Tamassee-Salem muster forces

Seven supporters of the Tamassee-Salem Elementary School urged Oconee school trustees to lay aside any notion of closing the Salem area’s last public school and consolidating the grades with Keowee Elementary students at a new location.  It’s the second straight month that trustees have heard the pleas.  Lynne Martin last night told the trustees they should thank her for alerting the public in her area to the potential of consolidation, which is an option included in the district’s new long-term building plan.  Martin has been a critic of the layout of the district’s web page that offers the public the chance to respond by survey.  Martin and her husband, Eddie, were among the seven last night who spoke during the trustees’ public comment part of their meeting.  Eddie Martin said there’s a rumor that the district has already selected a location for the Keowee and Tamassee-Salem consolidated school and has bought the property, but Superintendent Dr. Michael Thorsland responded there’s no truth to the rumor.