Fayette County school officials placed a microphone in front of citizens, giving them the chance to voice their opinions on a proposed 10-year school plan.

That microphone was practically used just as — if not more than — often as one in a concert Monday night.

Parents, grandparents, teachers, alumni, advocacy group leaders and the students any plan would ultimately impact filled a large part of Fayetteville High School’s auditorium Monday night. Proposed school consolidations — particularly those that could cut the number of county high schools in half — drew the most ire from those opposing it.

The Fayette County Board of Education’s special meeting was to allow concerned citizens to speak in favor of or against a proposed 10-year Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan (CEFP). The plan’s primary purpose, school officials say, is establishing a framework for how to provide educational facilities that will allow students to receive the best possible 21st Century education.

Fayette County Schools Superintendent Dwight Dials emphasized nothing in the plan is set in stone. He said actions within it are ones school officials would consider if resources are available.

Wheeling-based McKinley and Associates and Charleston-based ZMM architectural and engineering firms, facilitated meetings with a broad-based school and community committee, according to both Dials and a Fayette County Schools executive summary. This led to the plan.

Proposed items call for the possible combination of student bodies from Fayette County’s six high schools into three buildings. According to plan documents, these include constructing a new, “state of the art,” high school to serve ninth through 12th grade enrollments of the current Fayetteville, Meadow Bridge and Midland Trail high schools. That proposal does not include a possible school location.

Another calls for combining Mount Hope 9-12 students within the existing Oak Hill High School. The facility would be “significantly upgraded.” Valley High School’s 6-8 and 9-12 grade students would be separated as much as possible, and a multipurpose/gym facility would be constructed for the 6-8 graders.

This made very few speakers happy, particularly ones from the Meadow Bridge area. They believed the students would face extremely long bus rides that would be downright dangerous during winter weather. The county, they said, would risk decreased enrollment because some parents would send their children to closer schools in Summers and Greenbrier counties.

Misty Richmond said she would be one of those Meadow Bridge parents.

“I will choose Summers County or western Greenbrier County,” she said. “Do I wish I had to send them to Summers County or western Greenbrier? It’s not want I want, but I would have no choice.”

Because she lives within one mile of the Meadow Bridge schools, one of her three sons, a 4.0 student, can play multiple sports and be in the marching band, Richmond said. Having children attend school closer to home also makes keeping tabs on them easier for parents.

“It helps keep them on the right path,” she said.

Two Meadow Bridge High School students spoke out against the proposed consolidation, too.

Jennings Berry, a 10th grader, said students and teachers at smaller schools get to know one another better. In turn, the teachers learn what has to be done to help an individual student succeed.

Berry also questioned any cost benefits consolidation would have. The large number of students would mean the larger schools would have to have enough teachers, cooks and other personnel for them.

Fellow Meadow Bridge High School student Paul Cooper believed having more teacher attention was important, as well. Schools with a large number of students, he said, could also lead to more student distraction. Winter commutes are already “scary” even though he is only within a 10-minute drive.

Once the young men spoke, Valley High School teacher John Guerini rose from his seat. If two students were brave enough to stand up and speak, he said, he would do the same.

Individual attention, according to Guerini, is critical. He said he was blessed to work in a smaller school. Elsewhere, he could have as many as 30 students in a classroom at one time. Teachers have to meet federal No Child Left Behind mandates and identify any special needs individual students may have.

“I need time,” he said. “When they get it, and that lightbulb goes off, there’s no greater feeling. I’m not going to be able to do that in a room with 30 kids.”

A retired Fayetteville High School teacher voiced her support for the plan. Freda Akers said more students could take advanced classes from the relatively few instructors qualified to teach them. Furthermore, several students already have friends at different schools thanks to attending the vocational school and various functions together.

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Earlier this year, the state took over Fayette County Schools. Locals’ comments will be taken under consideration — but state, not county, officials will ultimately approve or disapprove the plan, according to Dials.

Plan documents plus comments recorded during Monday’s meeting will be sent to Dr. Steven Paine, state school superintendent, Dials said. From there, the plan may or may not be presented to the state board for possible approval. If the state did not have control, the county school board would have the final vote.

“It’s more of a state decision than a local issue,” he said regarding that situation.

Dials emphasized that major changes like school closings and consolidation — if they happen — would require more hearings and even more work from school officials.

— E-mail: apridemore@

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