Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

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March 27, 2008

Pocahontas closing

By CHARLES OWENS

TAZEWELL, Va. — Despite the angry protest of a crowd of hundreds, the Tazewell County School Board voted 4-1 Thursday to close Pocahontas High School at the end of the current school year.

The motion to close PHS was made by Eastern District board member Cookie Johnson, seconded by Southern District board member Randy Conn, and supported by board members Mike Dennis and Steve Davis. David Woodard, the school board’s Northern District member, cast the lone vote against closing PHS.

The crowd — which included many students — screamed and booed in protest following the vote. Many students left the auditorium of Tazewell High School in tears. Several parents and concerned citizens verbally shouted at the school board members. Several police officers stood near the auditorium stage, and the officers were asked to escort at least one woman from the stage area. Earlier in the meeting, Dennis warned the crowd that the board could have people escorted from the building.

“Immoral, unethical and they have secured their destiny in Tazewell County politics,” Woodard said following the vote. “They have acted against the will of the entire county.”

Pocahontas Mayor Anita Brown said the fight will continue.

“Never give up,” Brown said following the 4-1 vote. The mayor said the town’s next step is to attend Tuesday’s meeting of the Tazewell County Board of Supervisors.

Tommy Childress, a concerned resident of Pocahontas, said the Board of Supervisors will be asked next Tuesday to withhold the projected $1.6 million in savings from closing Pocahontas High School from the school board’s budget.

“I’m not surprised,” Childress said of the vote. “I’m just mad.”

Johnson’s motion calls for the closure of the high school at the end of the current year, and the consolidation of the existing Pocahontas students with Graham High School and Tazewell High School.

An earlier motion by Woodard to keep Pocahontas High School open until 2010 was seconded by Davis for discussion, but failed on a 3-2 vote.

Johnson said the students at Pocahontas would be welcomed by the students and staff of Graham and Tazewell.

“At Graham High School and Tazewell High School, I have spoken to a lot of students and faculty,” Johnson said. “They are excited about the prospect of having you.”

The crowd of hundreds once again erupted into boos following Johnson’s comment.

Dennis said the board has to consider the entire school system in making its decision.

“As the other board members have stated, there are pros and cons to this issue,” Dennis said. “We each represent different districts in the county, but we represent the school system as a whole.”

Woodard challenged his fellow board members “to look into the eyes of these kids” while casting their votes.

Davis said he didn’t think Pocahontas would see significant changes within two years.

“I just have a hard time being convinced in a near two-year period that there will be significant economic changes,” Davis said.

Woodard disagreed.

“Two years would give us time to prepare, and do this in a decent and ethical manner,” Woodard said.

Lawson said the school system would save about $1.6 million by closing Pocahontas High School. She said the current school enrollment was 185 students. Lawson said Pocahontas had the highest per-pupil ratio expense in the county — a comment that also drew boos and shouts of objections from the verbal crowd.

– Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com







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