Here is a quick list of what the proposed plan looks like: New East Fairmont Middle School and New North Marion High School; Gymnasium additions for Barrackville, Blackshere, East Dale, Fairview Elem., Jayenne, Monongah Elem. and Pleasant Valley; Renovations at East Fairmont High School, EFJHS Gym, East Park, Fairmont Senior High School and Watson Elem.; and, Relocate Softball/Soccer Complexes at NMHS and locate tracks at EFHS and NMHS. The estimated bond call is $60 million with matching funds of $20 million from the SBA -- bring the price tag for this wishlist to $80 million dollars.
A 20-year bond at today's interest rates would raise the average property taxes by $110.51 per year. In addition to the need for newer schools, the board argues that Marion County is losing citizens and students to Mon and Harrison County and that realtors are pointing to schools as a major contributor in those losses. And with that big waterpark moving in, we need new schools to house all the additional residents in Marion County.
Anyway, with that opening, the floor was opened to the public. The first person to speak was former BOE member, Dr. George Boyles. I am guessing that Boyles is preparing to run again. He was fast to the podium...I mean lightning fast. Boyles said, "the state of schools are not that bad." He stated that "he didn't believe this bond is a realistic one" and "little old ladies are having tough times finding money for food, medicine and rent." He thought the board needed to "prepare a small bond issue." But while calling for a smaller bond, he laid out his priorities for Marion County - tear down East Fairmont Jr. High, a new access road to EFHS and a track, soccer field and tennis courts at East Fairmont. And a new Monongah. And a new North Marion. But a smaller bond? Boyles finished up by saying "I am not dumb." And that he new that "if we don't pass this bond issue..." the next step would be consolidation. He challenged the board to say they would not consolidate East and West and they refused to answer by stating it wasn't in the proposed plan.I won't go through all the speakers but I will give you some highlights quickly...
- What are the plans for the old Junior High? State Street decayed...what is going to happen to Dunbar and Miller? What about an old EFJHS? Phares said they sold the State Street School and that they could sell Dunbar and Miller and use the money for bond payoff. Old EFJHS could be used as the location for the new middle school.
- Patty from Pleasant Valley said the bond would only cost $0.40 per day...and cliched "How can we look our children in the eyes and not pass this bond..." She received the loudest applause of the evening.
- Ed said we need new schools and that "without education, we'll die." He believes that the new schools will attract residents into Marion County.
- Tom was upset that the paper hasn't given the specifics of the plan. The Board rebutted that once a plan is finalized, all the details will be made public before the bond call. Since the Board has not approved a plan, they can't give all the details yet because they don't know all the details...that's the reason for the meetings.
- Elton said that this bond was "not only an investment in our children's futures but also in our community and county." We need to go door to door to push this bond to the citizens of Marion County and tell them it is only $2.50 a week for this investment. He also received applause (a rarity).
- Chris is upset the Monongah and Mannington are being consolidated. He said they are the two largest middle schools in the county and yet they are being consolidated. The asked the Board if they were truly committed to community schools and received no response.
- John "has disagreements." He is "opposed to consolidation because elementary schools should be in close proximity to where students live." Then he said something about Abe Lincoln and talked about how much school students missed this year. He explained that if the schools were closer to the students, he believes they wouldn't have missed as much school. Then he pulled out the "I walked two miles to school..." routine. I laughed.
- Glenn wanted to know about the upkeep of the schools...could the Board handle $80 million worth of schools? The Board responded by saying the maintenance would be similar to what it is now. Glenn then said that there was a diaper under the seat in front of him. It was pretty embarassing and probably uncalled for. A lady got up to verify (she was a couple rows behind him.) I laughed at that point. I'm not sure who he was hoping to embarrass but it was pretty bad. Then he went on a story about teachers and students make schools, not the walls. He then said we should hire $80 million worth of teachers. I'm not sure...
That was about the end of the public forum. Phares announced that the bond would be contained on the 2008 Primary so he hoped everyone would vote. The meeting was adjourned and the diaper was removed.
Most people said they thought the bond was too large. Make it smaller...chop it up. I don't think they realize that it won't happen if you chop it up. If you pass a 10-year bond for the new North Marion...that's nice. But that means East Fairmont Junior High is in commission for at least 10 more years because Marion County will never pass a bond on top of another bond. It just won't happen. So, it has to be an all-in-one thing or it will never occur.
Personally, I think the investment is worth it. But I think the people supporting this bond have a lot of work in front of them if they want it to happen. It's important to Marion County to make this successful. If Marion County can't make an investment into the schools of the county, they will continue to lag behind Mon and Harrison. With a relatively inept government in the county, we already have an uphill battle. Why make it any harder?
1 comment:
Well, I'm definitely behind a new bond, and improving our schools. But I (like everyone else) have a few problems with some of the proposed improvements.
First, I don't think a new North Marion HS is called for. That building serves it's purpose as a high school just fine. Sure, it's a crappy building...design wise. But it's structurally sound, they have plenty of space. It works.
I'm not crazy about consolidating Mannington and Monongah Middle schools...but mostly because I think those two school have the most behavior problems of any middle schools in the county. Sorry, but some of those kids are just BAD. Neither school currently has a strong administrator, and I guess that could be improved with they consolidate, but it's doubtful. Kids with behavior problems draw to each other and create a snowball effect of chaos.
Also, I hate just giving the middle school kids hand me downs. West Fairmont just got a new middle school, it's time for Mannington and Monongah to do the same.
I think an unmentioned portion of this plan is to start the middle school kids in the North Marion area in Tech Ed programs. That's part of the reason the want the current high school's building. I think it's a patently bad idea. They already make these kids choose in the 8th grade whether they want to go to college, or if they want to learn a trade. And they make the college prep choice sound almost impossible to these kids! Telling them if they miss a class or change their focus it will take them 5-6 years to graduate high school...how much work the college prep courses are. They push them toward the tech ed programs because the get more state money for every kid in the program. Now they want to start it even earlier. It's crap. These kids need to learn basic math, learn to read, learn to speak correctly. And they aren't.
So they push these kids into the tech ed programs, telling them that's all they will need to get a good job when the graduate high school. And do you know where they end up? Working at the freaking Walmart. I can't even shop there anymore because every time I go I see another student who is wasting their life in that retail wasteland. Smart, good kids...who were pushed into a tech ed program and told that college was too hard for them.
As far as schools on East Side....I think the Jr High is in way better condition that East Park (I don't know about space issues though). Granted, that school is older, but it was built better. EFJH, just like West Fairmont High, was built to last. It's quality building. East Park...not so much. They have a big space problem, and no where to expand to. The roof leaks in a bad way, the playground is tiny, and the cafeteria is deplorable.
There you go...my school rant. But you summed up the reason why I don't go to these meetings. Everyone there has their own rant and agenda....and some of them are just laughable.
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