School board hears support for middle school proposal

The Alleghany County Board of Education heard support for a middle school idea at its meeting on Feb. 2. At least one board member voiced support for the idea.

Some members of the board later clarified that many options are being discussed to help alleviate space congestion at Sparta Elementary and, to a lesser degree, other county schools.

Superintendent Duane Davis stated that he told the county school principals in September to look at their particular schools and determine one-year facility needs, asking what is needed to open schools in the fall of 2005.

“We spent a lot of time and a lot of planning and remember, we’re trying to look at a short-term solution for Sparta School and the county and a long-term solution for Sparta School and the county. We’re going to come up with some options and they may have a range money-wise. It could range anywhere from $15 million for a new school, all the way down to building just what we need at Sparta School, just the minimum.”

Davis then stated that after the options are weighed, the best plan will be selected, based on the money that is available.

“We know we don’t have unlimited funds,” he said.

Appearing at the meeting were four local teachers and coaches who advocated the idea of a county-wide middle school. Mitch Franklin, Kevin Spurlin, Bill Jarrett and Linnea Miller were present and expressed an interest in having a middle school. Franklin coaches middle grade students in wrestling and also is a teacher assistant at Sparta School. Spurlin is a wrestling coach for the lower grades at Glade Creek, Jarrett is the Gear Up tutoring director and Miller is a second grade teacher at Glade Creek School.

“With the needs at present at Sparta Elementary School...I think now’s the time to look at a middle school or look at a concept,” Franklin said. “I’m talking about a concept that would work with the Sparta Elementary School like it is and add a middle school into it and have two separate buildings.”

Franklin added that he wasn’t advocating the closure of either Glade Creek or Piney Creek School, but the schools could “make some improvements and that kind of thing.”

As a coach, when the students go to other schools to wrestle, “it hurts a little bit...every school we go to is a brand new middle school. It’s great to see that kind of program moving forward. Everybody I’m talking to is in support of it,” Franklin continued. They “can pretty much see the benefits that a middle school would bring.”

Franklin said it would be better to add a middle school now instead of waiting a few years.

Students have to drive from Piney Creek to Sparta to participate in activities such as football, according to Franklin. “I think it’s also important to get the kids together academically instead of at three separate schools in the county.”

When asked about the estimated number of students per grade, Davis responded that there would be an average of 125 to 130 students per grade in the middle school.

Franklin added that he is aware that the additions at Sparta would not be cheap. but “we could spend a little bit more for a building for all our sixth, seventh and eighth graders. Then Glade Creek and Piney would really benefit from that.”

Spurlin, in addition to his interest as a wrestling coach, also has a child in the school system.

“Glade Creek is a wonderful place, but if had the opportunity to bring my kid here (Sparta) and put him in a nicer school with much more upgraded technology and put better learning tools in front of him, that’s what I’m going to do as a parent,” he said. “We aren’t in a situation where we need to close the elementary school. We’re in a situation where we need a facility for the older children."

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