I was very distressed to read in the paper recently that Lamar Elementary School would close under a proposal to be presented to the Richmond County school board.
Nothing was mentioned in this article about a meeting April 20 that Superintendent Dana Bedden had with the faculty of Lamar Elementary. At this meeting, the Lamar staff was informed that the faculty and students would be dispersed throughout the county for the 2009-10 school year until the new Lamar/Milledge school was complete. When questioned, he stated that he did not know where students would be sent, but that they would not be at Lamar.
It doesn't seem to make sense to disrupt two schools instead of just one. When Craig merged with Houghton, I was employed there, and Craig moved while the new school was being built, but Houghton remained in place until the two schools merged. Wouldn't it make more sense to disperse Milledge and leave Lamar intact instead of moving both schools?
An even better alternative would be to let Lamar house both schools next year. They already know there will be no sixth-graders at either school, which would eliminate 50-60 students. With the larger class sizes that are expected throughout the county, Lamar could house both school populations. I understand Lamar has empty classrooms in the main building and two portables already in place that are used only a few hours a week.
Lamar has a new wing and a PE building that is less than 10 years old. It would certainly be a waste of tax money to tear them down or sell them. It has a large auditorium and could easily become a fine arts magnet school.
Truellen Baker, Augusta
Comments
Money was put into renovation of Lamar. Ramps for handicapped. A new addition was put into place and they did a nice job matching the design of the original building. With all the money being spent on the school WHY would an intelligent person want to close this school?
I see more money wasted.
Dr, Bedden talk about not having anymoney at the first of the year. Now he wantes to build a new school, take kid away from a school that close to them and also one that maybe there parents or grandparents went to. This is just plain out wrong. Dr. Bedden you really need to stop and think before you jump into something that is really going to hurt us in the long run. If you want to combine the two school that fine but you need to look at the better of the two school, (which is Lamar) Lamar is bigger and can hold everyone and its also had a new gym and wing add in the last 5 to 10 years. Parent you all need to be at the meeting tomorrow night and let Dr. Bedden know how you all feel about this. I know I will be there.
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