Albemarle's Future?
- Thread starter Buddy Rich
- Start date
If a school had to close and North was selected, which I would support for reasons that have been posted (name, mascot, colors change would need to happen for fairness) would the most sensible districting be to split off a portion of Albemarle's district to South?
Considering how close the two schools are, that's a fair question. My thoughts are speculation based on what I would consider if I were in the BOE's shoes. Here they are:
For the short term:
Albemarle is (a) In the middle of the eastern half of the county and (b) The smallest high school enrollment wise in the county. Reassigning students from a central site (AHS) which is also the smallest HS enrollment wise, to NSHS and SSHS, affects the fewest students. If you close NSHS and move their student body to AHS, it means more total students have to change schools.
For the longer term:
The fields and pasture bordering NSHS might be the exact reason that school is being considered as the one to stay open. It's easier and less expensive to acquire and expand into land presently used for pastures and cornfields than into land already occupied by residences.
Given the situation South is in (isolated, not much new growth), they need an infusion of additional students somehow. However, the SSHS district already comes all the way into the Albemarle City Limits on highway 52, so how do you determine who makes the 10-mile drive to SSHS as opposed to the 3-mile drive to AHS?
Based on that, it appears to me that closing AHS and reassigning their students to NS and SS is more equitable.
Ok however you are talking millions of dollars. AHS already has the land and space. I'm not sure if you are aware of that. You are talking 3.2 million for a new wing in addition to acquiring land across a roadway so you would be in favor of a split campus after 2 million has already been invested into NSHS to close in outdoor classrooms. Additionally the parking lot at NSHS is already a mess so you would need that expanded as well.
Land - AHS already has available and has the availability to more (just an FYI)
Central - you would rather bus kids an hour from Albemarle (my kids goto badin I live 2 mi from AHS and if they ride the bus they are on it 55min AMS is further away) typically lower income families struggle with rides due to being single parent homes and these parents working 2 jobs or do not have the means so you would probably rid the opportunity from these kids.
Enrollment - it was advised that every 10-15 years a redistricting should be done. The lines are outdated due to where the population resides. Regardless of feelings or bias those lines should be drawn accurately which would increase AHS enrollment by 100-150 kids.
Economic impact - there is a economic impact with closing a city school. Regardless of "opinions" there is factual research done that clearly shows this in over 400 schools. If your opinion supports no negative economic impact then find the data because I couldn't.
Academically - there also is no data to support that this will increase academics in the county, rather you see the opposite happening especially in a demographic such as Albemarle.
Let's honestly think about this how many schools have been closed here? What's been the benefits? If no benefits do we have a funding or a spending problem?
I just have questions because I see a lot of opinions but yet I don't think things have been thought out. So my goal is to ask questions because I honestly have no clue how this can even be justified if you honestly without bias look at everything.
At NSHS even if you invested the 3.2 million where are you going to add? To the football field? Take away already limited parking? My personal evaluation is that 3.2 will be more along the lines of 8 or 9 million to accomodate and to do the necessary repairs to NSHS.
Geographically Albemarle being closed is the logical choice although that has been argued here. new_dawg is right and as I have written, redistricting can help Albemarle but South will struggle due to the limited population on its district borders.
I spoke to a person that lives in s neighborhood off Canton Church Road.
His question is why should his neighborhood that supports Endy be disrupted and why should a school, Endy, that has achieved be damaged? I explained that I did not think Endy should redistrict until middle school. He understands the reasoning of post elementary redistricting.
I asked him if it his home value would suffer if his school district became AMS and AHS. He said yes because you are moving them to two schools that he feels are viewed as failures. He did not think that closing an inferior school would harm values as much in that district. His idea is people are not moving into Albemarle for the schools but purposely avoiding it due to the schools.
This is the non Albemarle view. You have a problem, do not give it to us.
His question is why should his neighborhood that supports Endy be disrupted and why should a school, Endy, that has achieved be damaged? I explained that I did not think Endy should redistrict until middle school. He understands the reasoning of post elementary redistricting.
