Published: March 25, 2008 09:28 pm         

Students, town rally to stop closure of PHS

POCAHONTAS, Va. — Facing an uphill battle in the fight to save their high school, students and concerned citizens in the Pocahontas community rallied together Tuesday.

“I am optimistic, but I’m an optimistic person,” Michael Boone of Pocahontas, said. “I honestly believe they (the Tazewell County School Board) will give us our two-year extension. We’ve got a guy who says he will build us a grocery store, and the prison wants a hardware store. Plus they need a daycare.”

As passing motorists honked their car horns and shouted words of encouragement to students standing along the roadway, the community also flooded the school’s football field area for a late night candlelight vigil.

“This school is the best right now in the county,” said Buck Byrd, a former member of the school board who had several children to attend Pocahontas High School. “The governor also gave accreditation to this school, and they need to take that into consideration.”

Morgan Cornett, a junior at Pocahontas High School, said she will be forced to start over at a new school during her senior year if Pocahontas is closed.

“We are trying to do anything we can to make a difference,” Cornett said. “I don’t think they should close the school. They haven’t researched it enough.”

Michelle McPeak, a senior at Pocahontas High School, said the school board needs to consider the students of Pocahontas when it votes Thursday on the school’s future.

“I would hope so because they say they want to do what is best for the students,” McPeak said.

“When they see us out here fighting, they need to know this school and community is what is best for us.”

Andy Catron, another concerned citizen, said the school board should consider moving students from Falls Mills, Bishop and Mudfork to Pocahontas.

“We hear about Graham students sharing lockers with other kids when our enrollment is down,” Catron said. “We would welcome the kids from Falls Mills, Bishop and Mudfork. Bring them to us. It would help our enrollment.”

Nancy Barber, a resident of Abbs Valley, said the community needs time.

“Give us a chance,” Barber said. “We are trying to do something around here.”

Charles Vernon said he traveled 24 miles from Tazewell to participate in Tuesday’s rally in Pocahontas.

“I drove 24 miles — 46 minutes — over very treacherous roads,” Vernon said. “I wouldn’t let my dog ride that everyday. It’s not an option for the children in Pocahontas to attend school in Tazewell. Anyone that would allow that does not care about the children.”



Charles Owens writes for the Bluefield (W.Va.) DailyTelegraph.