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Board asks for details on proposed Pre-K–8 consolidation as members and residents push for new high school
Summary
Cherokee County commissioners pressed the Board of Education for location and cost-savings details on a proposed consolidation of four schools into a Pre-K–8 facility, while the chairman and a local physician said a new central high school is the county’s greater need.
The Cherokee County Board of Commissioners discussed a proposed consolidation plan from the Board of Education that would combine Murphy Middle, Murphy Elementary, Martins Creek Elementary and Peachtree Elementary into a single Pre-K through 8 facility, and asked for more specific information about location and projected cost savings.
Chairman Dr. Dan Eichenbaum said the county's investment decisions should be grounded in educational needs and said the highest priority, in his view, is a new central high school rather than consolidation of lower-grade facilities. Board of Education member Steve Coleman and Superintendent Dr. Keevin Woody attended the meeting to answer commissioners' questions. Community physician Dr. Brian Mitchell spoke in opposition to the Pre-K–8 consolidation and agreed with the chairman that building a new high school is the greater priority.
Commissioners requested that the Board of Education provide additional details — including proposed locations for any consolidated facility and evidence of actual cost savings — before the county takes further action. The board also directed the county manager to draft requirements that the Valley River Humane Society must meet to continue receiving public funding; those requirements will be sent to VRHS for review and consideration.
The board moved its July meeting from July 21 to July 29 during the same discussion.
The discussion produced no formal vote on the consolidation plan; commissioners requested additional information and made no commitment to support or oppose the proposal at this meeting.
