Questions remain about school plans

Discussions about school facilities are continuing, but several key decisions about the nature of any future facility have yet to be made. Of significant import is the lack of a decision on whether the proposed new middle-school building planned at Sparta School will include two grades or three grades countywide. So far, proposals have been made to include two grades in the facility (seventh and eighth) or three grades (sixth, seventh and eighth). However, a drawing from Pinnacle Architecture of Matthews that was used for reference purposes at a meeting of the Alleghany County Board of Education on July 28 listed the proposed structure as housing only grades seven and eight. On the other hand, school officials said the label from the architect was little more than an identifier and does not mean the school system has made a decision on the matter.

According to Board of Education Chairman Charles Joines, the board is “waiting on topographical drawings from the surveyors right now,” he said. Robert Andrews and Henry Hobson are doing the survey work for the topo maps. “After reviewing these results, the architects will be ready to design whichever one we choose. They will be able to tell us if we have the amount of usable land that would be needed for six-eight or seven-eight.”

Joines stated that after a discussion with the architects, the board will have to make a decision. In terms of a construction date, he added that “the board just doesn’t know.”

At the meeting on July 28, Sparta’s acting principal, John Farrelly, said the proposed architectural drawing of the building does not include enough classroom space for all three grades countywide.

Farrelly, who is officially assistant principal, is serving as the principal while the full-time principal, Susan Murphy, is on medical leave. At this time, Missey Weaver is serving as assistant principal. Space problems at Sparta School were the main impetus for launching the building program, but all three schools have cited the need for additional space. Principals at Piney Creek and Glade Creek earlier said that their school space needs would not be alleviated if a new countywide middle school only included two grades.

At Sparta, enrollment stood at 720 on Tuesday, which is an increase of about 25 students from the end of the 2004-05 school year, with the average class size being between 22 and 23 students, according to Farrelly.

Enrollment was about 690 at the beginning of the 2004-05 school year, with the average class size being about the same as this school year. The school has faced ongoing space concerns in the last four or five years due to increases in programming and enrollment.

During a discussion on facilities, Superintendent Duane Davis presented the board with rough concept drawings of the proposed floors at the Sparta School expansion.

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