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School closure facts are needed

Once again, I am forced to send a letter to you regarding the impending closure of Homestead and Valley Head Elementary schools.

As we know, the Randolph County Board of Education administration failed to meet the legal requirement for public notification for the public meetings required to be held for school closure consideration. This resulted in, among other things, rescheduling the meetings, redoing portions of the closure manual with new dates, and special Board meetings, all of which require time and money.

The location of the hearings (which by the way they changed to meet the procedural rules) will now be held at each school proposed for closure.

That was and is just one of the many flaws in their proposal.

As I continue to review the manual they provided to me, I have noticed some misleading numbers. Certainly they have noted how many Valley Head students will be going to George Ward and indicated that the capacity of George Ward will handle those students. But it suddenly occurred to me that they do not indicate in my manual the number of students coming to George Ward from Homestead.

Further, for the BOE to state in my manual “George Ward Elementary School has appropriate capacity to accept the Valley Head School attendance area in its entirety” is a flawed statement in that, yes, it can accept the Valley Head students, but nowhere do they mention the number of students coming from Homestead and what that does to the capacity of George Ward.  And I have found two different capacities listed for George Ward.

In the manual provided to Homestead it indicates that 42 students will be going to George Ward and in my manual it states that Valley Head is sending 27 students to George Ward. Nowhere in my manual does it give the total number of students who will be added to George Ward.

According to my addition they will be adding 69 students to an already projected enrollment of 275. That means they project 344 students at George Ward 2017-18. It would seem to me that the parents of children already at George Ward would want to have a say about the additional students being added to their school and the impact this will have on the education of their children. (By the way — Title 126 Procedural Rule, Board of Education, Series 176, School Closings or Consolidations (6204) § 2.4.1d provides for a hearing for a school receiving students.  It’s not mandatory but would make sense in this situation.)

Additionally, they have stated in the manual in Executive Summary 2.2.4 — Personnel: “An analysis of the personnel needs associated with the closure of Valley Head Elementary indicates no additional teachers will be required at George Ward Elementary. Enrollment projections indicate the county will save four professional positions and two service positions.”

How can that possibly be? If a normal classroom has 25 students, they will be receiving from Homestead and Valley Head combined, 2 classrooms (50 students) plus 19 students  (69 student) … without needing to add any more teachers. Inconceivable to me. Are we setting up George Ward, with this lack of additional personnel, for a continuing failing grade?

This scenario gets back to the vote issue required by the rules. (Title 126 Procedural Rule, Board of Education, Series 176, School Closings or Consolidations (6204) 2.5.2, “The vote on the school closing(s) shall not be conducted until the conclusion of each and every school closing hearing as described in 2.4.1”)

The Randolph County Board of Education is dealing with the closings as separate issues, which they are not since the closure of the schools will impact what will happen to George Ward. The vote on closure should not be taken until both hearings are concluded and all the correct facts considered. The stated intention to take the vote on closure at the conclusion of each separate hearing is contrary to the rules. This is another example of a flawed procedure.

Since correct information has not been provided, I request the Randolph County Board of Education to declare this unsatisfactory attempt to comply with the law and regulations null and void. The Randolph County Board of Education should look to the New Year to begin anew with explicit figures, detailed research and statements which are above and beyond reproach.

 

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