Not surprisingly, of the 24 persons who addressed the Webster County Board of Education this evening at the public meeting at the Diana Elementary School, not one spoke in favor of the proposed school consolidation plan.
The estimated 200 people in attendance in the Diana gym were solidly behind those who spoke opposing the plan. The speakers included Diana grade school students, high school students, parents, educators, and concerned citizens. During the speeches, Board members Paula Tanner, Harold Carpenter, Heather Nutter-Davis, Joyce Markle, and Lisa Clutter, along with Superintendent Martha Dean, took lengthy notes and answered the few questions directly posed to them.
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| Board of Education President Paula Tanner addressed the large crowd at the Diana Elementary School. |
Tanner, as Board President, was the only Board member to publicly address the large crowd. In an emotional response to some of the speakers, she said that "we are trying very hard to keep an open mind here [on the Board]. It's a hard time of year. It's hard to see people you've known your entire life stand in front of you and cry because their kids don't want you to shut your school down. As an elected Board member, I'll say for myself, that we're elected to take care of the entire county system. And I'm telling you now, no holds barred, it sucks. We appreciate the support you are showing for your school. And we hope you appreciate the job and the task that is set before us at this time of year because that's when the State says it has to be done." Tanner reminded those in attendance that the next public meeting is Tuesday, December 18, 2012, at 6:00 p.m. at the Webster Springs Elementary School, and that anyone who did not speak at the Diana meeting and who wanted to speak could sign up to speak at any of the upcoming meetings.
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| Concerned parent Debra Davis voiced her opposition to the plan, and asked Board members to let her young child attend school locally at the Diana school. |
The speakers voiced a number of reasons for keeping the Diana school open. They suggested that the school is the heart of the community and closing the school would "gut" the community. One speaker cited the history of Guardian as an example. After the Guardian Elementary School closed in the 1960's, the town's post office and only store closed, leaving the town but a dot on the map. Others argued that Diana students have performed well on standardized tests and has been the only school in the county to meet the Annual Yearly Progress standards for two years in a row. Even others noted that the school has served as a community center for elections, reunions, wakes, a Red Cross shelter, and more, all of which would be lost if the school closed.
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| Diana student Gregory Westfall addresses the estimated 200 folks in attendance. |
The arguments against the proposed school consolidation plan were as diverse as the speakers and crowd in attendance. To summarize all of the reasons here would be a disservice to the speakers. The Commentator filmed all of the speakers over the course of the one hour and 45 minute meeting. We will upload videos of some of the speakers within the next 24 hours, so please check back later for video of this public meeting.
