At its meeting Wednesday evening, the Webster County Board of Education unanimously voted to proceed with the steps necessary to approve Superintendent Martha Dean's school consolidation plan.
On April 16, 2013, at 6:00 p.m., the Board may consider final approval of the plan which closes the Diana Elementary and Glade Middle schools and sends the County's 7th and 8th grade students (except for Hacker Valley) to the high school. Before likely voting on the plan on April 16, the Board is required to conduct public hearings on the plan at the affected schools. Those public hearing dates include: Diana, April 8 at 6:00 p.m. (alternate date April 15); Webster Springs, April 10 at 6:00 p.m. (alternate date April 17); Webster County High School, April 11 at 6:00 p.m. (alternate date April 18); Glade Middle, April 12 at 6:00 p.m. (alternate date April 19); and Glade Elementary, April 12 at 7:00 p.m. (alternate date April 19).
There is no public meeting scheduled for Hacker Valley Elementary even though the consolidation plan has obvious effects on that school. Superintendent Dean acknowledged in the past that Hacker Valley could be affected because some Diana students may be given the option to attend Hacker Valley and Hacker Valley's 7th and 8th grade students will not have the same opportunity to attend the high school as the County's other 7th and 8th graders. Opponents of the consolidation plan are considering the legal ramifications of this omission as well as closely examining the closing documents to determine if they comply with State law.
If the BOE is really concerned about "fixing" the problem, and Diana school MUST be closed to fix the problem,then why does the proposal not just move all of Diana's students to Hacker Valley. This would fix the enrollment problem of Hacker Valley to avoid future consolidations. Due to the fact that Glade Elementary and Glade Middle are located in the same building, I do not see much cost savings happening simply moving the 7th and 8th graders to the High School. Also, if Diana students were moved to HV, then the 7th and 8th grades of Webster would not have to be moved to make room for Diana students. Of course, this is probably too simple of a plan to those of the BOE who claim to want to "fix" the money issues and supposedly wish to eliminate future consolidations in this county. I am also positive that the superintendent and the Board have all kinds of excuses why this solution is not feasible.
ReplyDeleteHacker Valley doesn't have to have a meeting. They are not effected, unless someone wants to attend there. No different than if you move in the area. Get your facts right!
ReplyDeleteReally, Hacker Valley is not affected?
ReplyDeleteThe plan does not provide that the HV students in 7th/8th grade go to the high school. If the 7th/8th grade move for everyone else is such a good idea, then why are they left out of the plan?
I'm not saying I agree with the 7th/8th grade plan, and I know from what Dr. Dean previously said is why (busing distances). To say HV is not affected disregards this part of the plan. And you can bet that will become an issue.
Sorry, but our facts are correct.
And just to make it perfectly clear: we simply reported that opponents of the plan are considering whether the lack of a HV hearing may be a legal problem for the plan in general. We believe it is based on the 7th/8th grade part of the plan. The lawyers involved and the courts will settle that. If the Board wanted to avoid this, they would simply schedule a meeting at Hacker Valley and have all "their bases covered." Now how simple would that be?
ReplyDeleteIt's almost too easy. It baffles me as well, to say that Hacker Valley is not affected. I'm sure some students would want the opportunity to attend Hacker Valley if Diana is closed. In the agreement with the SBA in order to obtain the funds to build Hacker Valley, the Board of Education stated that students from Jumbo and Mudlick would be moved to that school to keep enrollment to the agreed upon attendance. Just another inconvenient truth.........or a convenient lie. You know when the BOE is lying? You seem 'em talking.
ReplyDeleteYou seem 'em talking? First, you are very rudely attacking people who have a very difficult job to do. Secondly, that very cliche misspelled misquote referred to politicians and attorneys. Third, the BOE that was seated when the school at HV was built is not the same one as you are defaming now. Finally, would and could do not guarantee the same meaning and agreed upon attendance cannot be assured as long as people are permitted to live where they wish.
ReplyDeleteTHIS IS A BLOG!!!
ReplyDeleteFor those who don't know what a blog is, here is a definition:
Noun
"A Web site on which an individual or group of users record opinions, information, etc. on a regular basis."
It can be one-sided, lop-sided, or no-sided.
If you don't like it, click the bleeping red X in the upper right and go back to reading something else.
If you want to attack the blog owner, your comments will not be posted. If you want to address the issue of this post, then feel free to leave a comment. And also feel free to create your own blog and post the "other side" if you don't like what you read here. Or, please, please, just click the red X in the upper right and put yourself out of your misery.
ReplyDeleteDefinition of Politician: somebody seeking personal power: somebody whose main political motive is self-advancement and whose methods are often unscrupulous
ReplyDeleteTo the individual so upset over my post, that is indeed why I used that very cliche misspelled (not entirely sure what you're getting at there) quote.......the Board members are acting as politicians. When campaigning, do they (or you) not realize that this is a difficult job. In reference to the "could" opposing "would", I also refer back to my original cliche and say POLITICIAN....yes, a loophole. How about this exert taken from the presentation from the BOE to the SBA concerning the HV school.
By redefining the attendance areas, students living in the Jumbo and
Mud Lick areas will be attending Hacker Valley once the new school is
built.
What I am saying is that it is a tough job and I think the members need to be made aware of the issues, both currently before them and the problems of the past. Look for themselves and not be pawns on Martha Dean's chessboard.
Another observation in that same presentation.
Diana Elementary would remain a Pre-k -8 School. By moving
grades 5-8 to Webster Springs, transportation time would increase
approximately 30 minutes for 10 students. The additional time would put
the students over the recommended transportation time.
A new Board of Education, does not mean an entirely new set of rules.
Yes, they have lied. Not all, but yes. Some have lied directly to me, knowingly. I stand by my statement and my name. Too bad anonymous cannot do the same.
The only "logical" suggestion I can make is for you, LaCosta, to make a run for an elected position on the school board. Sure a "new" board doesn't mean "new" rules, but when you have 5 individuals, with differing opinions, ideas, morals, not everything turns out as some would like to see. Maybe this county does need some new blood in elected positions, but one must remember.....if you go in with an axe to grind, you need to watch where you're swinging that axe.
ReplyDelete