Eddie Martin pleads for “three votes to put a stop….”

Dr. Michael Thorsland, district superintendent, sought last night to dispel notions that there’s any animosity toward Tamassee-Salem on the part of the Oconee district administration when it comes to considering whether to close and consolidate the elementary school with Keowee in a new building at another location.  Remarks from a couple of Tamassee-Salem supporters last night seemed to suggest a bias against their area.  Associate superintendent Steve Hanvey explained to the county trustees that analysis of the numbers show the district can’t afford to maintain separate primary schools throughout the rural parts of the county. For the most part, Tamassee-Salem Elementary supporters had left last night’s meeting before Hanvey and Thorsland spoke.  However, during public comment about 12 audience members responded when Eddie Martin asked the audience who wants to keep the rural school to stand.  When he spoke, Martin said his side needs three votes (from the five-member board) to ditch consolidation and for his area to keep its last remaining public school.  The trustees so far have yet to publicly state their positions, but questions asked last night by a couple of them suggested that the public does not realize the financial implications of keeping open small rural elementaries.  Hanvey’s presentation last night introduced the figure of $1.3 million savings, should the district consolidate the two into one.  Eddie Martin’s wife, Lynne, scoffs at promises of savings, saying she’s still trying to find the savings promised when the district moved to close Tamassee-Salem High School ten years ago and transfered the students to a new Walhalla High.