businesses from going to other counties to locate as the condition of schools is a big issue for a company wanting to locate in a community. After all the fussing and cussing is over and done with, and it might take a few years, the majority of folks would like the new schools. These are my thoughts and I am not putting other folks down for their opinions.
i understand people who are against consolidation because of the budget shortfalls.
but, how many people are really against consolidation because of that reason??
people who are anti-consolidation because they dont want to lose their schools or their sports team are the ones that really get me.
education for our children is wwwaaayyy more important than a stupid team name or a school color