ATHENS — It was deja vu for those who attended the second round of reconfiguration hearings for the proposed PikeView Middle School. Most of those who signed up to speak were against the project, and the board members defended their various positions, which hadn’t changed since the first group of hearings.

Fewer than 20 people attended Tuesday’s hearing in Athens, and 13 people signed up to speak. More than 50 attended the Athens hearing in June. Board members had the second round of hearings after the School Building Authority requested changes be made to the plans for the proposed middle school. The SBA awarded $12.5 million for the project and the county will contribute $3 million, if approved.

Board member Lynne White spoke during the hearing as a parent and as a board member. She said all of the schools that would be affected have chorus and band programs. One of the reasons some have stated the middle school is needed would be to offer extracurricular activities not currently available at the affected schools.

White said in the application to the SBA the travel time stated most PikeView students spend less than 30 minutes on the bus each way.

“This assertion in our application doesn’t appear to be anywhere near accurate,” she said.

She said of those students, only 34,3 percent have one-way rides less than 30 minutes. 24.6 percent have rides from 31 to 44 minutes; 17.4 percent have rides from 45 to 59 minutes. 23.7 percent have one way rides of an hour or longer.

“The average additional time for these students to go to a PikeView Middle School, for example would be 27 minutes, not 20 minutes. More than half of the children would have runs exceeding 45 minutes in the morning and most of those would be over an hour,” White said. “I find it difficult to believe that the SBA would have been disposed to award this grant if this current year transportation data had been presented to them.”

White called the project a “budget-busting time bomb” and said it would be grossly irresponsible for the board and administration to encumber future boards and administrations.

Dr. Deborah Akers, superintendent for Mercer County schools, said the bus schedules White discussed were from the beginning of the school year. She said adjustments for bus rides are made as the school year progresses.

White’s husband, Jim, a political science professor at Concord University, also addressed the board during the hearing. “This consolidation is opposed by the people who will be subject to it,” he said. White said he didn’t believe the board has fully considered the burden of additional transportation on students and families affected by the new school.” The additional time we are adding to the bus time of the average 12, 13 and 14-year-old who will attend PikeView Middle School is about the same as the longest average commuting time in the entire country...The board cannot build new roads or shorten the distance between home and school. Buying more buses and hiring more drivers would entail less, not more spending on actually education children.”

He said long school commutes are usually imposed on an area with less well-off families. “That is what this plan would do, too.”

Sparks flew between Rhonda Reece, who spoke out against the project and board member Ted Gillespie. She said Gillespie was for consolidation and talked about how he complained of being offended at the last hearing in Athens.

“You have no clue what I’m for,” Gillespie shot back. He said he received six calls from people apologizing for being rude at the last hearing.

Reece called the board a dictatorship. “I don’t like it,” she said. She compared the proposed middle school with the Vietnam conflict, saying it was wrong and so is the proposed middle school.

“Big schools don’t work. When we lost the high school, we lost some of our town. If we lose the middle school, people will sell their property and move away. It will lower property values. No one wants to live in an area where children have to ride a bus for a long time,” Reece said.

Pat Keaton simply asked board members if they remembered what she said the last time she spoke at the previous hearing. Board president Greg Prudich said because he couldn’t put a face to what someone said didn’t mean he didn’t hear them.

Mary Geiger said when PikeView High School was built it was to keep the younger students away from the older ones. “Now they’ll be on the same bus.” She also questioned why an architect had been selected for the project when the board members have yet to vote on it.

Prudich said they had to choose an architect in order to meet deadlines in the event the project is approved. Otherwise, the board would have to pay a fine of $200 a day for each day a milestone was missed.

Geiger’s husband Dale asked the board members to explain why they were for or against the project because he didn’t know why he should support it or be against it.

Prudich said he was looking at what was best for all four schools involved, not just Athens. “Some people are for it and some are against it,” he said. Prudich said he was looking at down the road and how the peer groups were shrinking at some of the affected schools. “We’re competing with Europe and China. We’re not competing with Princeton or Bluefield anymore.”

Board member Mary Alice Kaufman said she abstained during the original vote to apply for the SBA grant because she wanted to do some research. She said she spoke to as many principals in the area as possible. “Not one has been opposed and all supported it,” she said of those who spoke to her.

Gillespie said the decision on the project isn’t easy for him. “It’s an agonizing thing for me. I taught here and coached here,” he said. “I initially voted to apply for the money. I didn’t think we’d get that money. I’d like to ride the fence, but next Tuesday that can no longer be the case. I want to do the right thing. I’m trying to listen.”

Gene Bailey said he was against the project because he didn’t think the children would receive a better education than they are receiving now and because of the cost. “We can afford it at this time. We have ups and downs in tax collections,” he said. In looking at the future, Bailey said it was uncertain if the county would be able to continue to cover the cost. “We don’t know. In the long run, perhaps we can and perhaps we can’t.”

Nancy Burton, an education professor at Concord University and mother with children at Athens School, said the current configuration provides a history because the students go from Kindergarten to grade eight. She said sometimes people lose sight of the big picture if they lose sight of the individuals who make up that big picture. “Are you going to take care of the best I’ve got to give you?”

Another hearing was held at Lashmeet/Matoaka School on Wednesday. The majority of those who spoke were against the proposed school. Thomas Martin spoke out for special education learners. “A lot of kids are slow learners. Children have a right to an education. You have neglected and abused them.”

Luther Smith also spoke out against the project. He said students know their teachers at a community school, and they’re more at ease. “The money could be put to better use by buying these kids computers,” he said. “It’s the tax payer’s money. Your work for us. I feel you should listen to us. Some people think it’s a done deal.”

Michael Ratcliff spoke out in favor of the proposed middle school. He said it was silly for people to complain about longer bus rides when they’re willing to drive to the beach or to see a football game.

Deborah Hawks said she thought Lashmeet/Matoaka gave her children more one on one instruction, something they may not receive at the proposed middle school.

John Vestal II, of Lashmeet, said he was adamantly opposed. “I don’t see many benefits.” He likened the new middle school to educating kid in a Super Wal-Mart. “This building is not overcrowded. It was designed as a K-12 school The teachers do a wonderful job and this seems unnecessary.”

Janet Richardson said she had two grandchildren who attend Lashmeet/Matoaka and they love the school. “I’m fearful. I don’t want this sooner than later,” she said of the project.

Brenda Jesse, a mother of four boys, said the school had helped her children in more than just getting an education. “The teachers and parents have been there for my kids. I don’t want my 10-year-old on the bus with high school students. Please reconsider and think about our children,” she asked the board members.

Members of the board are expected to vote on the proposed middle school at Tuesday’s regular board meeting following hearings at Oakvale School and Spanishburg School.

— Contact Mark Blevins at mblevins@ptonline.net.