Commentary By Bill Nestor
With the school year nearing its end, the Harrison County Board of Education tackled a major issue this past week. The hottest topic of the year has been the potential consolidation of Liberty High School and Robert C. Byrd High School
When this potential consolidation was first discussed, it brought an overwhelming amount of emotion from the community.
The Board of Education is comprised of members Doug Hogue, Frank K. Devono, Tom Tucker, Mary Francis Smith, and President Gary Hamrick. This is an excellent group of individuals that have the best interest of our children as their top priority. As they pondered their decision on how to vote on this matter, there were so many factors that they had to consider.
Their vote would powerfully affect the students and teachers from Liberty and Robert C. Byrd, Mountaineer Middle School, Washington Irving Middle School, North View Elementary School, and Salem Elementary School.
Over the last several months, I’ve talked to several people in the county about this topic. Obviously everyone has an opinion on what to do. What was surprising, however, was how quickly many came to their conclusion. The depth of this decision goes beyond an alma mater. There are jobs at stake (for teachers and players) and longer trips to be taken before, during, and after school.
Don’t get me wrong; there are nothing but positives about school pride and I will admit that when my alma mater, Washington Irving, was no longer a high school, I was upset. I tried, however, to focus on the positives and not the negatives at that time.
The conversations that I had with those in the community were centered around jobs and travel. The concerns were the loss of one and the gain of the latter. Consolidation of schools always brings fear that teachers will lose jobs.
Teachers and coaches will merge with the need to be determined. The same scenario applies for athletes that are trying to earn roster spots, positions, and eventually playing time. There are opportunities that are taken away from kids that might be late bloomers due to consolidation. One remedy is an increased amount of recreation leagues that would allow our youth to continue to develop in hopes of one day making a school team.
If not, it would at least provide them with the advantages of learning how to be part of a team which would help make up for what they would lose if they couldn’t participate.
Addressing another concern, consolidation means more time on a bus for students, but if it is managed correctly, with the best possible routes in place, it would help to minimize the issue.
I know most of the Board personally and I’m sure they took all of these issues into consideration before making their final decision. The Board voted to close Liberty and consolidate it into RCB. Mountaineer Middle and Washington Irving were closed and the students will move to Liberty (the building.) North View will close and their students attend in the former Mountaineer Middle site, while Salem will operate as previously.
The Board’s task was not easy. They were in a no-win situation. They made the best decision that they could and now it’s our job to do our part. We need to rally behind the kids because at the end of the day, we’re all on the same team.
That will do for now! Until next week . . . take care and God Bless!