I asked him if it his home value would suffer if his school district became AMS and AHS. He said yes because you are moving them to two schools that he feels are viewed as failures. He did not think that closing an inferior school would harm values as much in that district. His idea is people are not moving into Albemarle for the schools but purposely avoiding it due to the schools.
This is the non Albemarle view. You have a problem, do not give it to us.
I disagree on splitting up the Students and West needs to share in fixing up this situation. Be Fair, then Consolidate, Rebrand and give Us something exciting around here. Other Counties do this
Ok I see some of you are good with numbers so I'll try and make his simple. AHS has just 400. NS has right around 600. WS has right around 800 and you can't include SS because their numbers are too low to pull from. AHS needs at MINIMUM 150 students to bring their population up to a viable number. If you pull 100 from WS they now have 700...still ok. If you take 50 from NS they are now down near that MINIMUM viable population number. So you now have SS far below capacity. You now have AHS well below capacity even at 550. And you have NS well below capacity at 550. WS is still at 700 but that too is below capacity just not as drastic. The theory behind redistributing students to make it "fair" is understandable the problem is the reality that there aren't enough kids. Period.
Well one are the capacity numbers you are speaking of with or without mobile units? AHS being looked at as a failure is a perception of local mostly west residents. I have been afforded the opportunity to speak with a lot of people from outside the area and AHS and SS are the two that I hear about most. The perception I am told that essentially NS is a joke and the school looks like a abandon building. Test score wise you are talking 3pts, so NSHS is not necessarily a school of excellence which can also be said about WS for as good as they think they are.
In regards to transportation and redistributing of students 1) you shutdown 3 schools including AHS your budget will increase significantly 2) you are taking the school away from people who don't have the means to travel to NS WS or SS may not seem like a big deal but you must consider all students in this venture. One more point you still have millions and millions to invest in NSHS and WS even to be able to accomodate these students and at NS you still don't have the space to. Where will this money come from?
As far as safety concerns those who have mentioned this, when is the last time you have been in AHS walking the halls or interacting with any of the kids? Or is this perception because they are of a different color and income class than those of the west side where most notably this perception comes from?
In regards to transportation and redistributing of students 1) you shutdown 3 schools including AHS your budget will increase significantly 2) you are taking the school away from people who don't have the means to travel to NS WS or SS may not seem like a big deal but you must consider all students in this venture. One more point you still have millions and millions to invest in NSHS and WS even to be able to accomodate these students and at NS you still don't have the space to. Where will this money come from?
As far as safety concerns those who have mentioned this, when is the last time you have been in AHS walking the halls or interacting with any of the kids? Or is this perception because they are of a different color and income class than those of the west side where most notably this perception comes from?
Additionally Btango a friendly wager if AHS does not pass NS this year on test scores I will buy you a cup of coffee.
The only thing that's gonna happen is redistricting, that's the bottom line. The BOE has shot themselves in the foot and guaranteed a vote out next year.
I will go back to my original question why NSHS over AHS? Here are some pro's and cons for keeping AHS open over NSHS. Please feel free to add.
Pro's
AHS has more room to grow and expand
Nicer HS needs less repair
City School
Meets needs of lower income and diverse students that do not have the extra means
Helps the local businesses economically with athletics and additional programs
No need to add mobile units to meet the extra accommodation needs of incoming students
You are keeping an recognized and state recognized school athletically if you add resources academically and bring back great teachers that have placed in other schools and redistrict you have a recognized school that would achieve academically.
You would avoid any proven negative economic impacts of removing a city school
Through redistricting you could rid all HS of mobile units making them look more like HS instead of a mobile home park.
Financially saving millions of investments that the SCS does not have allowing for more resources and priorities to be placed on academics.
Cons:
Alittle further for rural kids who have the means to be able to still be involved in athletics and extracurricular activities due to them already having to travel to NS
Pro's
AHS has more room to grow and expand
Nicer HS needs less repair
City School
Meets needs of lower income and diverse students that do not have the extra means
Helps the local businesses economically with athletics and additional programs
No need to add mobile units to meet the extra accommodation needs of incoming students
You are keeping an recognized and state recognized school athletically if you add resources academically and bring back great teachers that have placed in other schools and redistrict you have a recognized school that would achieve academically.
