Further explanation for school closure recommendation

Oconee School District released the following announcement this morning:  “The closure of small schools is a debate in many communities. Oconee County is no different and Tamassee-Salem Middle/High is central to that debate here. The topic has been discussed for years and was even part of a failed tax referendum in the 90’s. The topic resurfaced a year ago as the school district faced budget difficulties and the new Walhalla High School was set to open. There are many reasons not to close small schools. Often, individuals cite school history and importance to the community as reasons for keeping a school open. Both of those ring true for Tamassee-Salem Middle/High. TSMH has a long history of distinguished students, teachers and staff. Because of its location in town, the school plays a critical role in the Town of Salem. Still another reason for maintaining a small school like TSMH is the advantage it brings to certain students who thrive in a small school environment.  From another perspective, people can argue that it is not financially responsible to keep small schools open. Thousands more per student are spent at TSMH each year when compared with larger schools in the district. District estimates are that closing the school would save more than $750,000 annually. Students at small schools also do not have the wide range of academic choices and extra-curricular activities available in larger environments, either. Both of those statistics are only exacerbated in a school with a declining enrollment. Over the last twenty years, TSMH enrollment has decreased by approximately 90 students to its current enrollment of 247. Enrollments for grades 6 through 12 in each of Oconee County’s four attendance areas are listed below (as of 10/7/15):

Seneca …………………………………………………………………………………………………1,726

Tamassee-Salem ……………………………………………………………………………………..247

Walhalla ………………………………………………………………………………………………1,792

West-Oak …………………………………………………………………………………………….1,594

School district officials have wrestled with a decision regarding TSMH over the last year. Much thought has gone into making the right decision for the students and community – not just those living in the Tamassee-Salem area, but for the entire county. At the board meeting on Monday, October 12, the district administration will make a recommendation to the School Board to close Tamassee-Salem Middle/High at the end of the current school year. This recommendation may lead to several questions.

Why now? At a meeting last spring that district officials and Board members attended with TSMH students and parents, an opinion was expressed that if the board closed the school, it should be done early in a school year to allow for making memories. Making a decision in October allows for events such as the homecoming basketball game and the prom to be special.  This timing also allows for a smooth transition for the students into another school. The registration process has not yet started for the 2016-17 school year, so there is plenty of time to adjust schedules and course offerings to accommodate the students. It also gives HR time to work with teachers on reassignments to other schools.

Will the name of Walhalla High be changed? Much discussion has centered on this question: Should Tamassee-Salem Middle/High be closed or consolidated with Walhalla? There is precedent both ways in Oconee County. In 1965, Keowee High School was closed and all of those students went to Walhalla High with no name change. However, in 1983, Oakway and Westminster High Schools were consolidated to form a new West-Oak High School. In considering changes at TSMH, district officials considered two main points.

 

 There are 247 students at TSMH while there are 1,792 in the same grades at Walhalla.

The new Walhalla High School just opened this year. A name change there in less than one year would be expensive and difficult

 

The new Walhalla High School just opened this year. A name change there in less than one year would be expensive and difficult.  While not everyone will agree with this assessment, a decision has to be made and closing Tamassee-Salem will be the recommendation made to the school board. Therefore, no other school would have a name change.

Could Tamassee-Salem students lose scholarship money as a result of the school closing? This was another question posed at the meeting last spring. There is the possibility that a student from TSMH could be ineligible for a scholarship due to being enrolled in a larger school. District officials have developed a plan to track all students and their eligibility for state scholarships. If any Tamassee-Salem student fails to qualify due to enrolling in another school, the district will guarantee the same amount of scholarship money be provided.

What will happen to Tamassee-Salem Elementary? Nothing! TSE will continue to serve students in the Tamassee-Salem area and will be a feeder school to Walhalla Middle School.

Won’t the bus routes be too long? Even with the larger attendance area for the Walhalla schools, the longest bus routes will still be shorter than some other routes in the district.

The district did not take the decision to recommend closure lightly. There are wonderful students, staff members and families in the Tamassee-Salem area. This is a very difficult decision and is in no way meant to negatively reflect on that community. The school district will do everything possible to make the transition a smooth one should the board vote to accept this recommendation.”