Ficklen Guin, director of support services for the Lincoln County School System, solved the mystery of the origin of the 1936 Steinway at LCHS. According to the June 1, 1937, minutes of the board of education, the board agreed to purchase the piano from the Russell Piano Company in Augusta for $885. “It was also ordered by the board that the new piano should never be moved from the stage.” Pictured with the Steinway are musical theatre students Tom Reed and Edie Williams. The issue of whether the new high school facility should incorporate students in the middle school grades was raised at the continuation of the Lincoln County Board of Education’s March 3 meeting held Wednesday, March 10.

Commenting on the Local Facilities Plan, which is up for adoption, retired educator Lowell Thomas said, “I know these are rough economic times. However, I am concerned that the board will make decisions based on the current situation that in a couple of years we will look back and say, ‘Why on earth did we do that?’

“The configuration of the new school is not conducive to housing both a middle and a high school,” he continued. “Eleven year olds and 19 year olds will cross paths too many times. Educationally and emotionally speaking, it’s not good.

“If we aren’t careful, we’ll make knee-jerk decisions based on the economy — decisions that will not enhance the education of our young people, and that’s what we’re here for.”

Following Thomas was Dale Bowles, who noted that the facilities plan expresses the board’s intention to operate three schools to create a more equitable distribution of students.

“The plan, however, bases even distribution on an enrollment of 1,275 students, while just a few pages before, it states that enrollment for the current school year is projected at 1,242 students and for next year, at 1,224 students.

“The advisory panel approved the student projections as well as the plan for student distribution which contradicts it.”

Quoting the facilities plan, he said, “‘Use of the current middle and high school facilities will help alleviate public outrage if the school was abandoned.’

Bowles added: “The outrage I’ve heard is caused by the board talking about personnel cuts without first having a meaningful discussion about financial plans, which should include operating two half-occupied schools in the face of a decline in student enrollment and tax revenues.”

The last to speak from the floor was Gary Edwards.

According to Edwards, the facilities plan does not include costs associated with renovating or modifying the current middle school. “If you are going to continue to use the old middle school building then you must include the associated costs in your facilities plan. What you have in this plan misrepresents the true cost of the apparent decision to continue to use the old middle school building.”

In his comments, Dr. Randall Edmunds, superintendent of schools, said, “The state will not give us modification and renovation money for that facility (current middle/high school campus) because we replaced it in part with the new school. Since we have already received funds for the new school and LCMS, we’re not eligible for more funding.”

The superintendent said the Local Facilities Plan is a state plan and as such, has to be developed using state rules and guidelines. “Systems have to establish a facilities plan to earn money from the state – this is based on what is needed and what the state will approve. Essentially, it’s more of a wish list for the future. The architectural estimates included in the plan are greater that what the state will fund.”

At the conclusion of the discussion period, the board agreed to table the matter until its next regular meeting.

In other business, the board:

• Viewed two sketches made by Jeremiah Savage, an art student at LCHS. Savage received a round of applause for his work.

In her remarks, Board Member Denise Freeman commented on the talent possessed by Lincoln County students in the fields of music, art, and drama. “I also applaud all of our teachers who work so hard.”

• Heard Superintendent Edmunds report that minutes from the June 1, 1937, meeting of the board confirmed that the 1936 Steinway at LCHS was purchased by the school system from the Russell Piano Company in Augusta for $855 in 1937. Payments were made to the company each December for three years.

Furthermore, the board minutes stipulated that the Steinway should never be moved from the stage of the auditorium.

After reviewing proposals for a new digital piano and discussing the condition of the Steinway, the board voted to approve the swap of the Steinway for a Kawai CP 139 digital piano, valued at $7,495, with Turner’s Keyboards of Augusta.

• Heard the first reading of revisions to the Noncertificated Personnel Accounts Payable Manager Policy, and the Accounts Payable Manager Evaluation Policy.

• Reviewed the following policies: Advisory Committee, Student Conduct, and the Student Behavior Code. No changes were made to the policies.

• Voted to enter into executive session to deliberate upon the employment of personnel. After returning from regular session, the board:

• Voted to accept the retirement of Marcia Brown from her teaching position at LCES, effective at the end of the 2009-2010 school year.

• Voted to approve Terry Stephens for a teaching and coaching contract at LCHS for the 2010-2011 school year.

The next regular meeting of the board will be held Tuesday, April 13, at 7 p.m. at the board office on Metasville Road.