School consolidation hearing draws backers, foes

WISE, Va. – Supporters and opponents of school consolidation turned out Monday to voice their opinions on a plan by the Wise County School Board to consolidate the county’s six old high schools into three new ones.
During the hearing, the most passionate opposition to the proposal – for which costs and specific details are still unclear – came from Appalachia residents.
“The people that are speaking for consolidation, a majority of them are from Big Stone [Gap], they’re from Wise and they’re from Coeburn. If they want to consolidate so bad, then consolidate them and leave us alone,” said Catherine Rainey, a student at Appalachia High School. “I’m fine with my school. Just let it be Appalachia. Who cares if it gets fixed? Just let it be Appalachia … don’t consolidate our school when we like it the way it is.”
Those who favor consolidation spoke about the need for new facilities equipped with technology that the old school buildings weren’t made to handle when they were built in the 1950s, and the money to be saved by consolidation in a school system that has shrinking enrollment.
“You cannot continue to do nothing. If you do, these old buildings are going to collapse,” said Danny Stallard, of Wise.
“To renovate our six high schools at a cost of $80 million or more would be foolish and have to continue the upkeep of all six schools. Three brand new high schools is what we need.”
No vote was taken after the three-hour hearing, and few questions were answered by board members, although many were asked. Most of the questions were about the board’s specific plans and motivation.
“I heard a while back that there was coal under the high school, and I want to know who’s going to get the money from where they tear down the school,” said Ashley Hileman, an eighth-grader at Appalachia High School.
“Let us know where the schools are going to be, what your real plans are, and if this is about coal,” said Loretta Stapleton, whose granddaughter graduated in 2007 from the school.
“Is it not true that Appalachia High School has a seam of coal under it and it has already been sold or at least in the process of being sold to a company?” she asked.
Many from the county’s smaller communities talked about the importance of the schools to their communities, not just as schools, but as community centers that house youth programs and events.
Some said they would send their children to Russell and Dickenson counties rather than to consolidated schools here.
Proponents talked about the efficiency that would be achieved by consolidation.
“Many statements have been made considering the job loss if we consolidate,” said Wilma Stallard, of Wise. “Question: Is it the taxpayers’ responsibility to provide jobs for persons not needed when school administrations could be operated more efficiently at lower cost?”
Dan Fast, of Pound, said the Pound High School, which was built in 1953, “doesn’t have any air conditioning ... the windows are draft, many of the windows are missing and ... the parking is atrocious during sporting events.”
“Fifty years ago, there were over 50 schools in this county, excluding high schools. No doubt there were many more in the 1800s. ... Now we have many, many fewer schools. We’ve been consolidating for 100 years; it isn’t anything new,” Fast continued. “Every last child in this county is going to a consolidated school already.”
Fast said more consolidation is inevitable.
Hugh O’Donnell, a St. Paul lawyer, said he’s willing to go to great lengths to prevent consolidation by changing the county’s system of selecting School Board members.
“I call it the Turkey Removal Project,” he said as he handed out copies of a petition in hopes of collecting 2,500 signatures. “Unfortunately, there is no provision for a referendum. However, there is a provision for reverting to an alternative method of selecting the School Board.”
O’Donnell hopes to change the method from election by the citizens to appointment by a committee.
Still, other residents say change has taken place as the issue has been debated in recent years and many of those who were once opposed to consolidation have changed their minds.
“Two elections ago, several of you ran on a no-consolidation platform and won,” said Rusty Peters, who lives near Wise.
“Renovating would not accomplish anything but a short-term fix for a long-term problem. Apparently, in the last election I was not the only voter to come to this conclusion because several of you ran on a pro-consolidation platform and won.”
The public hearing is required for the board to proceed with consolidation. The next step is the development of a specific plan, which would then go to the Wise County Board of Supervisors.

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