Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2011 20:51:51 -0500
From: Meg Miller
Subject: Oh, Jeffery, you sound like me…..
Oh Jeffery, you remind me of me when I used to run around saying the sky was falling if we don’t have a new high school in time for MY kids.
Now it’s YOUR GRANDKIDS. Wish I had taken a lot of that energy I used fighting for a new school and put it into improving what we have.
I finally figured that one out.
Northwood is a great school and it produces smart, productive college bound and not college bound students. It should be expanded to take full advantage of A) it’s prime location and B) is 90 plus acres.
And when we do need a new high school it shouldn’t be located on Jack Bennet Road for all the reasons that have been stated since that land was hastily purchased 10 years ago. I’m not quite sure what “empirical” evidence is but it doesn’t take a genius (or a lawyer) to realize that many small high schools are more expensive to run.
Northwood is not a “large” high school by any means and if it was taken to 3A (1400) it could expand the options offered to its student. Maybe an IB program? Freshmen Academy? `
My kids went to, enjoyed, grew and were educated just fine at Northwood, one attends UNC/CH and the other will choose from many offers this fall.
The other option I would propose to the Commissioners is to IMPROVE the three high schools we have and fill them up with redistricting and expand Northwood and JM and CC if possible. NO OTHER DISTRICT in the state supports three high school this small. Because they know it’s simply not fiscally responsible.
Meg