You would avoid any proven negative economic impacts of removing a city school
Through redistricting you could rid all HS of mobile units making them look more like HS instead of a mobile home park.
Financially saving millions of investments that the SCS does not have allowing for more resources and priorities to be placed on academics.
Cons:
Alittle further for rural kids who have the means to be able to still be involved in athletics and extracurricular activities due to them already having to travel to NS
Since you are so good with numbers let's look at this realistically. You bring up numbers post open enrollment.
Pre open enrollment and post announcement the numbers at AHS were slightly increasing and had more students planned to attend AHS once things went the way they did you had a drop in teacher and student morale of not knowing where they would be and from a students prospective feeling like everyone was against them. Understand that when the open enrollment surprising came about our principal was not in yet, no bball coach, no fball coach due to the board not allowing us to hire one in addition to the expectation this boe was going to close the school regardless so some parents just moved these kids to avoid the drama of the BOE and that is a fact. There is actually quite a few students who want to come back to AHS. There was actually something really cool in the works prior to the announcement that I am not at liberty to discuss but is a shame that has been put on the side burner for AHS until this is resolved.
The BOE had no business even announcing these plans with the amount of work that they have failed to do. In fact even a year later their consultant even stated that they are not close to having the research completed to even be able to make a recommendation. But they have been successful in hurting kids. Smh
Here is the sad part there is so much bias towards AHS that people are supporting a plan that has not been properly researched and from the research I have seen and heard will directly have a negative impact economically and academically.
Btango what cracks me up about the individual you spoke to is that he said AMS is viewed as a failure but yet I believe AMS is one of the more successful schools in the county and rarely have any issues whatsoever.
If you want to be for something like this do the research, when it comes to kids uneducated opinions don't work. This BOE should be ashamed of themselves for putting forth a half assed plan and supporting it. When you are talking affecting hundreds of kids and families cross your T's dot your I's remove all bias and research and put forth a plan that will help academically.
I have heard opinions from people just a tiny tiny few that agree with this but never have researched everything. Even a certain individual " we need to look at change and obviously these educated people know more than us". LOL do they really? As it looks to me they don't even know how to do the proper research to make sure that this is a plan that is supported and will actually be a benefit.
Sorry guys this involves my kids and the whole situation worries me. I see a lot of needs in our schools and none of it relates to closing schools. If this isn't addressed and properly handled I know of right now about 30 kids that will leave SCS and maybe more. Want to talk about a funding issue. $4350.00 per kid X 30 kids would be the funding lost or about $130,500.00 per year.
Keep in mind we don't have a funding issue we have a academic issue and that is something I have not even heard a plan to improve. STEM only applies to the better 20% of students what about the other 80%?
We do have a funding issue. SCS does not have enough enrollment to support having four schools. They do not offer the academics to keep the school system from losing kids to Graystone, Carolina Christian and others. While I understand we need to get below four schools it bothers me that with all of the arguing of which school nothing is mentioned of how we offer better academics.
If you look at the consolidation as a business would look at consolidating four sites to three the largest savings would be in the ability to offset the cost of real estate. While I do not have all of the needed research ( but neither does anyone else) having done this with companies many times I would be looking ahead to which piece of real estate I could take off of my books the quickest. It seems to me that you would never sell AHS. With the proximity to 49 it seam that North would be the best bet.
As for all of the studies that have been discussed about closing schools in cities, each of these situations have to be viewed individually, as far as what the distance was to the new location, this would be minimal to North and most important what was the economic structure of the city was prior to the closing. Anyone could have went to the albemarle downtown Christmas last week and seen that there already are more closed stores than open.
I do believe that Albemarle should stay open for the kids that won't have the opportunities to be involved in school activities and sports etc., if they are further from home. Our schools need better academics to quit losing students to Graystone and keep a blend of students in all of our remaining schools. Everyone benefits and grows from a blend.
