Letter to the editor: Says it’s time to put CC schools in one building

On Feb. 7, 2012, I made the following statement to the SB:

“Charles City County has 774 students for this 2011-2012 year. Virginia Department of Education is projecting 730 for 2012-2013 and 700 or less by the 2013-2014 school year. If the schools continues on this down spiral, we are fast approaching the point where it might start making sense to consolidate all schools into one building (such as the middle/high). I believe you may have to think along these lines in the near future.”

I now believe that time has come. The school board needs to combine all Charles City schools into one building.

We are at 704 students this year and projected 679 for the 2014-15 school year. Even if started today, it will be 2-3 years before this can done.

It takes planning, money, and construction time to convert the middle school to handle elementary students. The dollars saved in operations and maintanence will be significant and if applied to instruction, may go a long way into helping to turn this school division around.

Instead of moth balling, the current elementary school could be converted and leased or shared. For example, it would make an excellent place for new school board administration offices (which the school board has expressed a need for), and would be an excellent central location for a Charles City County public library (which has been discussed many times). In addition, it could also be used to support other community functions, provide meeting rooms, storage of the Charles City historical archive, public computer center for residents to use and more.

Vince Brackett Charles City