Novice Parents Wait To See What School Their Child Will Go To
By: Brendaliss Gonzalez
Updated: June 25, 2012
This schools not just shut down for summer-its shut down for good.
"We just dont have the funds to open the schools in the fall," said Dale Freeman, superintendent for the Novice Independent School Board (ISD).
Recent budget cuts and enrollment shortages left members of the novice school district with no choice but to close down the schools there.
Now they must decide where they'll send the more than 60 kids that were a part of the school district.
"We're trying to get that done before school starts, its a pretty tight squeeze," said Freeman.
Parents want to ensure they make the choice that's best for their child.
"We all feel like they need to merge or be part of Coleman schools," said Randy Teague, a parent who lives along Lake Coleman.
But not everyone shares the same opinion.
"I do not want my child going to Coleman, I'd rather them go to Jim Ned," said Raylene Plummer.
The final battle is between the school district consolidating with either Jim Ned or Coleman ISD.
Novice is part of Coleman county- however, Jim Ned isn't- both schools are also about a 40 mi. distance.
A distance that is one of the main concerns.
"Bad weather days, its going to make it twice as hard," said Teague.
There's one thing that parents agree on- board members haven't told them enough.
"They were not up front, open to the public about it, we feel like they're trying to hid stuff," said Teague. .
Members say they've had plenty of time to prepare.
"We have not gone door to door we have not mailed a letter out to the homes, but its been out there for a year and a half," said Freeman.
Parents say in the end no matter what the decision, they'll be sending their kids to the schools they think is best.
"If I have to pay extra money for him to go to Jim Ned he will go to Jim Ned," said Plummer.
Members of the Novice ISD school board say they'll meet with members of both Jim Ned and Coleman ISD boards to see whether they would be interested in the consolidation.
If so, there would then be a county vote to determine which of the two schools to consolidate with.
Members say they hope to make a decision within the next 30 days.
"We just dont have the funds to open the schools in the fall," said Dale Freeman, superintendent for the Novice Independent School Board (ISD).
Recent budget cuts and enrollment shortages left members of the novice school district with no choice but to close down the schools there.
Now they must decide where they'll send the more than 60 kids that were a part of the school district.
"We're trying to get that done before school starts, its a pretty tight squeeze," said Freeman.
Parents want to ensure they make the choice that's best for their child.
"We all feel like they need to merge or be part of Coleman schools," said Randy Teague, a parent who lives along Lake Coleman.
But not everyone shares the same opinion.
"I do not want my child going to Coleman, I'd rather them go to Jim Ned," said Raylene Plummer.
The final battle is between the school district consolidating with either Jim Ned or Coleman ISD.
Novice is part of Coleman county- however, Jim Ned isn't- both schools are also about a 40 mi. distance.
A distance that is one of the main concerns.
"Bad weather days, its going to make it twice as hard," said Teague.
There's one thing that parents agree on- board members haven't told them enough.
"They were not up front, open to the public about it, we feel like they're trying to hid stuff," said Teague. .
Members say they've had plenty of time to prepare.
"We have not gone door to door we have not mailed a letter out to the homes, but its been out there for a year and a half," said Freeman.
Parents say in the end no matter what the decision, they'll be sending their kids to the schools they think is best.
"If I have to pay extra money for him to go to Jim Ned he will go to Jim Ned," said Plummer.
Members of the Novice ISD school board say they'll meet with members of both Jim Ned and Coleman ISD boards to see whether they would be interested in the consolidation.
If so, there would then be a county vote to determine which of the two schools to consolidate with.
Members say they hope to make a decision within the next 30 days.