If you look at the consolidation as a business would look at consolidating four sites to three the largest savings would be in the ability to offset the cost of real estate. While I do not have all of the needed research ( but neither does anyone else) having done this with companies many times I would be looking ahead to which piece of real estate I could take off of my books the quickest. It seems to me that you would never sell AHS. With the proximity to 49 it seam that North would be the best bet.
As for all of the studies that have been discussed about closing schools in cities, each of these situations have to be viewed individually, as far as what the distance was to the new location, this would be minimal to North and most important what was the economic structure of the city was prior to the closing. Anyone could have went to the albemarle downtown Christmas last week and seen that there already are more closed stores than open.
I do believe that Albemarle should stay open for the kids that won't have the opportunities to be involved in school activities and sports etc., if they are further from home. Our schools need better academics to quit losing students to Graystone and keep a blend of students in all of our remaining schools. Everyone benefits and grows from a blend.
Great points. Academics should be the focal point of whatever we do and it hasn't been. That is what concerns me as a parent. You looked at the closing the same exact way I did. Any business analysis you use everything points to closing north if you want to close a school.
I am honestly not sold we have a funding problem I think we have a spending problem. I don't believe resources are being used wisely and I do believe we have a tremendous amount of waste.
In regards to competing with gray stone type schools this is something that is a statewide problem since they have granted so many charters in the state of NC. I have no answers to this as this monster was created at the state level and seems to have gotten alittle out of hand.
There are additional great resources now being offered by the college beginning for a HS freshman that actually applies credits for high school students to their college I believe up to a semester. They have a program similar to this up north and it is fantastic. The only difference is you can graduate HS up north with a associates degree and HS diploma. This will help our HS students county wide to become better equipped for college to say that I am excited about this is a under statement. But this will help our students compete alittle better with those types of Charters.
We need to institute a strong phonics reading program in our early childhood classes as well and get back to teaching the basics including handwriting. Currently we do not have any of these in our k-2nd grade. That would help tremendously with reading comprehension as the kids grow older. Also we need to add some arts programs in our HS (all of them) dance choir etc anything to get these kids more involved.
Bulldog Nation...I am curious, you said you live in the AHS school district...what elementary or middle school do your kids attend, and are you happy with the education your kids are getting? How does it go from so good to so bad at the high school level?
Spike I live less than 2mi from AHS and my kids are in North district. They attend Badin and no it's not good. Badin does have some great teachers though and they have some not so good ones. I can honestly say we have had multiple meetings with concerns especially about the k-2 grades and we are not the only ones. A matter of fact I know a bunch of people of people who pulled their kids from Badin because their kids were way behind and put them in park ridge or homeschooled them and within a year had them caught up. My youngest is experiencing this now. My other two do not struggle here and the difference the other two were in a blue ribbon school for the majority of the k-2 years. When they came here they were doing things they had done the previous year.
So yes I am a concerned parent over anything and I do love AHS and if I felt for one minute this is a step that would improve academics I would be as vocal as I am now but for it.
Let's be really honest for a second. We are not challenging our kids in the k-2 grade years, there is no foundation of learning being built that's one huge problem. It's not expensive to give a great education and you don't need chrome books stem classes etc. the blue ribbon school they came from had great teachers who cared about the kids, they had great communication with parents and were notified daily of what they needed to work on, they had an administration from the BOE down who loved these kids and wanted them to succeed that was there only goal. Additionally there was a unity from the HS down with the kids. They were wildcats a ton of pride. When it came to academics they had a great phonics reading curriculum, taught handwriting, etc. additionally there goal was to have them reading a grade level ahead and comprehending it by the end of the school year. May I add that this HS only had 450 students and it was a school of excellence. The school got the exact same amount as here per student and had 0 property or sales tax money. Same income and demographic as here as well. OH and paid their coaches $3900 10% of a first year teachers salary.
We have spent and wasted a lot of resources on this crap. That's money and resources we could have used to send Dr. Griffin to one of these great states with similar income and demographics who are school of excellence and see what they are doing. Heck I would but the plane ticket or drive her there myself.
If you honestly believe consolidation or closing a HS will help you are nuts because the issues still are not addressed. It does not take 500,000 and a bunch of chrome books to get it right.
