A Difficult But Critical Decision

As of Friday, March 25, 2011

I would like to commend Dr. Purser’s willingness to make difficult budget decisions. This is both the responsibility and obligation of any good leader, especially in these difficult economic times. She and her staff certainly are in the best position to weigh all options and make the important decisions that are in the best interests of the entire school system.

While I am certainly sympathetic to the inconvenience that closing Academy Heights will cause some parents and teachers, I respectfully disagree with those who feel the academic success will be lost with its closure. The success of any school is not based on its physical structure but the culture derived from active participation of its students, parents, teachers and staff. There is no reason that Academy Heights’ best-in-class attributes cannot be translated to Southern Pines Elementary and Primary schools to make those schools even better.

The Moore County school system long-range building plan has included the recent additions of West Pine Elementary and Cranes Creek Middle schools. As with any well-thought-out capital investment program, new assets are brought online to meet increasing demand, while older facilities with higher operating costs are retired. It would make no financial sense to close newer facilities.

We are well beyond the point of getting by with small, incremental cost cutting. Federal stimulus money was a one-time event. State funding has been drastically reduced. Major cost reduction options such as school closings are now required. Otherwise, even more teaching positions would need to be eliminated, leading to even larger average classroom sizes.

We could only be so fortunate that our local and federal government leaders had the same courage to make the same difficult, but necessary, decisions, instead of continuing to kick the proverbial can down the road.

Matthew Harmody

Southern Pines

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school_teacher 2 years, 1 month ago

Well said Matthew.

GeorgiaMan 2 years, 1 month ago

Well written letter. I just wish that they had made these decisions two to three years ago when the economy first started to stall. Using the Federal stimilus (taxpayer money doled out by Washington) was a shameful waste of money and has only postponed the pain. Just a reminder that there is still a 3 million hole in Dr. Purser's budget that she is trying to fill with a Moore County stimilus package. Go ahead do what has to be done this year instead of postponing it again to next years budget.

Maggie_Bonecutter 2 years, 1 month ago

Yes, budget cuts are difficult indeed. No one wins.

Mr. Harmody means well in his commentary, but he may want to do some more research before commenting on the Academy Heights situation. Here's why:

He says "there's no reason that Academy Heights' best-in-class attributes cannot be translated to Southern Pines Elementary and Primary schools to make those schools even better." In an ideal world, that would be true. However, the school system will not offer busing from the Pinehurst district to those two schools, and with some students having siblings at West Pine Middle School, transportation logistics to collect all siblings is next to impossible. Therefore, there would be nothing to "translate." What AHES parents are asking for is a year-round program in the Pinehurst district -- one they can actually attend.
He mentions "It would make no financial sense to close newer facilities." Is he referring to closing a newer school vs. the Academy Heights facility? If he's not, then I apologize. But if so, that's never been on the table as far as I know. Parents at AHES are well aware that the facility is old. And we've never complained about that. What we're asking is for the program to be moved in its entirety to another facility in the Pinehurst district this year or to give us one more year in our existing facility to find a solution for keeping the program intact elsewhere.
Has Mr. Harmody seen a line-item breakout of how much will be saved by closing the Academy Heights facility? Does he know how much it really costs to operate Academy Heights? Does he know that proceeds from the after-school program pay for the facility's electricity? Dr. Purser didn't. Has he considered how much it would cost to shutter the facility -- moving the playground equipment (paid for by PTA funds), moving the SmartBoards (paid for by PTA funds), insurance on the facility, and much more. When it's all laid on the table, the savings aren't that great, particularly when it means closing the top school in the state.

Just some points to ponder.

fugitiveguy 2 years, 1 month ago

"We could only be so fortunate that our local and federal government leaders had the same courage to make the same difficult, but necessary, decisions, instead of continuing to kick the proverbial can down the road."

Some have like the Gov's of WI, OH and NJ. Of course the Dems and Union mobs have been in full attack mode ever since.

momof3atAH 2 years, 1 month ago

In a year when you have a 8.2 million dollar deficit and you are talking about taking out a school program will save you $500,000(even though you will have to place all these 260 students in other county schools and educate them) Purser has budgeted a whopping $570,000 ($30,000 x 14 schools plus 40,000, 50,000, 60,000 for 3 others) to replace all the lighting(working at this time) with energy effecient bulbs. In my house we don't throw away bulbs that are working but replace as they blow. I think educating our children is more important than changing light bulbs or building auxilary(that means EXTRA) gymnasiums or even remodelling cafeterias. Let us also not forget in the conversation the number of principals, assistant principals, assistant to the assistant principals that there are in our schools. The only increase I saw in the budget was $130,000 at the Central Admin Office which is a second Assistant Superintendant. Sometimes we can't all be chiefs but must be indians. There are many other areas where budget cuts would be more appropriate.

tgirl 2 years, 1 month ago

More like a difficult decision to cut some fat within the administration. Correct me if I'm wrong, but do we really need 5 assistant principals and 5 guidance counselors at Pinecrest? And what is the count at the other schools, I admit I have not looked at those numbers. I may not be a rocket scientist, but I budget my checkbook accordingly and spend within my means. Is our education dollars going to pay for assistants of an assistant of an assistant? Are we paying people to do the job that 1 person was hired to do? Because I would much rather that money be used to keep the teachers and programs that will help my child succeed.
It also seems to me as though the whole budget issue has been focused on closing or not closing Academy Heights. And, let's be honest, there are more schools in the county who are going to be affected by the budget cuts than just AH; let's not forget. And, it may be an inconvenience to some who CHOOSE to go to the year round school to volley back and forth, but remember it is a choice, and not one too different than sending your child to a private or charter school.

Either way you slice it, you will never make everyone happy. Everyone will need to make sacrifices, and unfortunately, the ones who will lose the most will be our children. We can only hope that when we have a free minute, we can help volunteer and fill the gaps that are going to be left when the people we elect into office at all levels, keep hacking away at our education system.

Satch2929 2 years, 1 month ago

Haven't read anywhere that Dr Purser is cutting the number of assistant superintendents. Or any salary reductions for administration. Seems a logical place to start.

mollym01 2 years, 1 month ago

Is this the same Matthew Harmody whose kids were or are being home schooled? It is to my understanding that you weren't happy with the education at Sou Pines schools. Why the change of heart? I am in no way knocking home schooling, if you can do it then kudos to you! I just think your letter is pretty opinionated for someone who doesn't think Sou Pines school is up to par for their own kids.