Murphy – Twenty years ago, Rachel Grano was a member of Murphy High School’s graduating class. She loved it, especially compared to the larger school in Florida that she moved from at the beginning of her high school years.
She eventually moved to California, living in San Francisco and Los Angeles, but after having her daughter Grano wanted to move back to Martins Creek. She wanted her child to have the same small-school experience she and her sister had in Cherokee County.
Grano is one of several parents concerned that a long-range plan the Cherokee County Board of Education is considering will affect that experience. She’s also concerned with the manner in which the board is moving forward with the plan, which would consolidate three high schools into one and eventually form three feeder schools with kindergarten through eighth grades.
“It’s moving fast,” she said. “It’s moving really fast.”
Grano noted that the state is still under a Stay-at-Home Order, and that people aren’t going come out to the public hearing tonight at Murphy High School. She’s not planning on being there in person, even though she admits she’s been one of the more vocal parents.
The executive order does state that people may leave their homes to exercise their First Amendment rights and for government services. The order also states that mass gatherings do not include those for exercising First Amendment rights or for government services. In these settings, the order states that people should follow social distancing guidelines and move around the space as much as possible.
While Grano understands funding is a driving factor in both the plan and the urgency of the hearing, she thinks the coronavirus pandemic should inspire leaders to reassess the plan presented. Potential measures like spacing needed on buses and in the school building should be analyzed in addition to the birth rate data provided in the feasibility analysis.
“They can’t tell us what August will look like, let alone 10 years from now,” Grano said.
She plans to use one of the other options the board provided for public input. She was concerned the district hadn’t advertised the meeting to the public as much as it should and that there could be technical issues.
Cherokee County Schools posted on their website last week details on the four ways the public may comment tonight:
- In person. Individuals will sign in with the school resource officer, then escorted into the board meeting room when it is their turn.
- By phone. Individuals may call 409-753-5147 during the meeting to make a public comment. The pin is 705 622 805#.
- In writing. Individuals may email written comments to Greg Chapman at greg.chapman@cherokee.k12.nc.us or mail them to 911 Andrews Road, Murphy, NC 28906. Written comments may be received up to 24 hours after the hearing.
- Online. Individuals may comment on the Cherokee County Schools Facebook page or complete a form at www.cherokee.k12.nc.us/apps/news/article/1087852. On the form, participants are required to provide their name and contact number, submit their question or opinions and respond to whether they’d like to receive a call to speak during the meeting. If they choose to speak, they are asked to provide a phone number.
Grano thinks the format is interesting, but “there’s just something when people gather together,” she said.
Grano hopes the board will consider holding a second hearing that more people could attend before making a final decision.
She also wishes the board considered parent Ray Cook’s suggestion of putting the plan to a vote on an upcoming ballot, or creating a committee – including parents – to “really take community input.”
Grano also thinks she’s not the only one in the county willing to pay more for the education she wants for her child. She added that some parents’ perspective on the cost of education may have changed as their children learned at home, and they saw how much teachers do for their children.
“I would pay more in taxes,” she said.