Anyway we do have some excellent excellent teachers and coaches in this county, I have had the great priviledge of meeting and working with some of them. Most don't have what they need to be honest, but with the money we could have used to give these teachers what they need we used on a half assed plan and to pay an consultant to tell us what we already knew they weren't even close to having the necessary information even to recommend a plan. I'm sorry but I want to learn from the best so if I am in charge I'm not paying attention to what NC is doing as the 48th ranked state I am going to the top, I want to be the best and regardless of its west stanly north stanly or Albemarle my goal is to be the best and have the best I can for my kids in my district. We can do better.
The BOE has caught holy hell ever since it even mentioned the possibility of closures and consolidations, despite the fact that the new members who were voted in ran on a platform of change. In addition, many have accused the board members of having a hidden agenda or a desire to "get back at" a school over past rivalries or perceived inequities.
This op-ed (see link) was in the December 12 Stanly News and Press. I have known Todd Swaringen his whole life. He is an intelligent and caring person, who has always seemed to me to be level headed and who makes an effort to do the right thing. I voted for him in the last BOE election and would vote for him again. Please read this. If you read it and still don't believe it came from the heart and that he does care greatly about our community and our young people, I don't know what else it would take.
Keep in mind that the BOE members are people too. And their courage to stand up for what they believe is right despite "excruciating" criticism has cost many of them dearly.
http://www.thesnaponline.com/opinio...cle_339daca2-a27e-11e5-ac3f-8394f557458e.html
This op-ed (see link) was in the December 12 Stanly News and Press. I have known Todd Swaringen his whole life. He is an intelligent and caring person, who has always seemed to me to be level headed and who makes an effort to do the right thing. I voted for him in the last BOE election and would vote for him again. Please read this. If you read it and still don't believe it came from the heart and that he does care greatly about our community and our young people, I don't know what else it would take.
Keep in mind that the BOE members are people too. And their courage to stand up for what they believe is right despite "excruciating" criticism has cost many of them dearly.
http://www.thesnaponline.com/opinio...cle_339daca2-a27e-11e5-ac3f-8394f557458e.html
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I've said all along this BOE is not the board to be upset with.
bulldognation you have wrote that the school district that you came from in Ohio was very equal in enrollment and budget. Can you give us a breakdown of elementary and middle schools plus the number of high school(s) and the enrollment? Also, do you know the square mileage of the district?
The best part of the article was citing that schools not too long ago were pushing 900. They ran just fine and no one complained of over crowding or wanted the schools to be split to make them smaller. And to anyone who believes race is a deciding factor in the decision making process, you are part of the problem and a special kind of stupid. When all else fails cry racism.
# of HS 4: student population per school- 493, 395, 893, 540
Total students 8193 18 schools total 17 public HS elem middle and 1 vocational
Total county population 41,500
409 sq miles
Total schools budget $71 million
1st year starting teacher salary $39,000
** note each HS is its own district the main city school which is the 893 has the largest district to support the county seat. Each district (HS) has its own Superintendent. All schools grade are high B's on up. The main city school being like AHS is also very diverse. As whole the county understands the importance of the county seat school. The main city school also has a 1% school income tax no other schools have it. The county also has a D3 college and a community college as well as 2 private schools and kids can also utilize k12 or a virtual academy (homeschool)
I would like to share this letter that was written and sent into our AD this morning. It shows what an impact good coaches can have and what character resides in AHS. This is why I am proud to be a Bulldog. Hats off to Coach Marc Raye and the positive impact he is having in our young men already!!!! Also prayers for SVHS and the fan and their families. We have many longtime fans such as this and they are a part of our AHS Bulldog family.
"I am a regular Sun Valley HS sports fan, and I have watched SVHS basketball for 22 years. Both of my daughters graduated from SVHS, and I still enjoy watching football and basketball games there. I watched the Albemarle HS versus Sun Valley HS basketball game on Friday, Dec. 11, 2015, and I wanted to tell you how impressed I was with the Albemarle basketball team. Before the game started, the audience was asked to be quiet in respect for the death of a long-time SVHS fan who had died the night before after a long battle with cancer. When the Albemarle team was introduced, each player climbed into the stands to hug the family and offer their condolences. That was pure class! My hat is off to your team and your coach. I have never witnessed that before and it’s all that I can remember from the game.
