Comments for Beaufort County is headed for a trainwreck in school planning | Eastern North Carolina Now

Just keep throwing money around maybe another 50 mil and we can get students actually reading at grade level.

Also I never heard of a building plan being funded before any building plan was actually established.

Spot on statement was made about there being more planning to get the money than planning the actual project.

Commented: Saturday, June 29th, 2024 @ 8:15 pm By: Will Simmons

Let me play devil's advocate here. The devil's position I will present is that of the climate alarmists. The climate alarmists want fewer emmissions. A series of smaller neighborhood schools closer to peoples homes mean parents do not drive as far, and therefore fewer emissions. Also the school bus routes are shorter, with the same result. The school drup off lines in the morning and pick up lines in the afternoon are shorter with less wait time with the car idling, with again fewer emmisions. I think the climate alarmists would tell you that neighborhood schools are, to use their favored phrase "better for the planet". I can just imagine the long lines of parents at Cheeseman's mega-school with long waiting times and cars with engines running, waiting. I am not a climate alarmist, but I think it is clear what their perspective would be.

Commented: Friday, June 28th, 2024 @ 1:53 pm By: Conservative Voter

If the idea was consolidation of GRADE LEVELS, it is better to change to 3 or 4 of the traditional K-6 elementary schools as neighborshood schools, with a new school west of Washington nearer the Pitt County line and renovations to other facilities. That would create the neighborhood schools we need, consolidate grade levels without monster schools, and update our school facilities. It would also save the public money that could be used for other, more pressing school needs like needed renovations at Chocowinity Elementary.

Putting a brand spanking new school close to the Pitt County line could also snag students away from Pitt County Schools, with state funding following those students who move. Pamlico County Schools have been snagging students and their state funding from Beaufort County for years. With a properly located new school, we could be doing the same to Pitt County.

Beaufort County Schools problem is that they have a superintendant who is a control freak and this school project has been largely a one man show, and from an individual lacking the skill set to do what he is trying to do. It is pathetic that our school board majority is so weak and controllable. We do badly need some major changes there. We do not need a tail that wags the dog which is what we have now.

Commented: Friday, June 28th, 2024 @ 8:12 am By: Concerned Taxpayer

Isn't that water over the dam at this point? When the Commissioners and School Board voted to accept the money the state superintendent said it was mainly awarded due to the plan on consolidating grade levels in the attendance area.

Commented: Thursday, June 27th, 2024 @ 9:07 pm By: Jack Maggio

Great post, Mr. Blinson. All of the things you mention are things a competent school board would have considered and gotten to the bottom of, but the majority on this Beaufort County School Board just follows whereever their superintendant tells them to go, without looking at the options. We got a few good ones in two years ago, but we need to send up some more thinking members this year to replace the dead wood we have.

Commented: Thursday, June 27th, 2024 @ 11:35 am By: Rino Hunter