The anchor to most progressive and growing communities is higher education. Thanks to forward thinking community leaders, we need to look no further than our own University of Virginia’s College at Wise and Mountain Empire Community College. Leadership, integrity and dynamic commitment to education excellence have made these institutions priceless community assets.
For years, Wise County and our region has struggled to move forward, and many students have needed remedial education for basic college courses. Advancement is not always easy, but with a willingness to adapt, we can see our youth flourish. While embracing the practical understanding that educational attainment and broader social interaction usually improves quality of life, there is residual reluctance to let go of dated ideology and schools.
A progressively thinking community should welcome consolidation and the abundance with opportunities for all. As a 16-year-old high school junior, I had the privilege of experiencing the positive effects of consolidation. The leaders of my Tennessee community worked together to see that their children, and future generations of students, would have a new facility with challenging curriculum to meet the demands of obtaining a quality education. Consolidation of three schools with a longstanding history of rivalry quickly became a non-issue, as students were thrilled to move to a facility with modern conveniences and new curriculum opportunities. Communities within a 30-45 minute radius grew and flourished. Our principal, a retired Marine Colonel, had a strong leadership background, and no ties to any of the previous three schools. He set a standard of pride in caring for our facility, and encouraged all to take advantage of the educational opportunities.
The present Wise County school configuration has received many well-deserved accolades, but falls short of providing for the future challenges students will encounter. A new three-on-one campus community school would add enhanced educational opportunities, as well as a larger census for essential cultural and social interaction and diversity.
Creating a state-of-the-art high school filled with committed educators, students benefiting from expanded opportunities and a united community lending full support will send a resounding message that Wise County will no longer be held hostage to either mediocrity or “what was.”
Robbin Arnold
Big Stone Gap, Va.
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