The Albemarle team exhibited great sportsmanship throughout the game, and they never grandstanded or questioned an official’s call. They were a pleasure to watch. That stuff matters. It matters in basketball and it matters in life. It also attracts attention, and you caught mine. You have a new fan in me. Good luck the rest of the season and maybe my wife and I will drive to Albemarle and watch one of our new favorite teams.
Sincerely,
Mike Antony
PS our boys gave Salisbury their first loss tonight.
"I am a regular Sun Valley HS sports fan, and I have watched SVHS basketball for 22 years. Both of my daughters graduated from SVHS, and I still enjoy watching football and basketball games there. I watched the Albemarle HS versus Sun Valley HS basketball game on Friday, Dec. 11, 2015, and I wanted to tell you how impressed I was with the Albemarle basketball team. Before the game started, the audience was asked to be quiet in respect for the death of a long-time SVHS fan who had died the night before after a long battle with cancer. When the Albemarle team was introduced, each player climbed into the stands to hug the family and offer their condolences. That was pure class! My hat is off to your team and your coach. I have never witnessed that before and it’s all that I can remember from the game.
The Albemarle team exhibited great sportsmanship throughout the game, and they never grandstanded or questioned an official’s call. They were a pleasure to watch. That stuff matters. It matters in basketball and it matters in life. It also attracts attention, and you caught mine. You have a new fan in me. Good luck the rest of the season and maybe my wife and I will drive to Albemarle and watch one of our new favorite teams.
Sincerely,
Mike Antony
PS our boys gave Salisbury their first loss tonight.
I wish you could convince the man who wrote this letter to forward it to the letters to the editor portion of the SNAP.
After listening to the a.m. news report...it sounds like plan B will pass. The board gave 40 reasons to close AHS.... I guess just saying "more courses are offered at a larger school" wouldn't have been enough. I also heard a nice idea...when they close the school, why not utilize AHS stadium for every in county game. SS vs NS for example could be held on AHS field. (The problem with this will be in the first year or two when all the scoring comes from kids who would have attended AHS. Imagine the irony.) Oh well...even with global warming...I think this snowball has picked up enough steam. Even the NAACP couldn't stop it now.
Yeah funny how this all takes place when the parade and bball games are going on. AHS had ALOT of people in the parade last night. Now they want to give reasons go figure.
Back to blaming the board or this board. I absolutely can blame this board for announcing and follow through with a half assed plan that's not even close to having the information necessary per their own consultant!!!
Billy you like to all people stupid. Let's look at it like this. Is stupid being for or against a plan that is only half completed and is supporting theories that goes against every single bit of information that has been studied? Hmm
Additionally, you have had 2 people come on here one being me from a business stand point and speak of why to close NSHS over AHS. Both of us do this for a living so why hasn't the board even looked at this or brought it as a option? Can you say for a definite that race or income of the community plays no part? Because if you know anything about business you can clearly see this and it's not even close. In fact I have given a bunch of different reasons why AHS should remain open and NSHS closed if Plan B is what they want and only one has been given to me and that's student distribution. But even that is debatable because if new schools were built these very same people said the connector which is roughly 1/2mi-1mi from the current AHS.
So somebody please tell me why AHS over NSHS since you are for Plan B?
Nation, the BOE has never discussed building a new HS on the connector. That was a possibility suggested by btango (if I remember correctly) that was discussed on here and possibly other threads. That has never been an "official" option.
Plan B is not ideal by any means. But no plan is going to come about (even just redistricting) that does not get someone hot and bothered. But I think it's the best one available at this time based on geography (fewer total students reassigned).
New Dawg thank you for your response. That is precisely the problem everything is at this time. You can't operate a business, school etc on a year to year or at this time plan. There has to be planning, research, studies, and analysis completed. Let me break this down for you and anybody who is for this plan and give you some facts these are not opinions but actual studies hundreds of them that has been completed. Then I will dive into plan B alittle. Keep in mind what plan B is and looking into the future past a year.
