The school board recently voted to keep the Council High School open during a recent meeting. My question is do they care anything at all for the Council students? The school Board had no problem telling Hurley to close and go to Southern Gap High. At least Hurley had enough students to legitimize keeping the school open. What difference is it in distance and access if you compare Council to the lower end of Hurley towards Kentucky.
I realize the community wants to keep their school open but is it the best thing for the students? Stella Yates was quoted in the Voice Newspaper about the many things in education that are not available to Council High students. Why would a parent not want the best for their students? The new school would provide the Council students with many opportunities that they could only dream about being while remaining at the old high school. At the new high school, they have the advantages of more educational opportunities and tons more athletic opportunities.
Did the school board not get the picture from the recent student that had to go to Mountain Mission to even get the chance to play basketball. Then the student had to go to court to compete in track at Council. She had to fight the VHSL to run track after playing basketball at a private school after Council cancelled girls’ basketball for the year. This is a problem that will not occur if the students go to Southern Gap next year.
Those parents and students set on not going to the new high school have an alternative. If Buchanan County would work with Russell County students would have a choice of going to Southern Gap or Honaker High School. Either the Gap or Honaker and the students would have all their educational or athletic needs met.
The question is what in the world is the Buchanan County School Board doing? The one thing for certain is they do not have the best interest of the students in mind. Also, closing the school does this not save the county some money?
Anyway, you looking at it keeping Council High open with these enrollment numbers is insane.
