Published: May 19, 2008 03:36 pm      

School reconfiguration — Public comment vital to Mercer proposal

Area parents hoping to have a say in the proposed reconfiguration of four Mercer County schools will be afforded the opportunity to speak during four upcoming public hearings.

The Mercer County Board of Education has been offered $12.5 million in funding from the state School Building Authority to assist with the construction of a proposed new PikeView Middle School. If the new school is built, the existing Athens, Spanishburg, Oakvale and Lashmeet/Matoaka schools will be reconfigured into K-5 facilities.

The school system will hold public hearings at all four schools before voting on whether to accept the $12.5 million grant, according to School Superintendent Dr. Deborah Akers. A vote by the Board of Education on whether or not to proceed with the new middle school project is expected at a later June meeting.

The first public hearing will be held June 9 at Oakvale School followed by hearings on June 10 at Spanishburg School, June 11 at Lashmeet/Matoaka School and June 12 at Athens School. All four public hearings begin at 6 p.m.

If the plan is approved by the Board of Education, students in grades 6-8 at Athens, Spanishburg, Oakvale and Lashmeet/Matoaka schools would attend the new middle school. It is proposed to be constructed adjacent to the existing PikeView High School site.

The total cost of the new middle school project is estimated at $15 million. If approved by the Board of Education, Akers said the school system is expected to fund the remaining $3 million of the project cost.

We welcome the decision by the Board of Education to hold public hearings at all four schools and communities that would be impacted by the proposed school reconfiguration plan.

Parents who may have questions or comments regarding the school plan should plan to attend one, if not all, four of the public hearings. The board is hoping to hear from parents in all four communities.

We encourage all area interested parents to attend the upcoming public hearings.