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Following executive session, the Simpson County School Board voted 3-1 for the Magee Elementary School to be built on the Chris Lane property.
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Was there ever any doubt?? The process has been rigged for this property since the beginning.
i agree with your comments Steve and I thought the schools could got more land for less money by getting the land behind the Pioneer tower building. I am glad the school board finally made a decision on the land. I just wish the school board would have let the voters to decide who is going to be my school board member in district 2 before Nov. 4 election and it seems the school board will only let us vote for school board member on that day.
It’s a shame that the majority of the School Board decided to make this terrible long term decision adversely impacting the educational and economic future of Simpson County. There is NO long term view by our School Board as to building an effective educational program to serve ALL of our students across the County nor consider how to wisely invest taxpayer dollars. I suspect that most people across Simpson County are unaware or simply fail to realize the importance of the direction our school system is now headed.
A few facts to consider: 1. The “New” Magee Elementary School is NOT a complete school facility since almost 1/2 of the school will consist of “Portables” or temporary structures. For spending $10-11,000,000 for 1/2 a school with a School District limited in their borrowing capacity does not seem like a good investment. 2. Placing an elementary school next to a active railroad, electrical sub-station and possibly a large truck stop, along with questionable safe traffic routing for buses is not a wise decision. 3. Failing to engage the newly elected School Superintendent in the decision process was another not so wise decision. 4. The School Board indicated prior to their vote to purchase the property, that a decision needed to be made NOW and would not consider any other options. The School Board decided not to consider Mr. Sammy Welch’s objection or the fact that Mrs. Linda Curlee could not vote on the matter, denying the majority of taxpayers or students from Magee represented by these two (2) Board Members an adequate voice in the final decision.
The reality for the educational and economic future of Simpson County lies in our ability to stop playing “catch-up” with our school systems (facilities, programs, academics, or attracting.retaining/motivating quality teachers/staff). I hope that more citizens of Simpson County will come to realize before it is too late that there are much better alternatives for improving our school systems and speak with their respective School Board Members and Superintendent (current and newly elected) about their concerns. It is easy to continue down the same path and do nothing; however, courage and effort are required when you want to improve life for your family and community.
I agree with your comments Stan and just wished the school district would have waited until district 2 had a school board member that could have voted on this matter instead of having an school board member who could not voted on this matter. I thought the school board should have engaged the new superintendent about their need to vote now for Chris Lane land why other land like the land behind Pioneer tower was not fully considered at all. I am opposed to consolidation of our local high schools into one and I thought we could have set aside an certain amount to build our schools a new elementary school that the parents and taxpayers would support instead of rushing a decision on buying land without looking at the other land first and seeing if it may work. Our kids and teachers need a new elementary school built that is permanent instead of using portable classrooms.