Reasons my children do not attend NEVC

Dear Editor:

I am one of the NEVC administrators who does not live in the district, nor do my children attend school here. My children are grown and I have one school-age granddaughter.

We, as a family, debated the issue of my granddaughter attending NEVC, but decided against it for several reasons. None of these reasons included lack of quality education or lack of activities in which she could participate. One reason for this decision is logistics. As an administrator, I work many overtime hours and have many last minute issues to handle. My day doesn't end when the school bell rings.

Another reason for not bringing her here is also the reason my own children were not in my classes when I was a teacher. That is so I would not be responsible for my children's discipline as an administrator.

As an administrator, especially in a small school setting, I believe it is in everyone's best interest to have my own children attending school elsewhere, even if it means we must provide more challenging educational activities at home. I am not a mud-slinger or busy-body, nor do I have any intention of digging into a district's statistics, but, as at NEVC, Nevada's school staff includes many people who do not live in the district and who do not educate their children in Nevada. It is not my concern where they choose to educate their child.

As a working adult who has been in the workforce for 35 years, both in the private sector and in education, I am aware, as are all working adults, that there are many reasons a person such as Crystal Burch chooses to leave employment and go elsewhere. I trust she and her children are a welcome and vital part of the Nevada school system. Again, it is not my concern and it has no relevance to the issue of annexation.

I regret not living in the district because it does mean I do not pay taxes here and that I must pay taxes wherever my home is located. Therefore, I contribute financially to the district in various ways, including donations. I also, at my request, receive less salary than did the previous high school administrator.

I am proud to be part of the NEVC staff where 100 percent of the certified staff are "highly qualified" and many have advanced degrees. I have never before worked in a district where this has been the case. I am extremely proud that we meet our state expectations and are in no step of improvement, a situation that becomes rarer with each passing year, according to state standards.

In no way would I insult Nevada's educational system, nor consider comparing Nevada's quality of education to NEVC's quality of education. Each school offers what is best for the student body that it serves.

I believe that is the issue that should be considered when voting for or against annexation. Parents choose what is best for their child based on options available to them. NEVC is a great option.

The students who attend NEVC like being part of a smaller, more personal educational setting where they have ample opportunity to prepare for college, a career, and be a valuable member of a team.

Yes, as a school district we did want to "pull the schools out of both communities" but NOT in the way Mr. Wortman's letter implies. We wanted to move the physical building to a more central location to ultimately SAVE the taxpayers money by utilizing a single campus. As a single campus we would have still educated the same NEVC children. with the same NEVC quality, within same NEVC district boundaries. It was never to have "closed the school," but simply move the physical plant. It is crystal clear that patrons want to keep the two existing buildings and that is OK. The "school" is only a building, the education is what takes place inside. I believe 100 percent that what takes place inside the walls of the NEVC schools is quality education that should be left alone to serve the needs of the students of Northeast Vernon County.

Chris Hudson

NEVC High School

principal.