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Thursday, January 19, 2012

NAACP backs merging Somerset high schools

PRINCESS ANNE -- A proposal to consolidate Somerset County's two high schools -- Crisfield High and Washington High -- has received the backing of the local NAACP membership, which considers it a "bold initiative."
"It's about giving kids a fighting chance," Kirkland Hall, the chapter's president, said during this week's Board of Education meeting.
But while Hall and others spoke of what they see as the benefits of such a move, a group of Crisfield residents -- including Mayor Percy Purnell -- who attended the same meeting said consolidating the two schools isn't the answer.
"This is the wrong decision," Purnell said. "You're not going to fix AYP by closing Crisfield High School."
But board members stressed they haven't made any decisions. School consolidation is only one of three options under consideration for a mandatory restructuring plan for Crisfield High after it failed to meet its Adequate Yearly Progress targets set by the federal government for four years in a row.
"We're still gathering information," said Warner Sumpter, chairman of the Board of Education. "We're looking at the entire system, not just one school."
School officials have said they are concerned Washington High School in Princess Anne and Woodson Elementary in Crisfield may not meet AYP this year, and will be forced to undergo mandatory restructuring as well.
Sumpter invited the audience to attend a board work session next Tuesday where the issue will be discussed.
A restructuring plan must be submitted to the state by March 14.
Board members said they want to hear from more county residents -- especially parents of children in the school system, none of whom spoke at this week's board meeting.
"This is an extremely difficult decision to be made," said board member William Miles. "I'd like to hear other alternatives."
After Crisfield High failed to meet AYP, the Board of Education was offered three options under the federal No Child Left Behind law.
The other options are to replace the staff or hire a private management firm to run the school.
News of the school consolidation option became public after Somerset County Commissioners received a copy of a letter from Superintendent Marjorie Miles to David Lever, executive director of the state's Public School Construction Program.
In the letter, Miles said the board is considering a plan that would consolidate Grades 10-12 in the Somerset Intermediate School building in Westover. To accommodate the realignment, Miles said some remodeling would be needed since the building does not have a separate auditorium and the gym is not large enough.
Miles said recently that the letter was sent to Lever to let him know the county might seek funding if a consolidation plan is approved.
But County Commissioners, who would be required to fund a portion of any school construction project, warned there might not be any money.

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