Renovate my school --Please!

If you don't already know, I enjoy going to the Rockingham County School Board meetings and work sessions. Last night was the work session for October and it brought up a key issue. Many of the county's schools are literally falling apart at the seams. For the most part, this county has nice and adequate learning facilities, but there is always an exception. The county sent architects to all of the schools and had them list the schools with the biggest need for renovation. Reidsville High School was first, followed by Douglass Elementary and Stoneville Elementary. As a student at RHS, of course I enjoyed the fact that it's number one on the list. Then, enter in the politics that I should have known would be present. Dr. Shotwell and Mr. Bill Holcomb gave their recommendation to the board that the schools should be worked on in the order listed above, but some members debated that. What about the elementary schools? What about the the Eden schools? Aren't they in worse shape than Reidsville High? Obviously, people want to serve the area in which they live, which is simply human nature. But, I feel that for once, Reidsville High School should be first in line for something -- anything really! We'll take what we can get. So, as I came into school this morning, I saw Mr. Holcomb, Dr. Shotwell, and the architects again looking around our school, making building suggestions. I must say that I feel the board should follow the guidelines that the architects set. No politics need to be involved in this decision, just plain common sense. What building needs to be renovated first? Board member Reida Drum said it best last night, "I have a feeling that if this were any other school but Reidsville High, there wouldn't be these debates." Finally, I must say that the board should do what's right and give Reidsville High the renovations first, Douglass Elementary second, and if the budget has room for it, Stoneville Elementary. If you'd like to voice your opinion, please contact one or all of the board members or come to the next meeting and speak. The next meeting of the Rockingham County School Board is Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at 6:00 p.m. at Central Office in Eden.