By Jeremy D. Wells
Carter County Times
A planned public meeting on the eastern end of the county to solicit feedback and gauge interest in high school consolidation has been rescheduled for Tuesday, February 22.
The meeting, originally scheduled for this past Monday at Prichard Elementary was rescheduled in part due to recent inclement weather, but also because the committee chair, Andy Lyons, broke his leg. Instead of moving forward without Lyons, administrative assistant Pam Kouns explained, the meeting was rescheduled for 5:30 p.m. on February 22.
Opinions on the consolidation possibility are sharply divided, at least on social media. While some think consolidation would be beneficial for students, others are vehemently opposed to the idea and feel the downsides outweigh any possible benefits. Supporters of consolidation have cited falling school population, claiming this makes consolidation inevitable. But critics have cited the benefits of smaller class sizes and a more tightly knit community.
While there are still some who may be undecided on the issue, they don’t include Olive Hill mayor Jerry Callihan. Callihan has been vocal in expressing his concerns about how the closure of West Carter High School could impact the city’s income tax base. More than that, though, he has expressed his belief that the West Carter Comets are an integral part of Olive Hill’s community and sense of identity.
Grayson Mayor George Steele, who serves on the local planning committee, has not publicly stated his opinion on the proposed merger.
The issue arose after the state made available funding for school building construction, and after the board already approved $14 million in improvements to the existing East Carter High School. Superintendent of schools Dr. Paul Green said that with the $14 million currently earmarked for East Carter, the $7 million for HVAC improvements at both middle schools – which would close and move into the old high school buildings under the new plan – and the money made available by the state through the School Recovery funds, they could have anywhere from $60 to $80 million available for a new facility, depending on which financial model they run. But those School Recovery funds are tied to the district’s bonding capacity, so they can’t make use of them for other projects unless they cancel the planned East Carter renovations.
Green said he neither supports nor opposes consolidation, but has said if the district plans to move forward with consolidation, now is the time to do it if the district wants to avoid future tax burdens to cover the costs.
Contact the writer at editor@cartercountytimes.com