J.P. Law, Aulander and Askewville - Strike One?

Though the majority of the county is working hard to stop the closure of these three schools, the chance to keep our community schools open took a serious hit today. With the Bertie County Board of Education (BOE) poised to ratify their secret negotiations with the Department of Justice (DOJ) sometime soon, one chance to let the Judge know where the county stands slipped by.

At the County Commissioners meeting today, Jonathan Huddleston was present on behalf of County Attorney Lloyd Smith. He informed the County Commissioners that the County Attorney had not yet completed his research on Amicus Curiae and was not ready to make a recommendation. The County Commissioners were thus left with no opportunity to do anything to slow down the BOE rush to close the schools. That looks like strike one. We have not lost yet, but the chances to save our schools are slipping away.

It is going to be equally interesting to see if the "consent decree" that has been negotiated with the DOJ is released by the BOE today, or whether they continue their previous practice of keeping these things hidden from the public as long as possible. If the vote to close the schools has been approved by the DOJ and is voted on by the BOE, it will be on the Judges desk very soon. Our original goal of March 1st is thus no longer valid. Things will have to happen much sooner.

We will have a report of whatever we can find out tomorrow morning, but the BOE vote was discussed today.