Jim Ned School Board Members Vote Against Novice ISD Detachment
By: Brendaliss Gonzalez
Updated: November 15, 2012
The vote was 4-2 after a two hour closed session where members met with an attorney to discuss the issue.
Members from the Novice ISD school board had voted unanimously to accept a petition made by Coleman resident Doris Duke to allow land she and other residents own to be handed over to Jim Ned ISD.
Members from Jim Ned ISD stated various reasons as to why they believed it wouldn't be in their best interest to accept the petition.
Duke tells us she wasn't surprised by the final vote.
"It was what I expected I'm just glad it was over," she said, "when I did this I did it for the kids, I did not know I was causing WWIII."
Meanwhile some Coleman residents who were against the petition were happy with the turnout.
"The decision was exactly what I was praying for and hoping for," said Hermajean Johnson.
Voters from Novice and Coleman voted to consolidate both schools after Novice ISD had to close down because of financial reasons.
Royce Young, the superintendent for Coleman ISD was relieved with the outcome.
"This has been an ongoing situation that we've all spent lots of time on and I'm relieved that its mabye come to a conclusion, I hope it has," he said.
For now previous Novice students can attend either Coleman, Jim Ned, Winters or Panther Creek schools without any transfer fee.
The consolidation process will begin as early as July 2013.


