System investing in building with window repair

CELINA-The Clay County School Board publicly declared they have no intentions of closing Hermitage Springs School here last week at their March meeting, according to a video of the proceedings posted on the Clay County Schools CCBE Youtube page.

“I’ve been asked by a few people, and they wanted me to ask, do we have any intentions of closing Hermitage Springs School in the next three years?” school board member James Mays said addressing director of schools Diana Monroe.

“Well Mr. Mays that is up to the board, so you will have to ask the board,” Monroe responded.  “I will let the board speak to that.”

Board members gave no indication they had plans to close the school, before Mays officially put their stance on the record.

“I have never heard this, but evidently that is a rumor out there, so if anybody is watching this video, there is apparently no plans to close Hermitage Springs School,” he said.  “And I don’t know where we would put those kids, but it is not going to happen.”

Mays also questioned board members directly about any potential closure.

“Does anyone have any plans to bring that up?” he asked.

“I’ll take your silence as a no,” Mays said, after receiving no response.

“The board of education is spending lots of money on the Hermitage Springs building with all the window repairs this summer,” Monroe said, and Mays said he had “explained that” in response to the rumors.

“So no, there is no plans (to close the school),” Mays said.  “Everybody’s on video.”

In other business, the school board approved low bids for asbestos and coal residue removal from the Clay County Schools Central Office and the old Celina High School gym funded through a Brownfield Grant.

Monroe also noted the school system had received a 15-day extension to complete TCAP testing due to schools being closed earlier this year during the ice storm.

For the complete video of the meeting, visit clayedu.com where a link to the Clay County Schools CCBE Youtube page can be found.