Parents voice concerns about district policy discussions

Concerned parents addressed members of the Alleghany County Board of Education with questions regarding district lines - a recent topic of discussion for board members - during the board's Feb. 7 meeting. Board member Joel Souther was absent due to illness.

Waynette Church, a resident of Glade Creek, commented that her daughter currently attends Sparta School.

"My husband and I decided that Sparta, for numerous reasons, would be best for (third-grade student) Bailey…I feel there are very strong teachers in Sparta." Church then stated the couple also have a 3-year- old son, Bryson.

"There's no way that I can have them in two different schools. I would not want to uproot Bailey in sixth grade and have Bryson going to another school."

Church continued, "I feel like we pay taxes to help build the additions to the schools. We feel like we're kind of being pushed out, that Virginia people are being able to stay...I don't feel like it's right. I know nothing's been carved in stone, but we just want some positive feedback. I'm not saying that Piney and Glade don't have good teachers, they do. I just feel like we need to make the right choice for our kids."

In response, Chairman Clarence Crouse said, "Let me take this opportunity on behalf of the board. Waynette mentioned something very important. The discussion that we've had so far is more or less in the beginning stages. We have not sat down to finalize any decisions or anything like that...the plans are as we make decisions, or preliminary decisions even, for next year, we do plan to open up for comments and have people invited from the community."

Board member Mitch Franklin told the members of the audience they are welcome to attend any of the board's meetings, but when there is a public meeting scheduled, it would be for the purpose of discussing the different facets surrounding district lines.

"We're very much interested in (receiving) input from parents, people who are affected and most importantly, the students."

Crouse spoke to the audience once more, "I hope you all understand the board serving here and the staff...we're out to try and improve the overall situation for all the children in the county. A lot of times, that's not easy. We're trying to be very careful in our discussion and our thoughts."

Jackie Perry, a parent of two students at Sparta, stated, "I'm coming in support of parents having the right to choose." She went on to say she lives in Ennice but spends a lot of time in Sparta. "I don't mind the travel to bring them to Sparta to have a better school, larger social life, all their activities...I went to Glade Creek. I know it's a good school; it's a small school."

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