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WEST VIRGINIANS OPPOSE CONSOLIDATED SCHOOLS - While State Moves Forward |
| (02/13/2003) |
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By Bob Weaver Most West Virginians are opposed to school consolidation, after a decade or more of the State Board of Education closing small community schools. More than 300 schools have been closed, many in rural areas where long bus rides are necessary. The consolidation battle has divided communities, the issue frequently landing in the courtroom. Challenge West Virginia has said local school systems have been held hostage to the movement, letting community schools decay and close. A current West Virginia Poll found that 62 percent of state residents don't think children are receiving a better education as a result of consolidated schools. Fifty-seven percent want the state to stop consolidation altogether. "People don't want schools taken out of their communities so their children can be shipped to big factory-like schools," said Putnam County resident Tim McCoy, a member of West Virginia Challenge, a statewide anti-consolidation group. McCoy said in larger schools there is a lack of one-on-one attention from teachers, higher absenteeism and more discipline problems, including violence. But Clancy Williams, who heads up the state School Building Authority, said that despite consolidation, West Virginia does not have "mega schools." Williams says it saves money, a point which opponents disagree. Linda Martin of Challenge West Virginia says a national study published by "Dollars and Sense" says it is cheaper to build and operate smaller schools. Martin says West Virginia has the highest transportation costs of any state in America. Martin said Clancy Williams told The Charleston Gazette: "We haven't saved a penny," regarding consolidation. A recent study of county school systems show the amount of money spent on instruction has decreased, said Martin. Williams contends West Virginia's consolidated schools are small, compared to the rest of the country. West Virginia is using an "economies of scale" model which causes "major problems when it comes to the education of children," said Martin. Martin said the state's School Building Authority "Marches ahead with consolidation, when the rest of the nation is moving back toward community-based schools." Currently, a $30 million dollar school is slated for Lincoln County and consolidation efforts are underway in several counties. The West Virginia Poll is based on telephone interviews conducted February 3-5 with a random sample of 401 people living in the state. It is conducted by RMS Research Inc. for the Charleston Daily Mail, WSAZ News Channel 3 and Metro News statewide radio network. The margin of error is 4.9 percentage points.
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