Taxpayers should decide schools’ fate

Bluefield Daily Telegraph

July 16, 2008 05:40 pm

— I see the school board is having another round of meetings for the reconfiguration of the four schools. I attended all the meetings they had at Athens, Lashmeet/Matoaka, Oakvale and Spanishburg. At these meetings I only heard maybe a total of three people speak for the new school at each meeting. The majority at each meeting was against and numerous petitions against were given to the board.
At each meeting information was presented showing children were better off being at smaller community schools. Most people have stated that this is a “done deal” regardless what a few on the board have told the public. Why hire a architect when they’ve still haven’t voted on this yet? The will of the majority have spoken against this project but three members seem to want this regardless of the taxpayers’ wishes. When this is built all those who spoke against this new school should remember who didn’t listen and we need to vote them out. I also think it’s time for a new superintendent who works for the people instead of against what the majority wants. Why doesn’t the board put this on the ballot in the areas that are affected and let the people decide? Only this would go against what they want and against a democratic system this country was founded on. The voice of the people should be the deciding vote for what they feel is best for our children, not three people who won’t be affected.
Lou Smith
Lashmeet