Next crisis looming for the school board and stupidvisors who can’t seem to understand that education is important in attracting business (and improving the tax base) is the age of other school buildings in the county — Belview, Gilbert Linkous, Beeks, C’burg Elementary, and Shawsville Middle. Some of these schools are not in bad shape and aren’t in bad locations, but they are in serious need of upgrades to electrical, heating, kitchens, etc. They have had bandaids applied over the years, but pretty soon they will all need either major work or total replacement. Because of the reluctance to spend small sums of money over the years and the reluctance to look long-term and the major resistance to set a realistic tax rate for an urbanized county, we are going to be stuck with our third-world school system for a long time.

Of course, there was room to help the budget with some long-term thinking on new projects, but the school board opted to pass on that. Geothermal systems for HVAC for the two new elementary schools would have added to the initial cost of Eastern Montgomery and Prices Fork but after 5 years would begin to reap benefits for the county in reduced costs to operate the system (maybe sooner if the cost of fossil fuel keeps going up). But the board decided to go with the cheaper gas boiler, sticking future taxpayers with the long-term higher bills.

Sure, we can ask candidates all kinds of questions and they can lie with all kinds of pat answers, but once they are elected all bets are off and they can do what they want. No matter how earnest one person may be, once in with the bunch of weasels, there isn’t much one person can do.

As to the schools, like Prices Fork, Blacksburg High does well in various areas academically and in extracurricular programs because the teachers and parents are interested and supportive and put extra effort into making things happen. If the teachers/sponsors weren’t good at what they do for debate, chorus, band, drama, and some of the vocational programs, the students wouldn’t be in those programs and the parents wouldn’t be shelling out the extra money to keep those activities going. What gets overlooked is the number of students who have gone on to major in those areas in college and in many cases have had successful careers, because of the start they got at BHS. They do well and bring back awards and honors from competitions and programs, but it takes parental support and funds (and fundraising) because there is little if any money coming from the school system (maybe buses and some extra pay for the teachers). This hurt during the flap (which is still going on) over the critical need for a new high school for Blacksburg (which had no building) vs. the school for Auburn when people where whining about “Blacksburg gets everything” (again, never mind that the attendance zone covers the northern half of the county, not just the town). In the scheme of things, the Blacksburg schools are on equal footing or come up short in the effort to make sure thing are “equal” across the county and the only reason it appears they have more is because the parents are willing to put in the time, effort, and money to make sure their children have what is needed to get a good education — something that can happen at ANY school in the county.

Unions may have provided a more genuine process than the current offerings of tech schools that rob people at the same rate as universities. Apprentice programs have the same issues as other time frame educations. Eventually it might lead to teaching to the test when real life is an open book for anyone that doesn’t need to tap dance for a certificate.

As far as government filling the gap, that’s even more laughable. Inspections produce revenue and do very little to protect the public. They attempt to hire someone that is a Master of Everything. Look at some of the time required to be a Journeyman of Anything.

Often, the buyer has no idea what is good, better, or best. I don’t know how to change that. Somehow, the people with the most money seem to be the most ignorant about common things. The rest are price shoppers first. The best customers will listen to, understand, and consider the options. The very best customers educate themselves to some extent so they can make a judgement about credibility.