Board Takes No Action on School Consolidation Proposal

After hearing from three Diana area residents who oppose Superintendent Martha Dean's school consolidation plan, the Webster County Board of Education at its meeting Tuesday evening took no action on the consolidation proposal.

Above: LaCosta Westfall asked Board members to delay 
taking any action on the proposed school consolidation plan.

Denise Clevenger, Dwayne Green, and LaCosta Westfall, the leader of the Diana Save Our School committee, all addressed Board members about Dean's revived school consolidation plan. After hearing from the three speakers, the Board took a ten minute recess and then took up new business, which included Dean's request to set public hearing dates for the consolidation plan.

Board President Paula Tanner inquired of Dean if Dean could compile certain enrollment data before the Board took any action on the plan. Dean responded by stating that she could supply the requested information. Tanner then asked if any Board members had any objection to taking no action on the plan until the information was provided, and no Board member objected. The Board then went on to consider other new business.

When she spoke to Board members, Westfall dropped what could only be described as a "bombshell" on those in attendance at the standing room only meeting. Westfall read a January 9, 2013 letter authored by Superintendent Dean sent to the Office of School Finance. In that letter, Dean stated that at the end of the 2012 school year, the Webster County Board had a $58,000.00 operating deficit, and Dean explained in the letter how the Board was going to address the deficit by looking at four separate areas designed to reduce or eliminate the deficit. 

"No where in that letter do I see anything concerning the closure of any school in the county," Westfall emphasized. In fact, due to recent funds obtained by the Board, the deficit as of the date of the letter was only $1,897.99.  "I don't see how we need to cut five teaching positions, all these part time secretaries, all these part time cooks, to cover that balance. I'll tell you now, I'll get my 401(k) and I'll give you $2,000.00 if that's what it takes to stop this," she said.

Given that the Board's budget is approximately $17 million per year, the stated deficit of $1,897.99 amounts to just over one/one-hundreth of one percent of the total budget. When she heard that number, Guardian resident Denise Clevenger said she was "stunned" and "angry" because she was told completely different figures, a deficit that supposedly numbered in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Also on the Board's agenda was the elimination of certain part-time jobs in the County, which Westfall addressed when she spoke to the Board. After an executive session, the Board approved the reductions in work force and transfers of professionals.