Board still wants new middle school

Although the middle school bond failed in a recent election, four of the five Alleghany County Board of Education board members voiced a desire to continue to pursue some form of a middle school.

The majority of the board expressed a belief that the vote was more a rejection of the funding and likely tax increase than it was against the concept of a middle school. The dissenting opinion was offered by Board member Joel Souther.

Speaking to his cohorts, Souther explained, "Considering the vote...every precinct in this county voted against it, I think that tells me that the voters and everybody who spoke to me since that vote has said I'm glad you're not building that middle school. Fix up what you need to fix up, we've got good schools. I'm sorry, I'm just one vote, but I am not in favor of it."

During the March 27 called meeting, Superintendent Jeff Cox was asked by the board members to speak with County Manager Don Adams about arranging either a small group meeting of both school and commission board members or setting up a joint meeting of the boards during which the future of the school board's facility plans will be discussed.

Cox remarked, "We need to both—the board of education and board of commission—have a plan that we can support in every way. They need to be comfortable enough with the plan to where they can go forward. Quite frankly, the notion of going back out and doing another referendum is kind of pointless. They're going to have to find a comfort level with whatever the plan is that they would vote on approving it and looking at a different funding mechanism. There are multiple ways they could do it...they're going to have to find something that they can be comfortable, along with the board, moving forward with."

Shared Disappointment

After the meeting was called to order, Chairman Clarence Crouse told the board members, "I know we all share the disappointment in the outcome of it. I doubt it's changed any of our minds. In my mind, the offer that was out there to bring our sixth, seventh and eighth grade students together in a middle school is still the best educational opportunities that they could have had. I know that none of us are quitters and we're not going to let the vote per se keep us from doing our job of looking at what's best for our students and what can we provide. With that in mind, I do feel like personally, we've got a wide range of possibilities out there for discussion today. I do feel like we have to look at every angle that we can, from the financial aspects of where are we now without the approval of monies to the needs that we are aware of our young people, especially those in grades sixth, seventh and eighth. I think also, it's our obligation to look at the economic situation that our county's facing and the nation's facing right now, too." Crouse then asked his fellow board members to express their thoughts about the results of the Andrews nets NCCA accolade

Pam Andrews of Alleghany County, chief executive officer of New River Behavioral HealthCare (NRBHC), was presented the Special Citizen's Merit Award from the North Carolina Counseling Association (NCCA) on Feb. 22.

The award was given at a luncheon during an annual conference. The award recognizes citizens, legislators, members of other professions or others who have made a substantial contribution to the helping professions, or have shown exceptional leadership in endeavors, which significantly improve conditions for clients or citizens in North Carolina.

Andrews was nominated for the award by Geri Miller, PhD who is a professor at Appalachian State University. On her nomination of Andrews, Miller said, "Her (Andrews) work as a previous director and current CEO within New River Behavioral HealthCare system has demonstrated exceptional leadership that has improved the lives of both clients and citizens in North Carolina."

 

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