HOLLISTER — The scene was set for confrontation.

Advertisement

While the sound of the overhead lights made a comforting hum, more than 300 parents, grandparents and concerned citizens entered the Eastman School Gymnasium last night for a community meeting hosted by the Halifax County Board of Education.

The circular fans used to cool the gym, could do little more than provide a small breeze on this warm evening. Halifax County School Superintendent Geraldine Middleton sat alone on the stage waiting for her compatriots. She sat there obviously alone, waiting to bear the bad news to everyone that Eastman is on the docket to be closed at the end of the year. The proposed closing will save the financial embattled system around $963,000.

School supporters sat patiently, listening through all the information showing how much better it would be for the system if Eastman closed.

They listened quietly as Assistant Superintendent Charles Chambliss explained how the economy was threatening everyone, how the school system was losing nearly 400 students every year, how fewer students meant less money, how costs to keep older schools open were increasing and how Eastman was in need of so many repairs that it made more sense to close the school. Everyone listened in the heat while the PowerPoint presented facts and figures from two years of study showing none of Halifax County schools were operating at optimal capacity and how much it cost to operate Eastman, which had an $88,000 light bill last year.

The crowd heard recommendations that McIver students merge with Everetts Elementary and Aurelian Springs, Brawley students go to Enfield and Eastman go to William R. Davie. They learned of plans to close other schools in following years.

They listened respectfully until Angel Whidby with school transportation told them their children would have to ride a bus an additional 30 to 45 minutes one way to get to school each day. Then the crowd erupted in a wave of disgruntled clamor and disgust, and the accusations of lies and conspiracy began.

Parents and grandparents, former graduates and concerned community leaders took their turn at expressing their dissatisfaction with the way the system has handled its finances and more importantly the academic situation that has put Halifax County schools in danger of being taken over by the state as early as this week.

“If you bus our students to William R. Davie they are going to have to get up at 4 or 4:30 a.m.,” said one parent. “The governor wants students to perform by their standards, but they’re going to be too tired to do their work or their homework. It’s not our problem that the new schools are not at capacity.”

“Why can’t you combine Eastman and Pittman?” asked a local reverend.

“If you knew you didn’t have enough kids to fill the new schools when you built them, why didn’t you put some of that money here?” asked another.

Several people expressed their concerns the community would die completely without the school. “We have businesses that parents stop at when they come to get their kids. They are going to suffer if those parents aren’t there to buy from them,” one parent said.

Eddy Frances said, “In the 20s there was no high school for black students. George Eastman gave this school to black students. It was a gift from the heart and needed by men. I will not stop with whatever it takes, from Washington to Halifax County, to see to it that this school continues to operate.”

There was great applause from the audience, then Frances continued by informing everyone that in the deed to the school is the stipulation that if it ever ceases to operate as an educational facility it is to revert back to the Eastman estate.

The meeting ended with comments from school board members Dr. Donna Hunter and Chairmen Tyrone Williams and Michael Hawkins. Each expressed their heartfelt concern about the community and the possibility that the school may close. “There are some tough decisions that are going to have to be made,” said Hawkins. “Continue to pray that we will be able to make the right decisions, because this is all about the children. We’re all in this together.”

A final decision is expected in May.