1) research has shown and proven that consolidation has shown no academic gains in fact in low income and racially diverse communities you have seen an incredible negative impact both academically and economically (over 450 studies show this and are consistent in each one)
2) by closing the main city school specifically HS it has shown consistently that there has been a negative impact on local businesses and property values
3) By closing AHS you are removing the nicest HS in the county that would need the LEAST investment to accomodate new students. Additionally it also has the best setup for expansion to the campus.
4) by the facility study you would need to make an $3.2 MILLION dollar investment to NSHS just accomodate the added students this does NOT account for removing kids from the mobile units there. Additionally you would have added investment of around another $3 MILLION dollars to fix the needed repairs to the building in addition to finding a place there to expand the school which already is a cluster with the parking area. Additionally you have another $3.2 MILLION that will need to be invested into WS to accomodate new students and yes you still have kids in mobile units. That's $9.4 million on the low side that needs to be invested on day 1.
Does the SCS have this funding in a war chest? Where do they believe they will find this money?
Additionally you have schools at over 100% capacity through plan B and one school even at 133%. The suggested capacity number is 80-85% for peak learning.
5) PER their own consultant they are not even HALFWAY completed with the needed research to make an EDUCATED decision on consolidation. He even MADE the recommendation of redistricting as the lines are out of date and this should be done every 10-15 years.
6) This plan does NOT set forth a viable plan to increase academics in stanly county. 80% of the student population is still out there. There is no plan to increase academics for these kids.
7) Plan B does nothing and accomplishes nothing in regards to academics or cost savings. They have not done there homework or analysis because if they had they would also see this.
Please note there is not a funding problem there is a wasteful spending problem. We have closed schools in this county cut teachers pay cut coaches pay and they still have not improved academically not financially. They have a $73 million dollar budget people keep that in mind. If closing schools didn't help before what in the world makes you think it will work now???????? Billy was referring to some people as stupid, if you are for a plan that is not complete and studies over 450 of them clearly show this Information is consistent what would that define you as? I hear opinions but I would rather rely on facts.
Ps I never said the BOE did I said the people that argue distribution of students said the new HS should be on the connector referring to people on this board.
Also I am willing to debate anyone on this but you better bring supporting facts.
Also I am willing to debate anyone on this but you better bring supporting facts.
I'm in the process of buying a new home far away from this "God Forsaken" town. Next year can't get here fast enough.
If what Sleeh says is true, the best of wishes to the students and athletes of Albemarle. That board is totally disgusting, and I wouldn't give them a drop of blood if their lives depended on it. There where only 2 bright spots on that board that truly cared for the students of Albemarle, but they can't do it alone. Again, best of wishes.
Some things are just not meant to be changed, but I totally understand why.
If what Sleeh says is true, the best of wishes to the students and athletes of Albemarle. That board is totally disgusting, and I wouldn't give them a drop of blood if their lives depended on it. There where only 2 bright spots on that board that truly cared for the students of Albemarle, but they can't do it alone. Again, best of wishes.
Some things are just not meant to be changed, but I totally understand why.
Sway I heard that if Plan B is in fact voted on a new charter would open in Norwood. Estimation 200 elementary and middle school kids expected. That's in addition to all the other kids I have heard about which is about another 30. $4350 per kid X 250 kids will be a huge hit to the budget of SCS
Who's running that proposal? I know you have to fill out an application to get one started. That's great for Norwood though, in not allowing themselves to be strong armed and taking control of their own destiny. I know people complain about charters, but in this situation, can't blame them.
If the BOE is concerned about its pockets, they will really have an issue if charters start popping up in Stanly County.
It will be to my knowledge a private charter. Heard there is another one that started planning for Albemarle but that's all I have heard about it. Suppose to be more for high school aged kids. The Norwood one I think is being done by a church. Not sure though just seen something about it the other day. I calculated it up and that would remove around a million dollars from their annual budget.