Vashti Washington asks for patience.
The Jasper County School District superintendent understands there's great interest in the possible consolidation of the public middle and high schools, but a decision will not be rushed.
At last week's school board meeting in Hardeeville, community member Ransom Dunham said parents are confused about possible consolidation.
Washington hopes to correct that confusion.
"It's a process," Washington said.
The process has been public since last September when the district hosted a public meeting in Ridgeland and bonding attorney Brent Jeffcoat made it clear that the Sept. 2001 referendum authorized the school board to build two school facilities, but "has no obligation to maintain a particular school facility."
The meeting showed a clear disparity in the courses offered at the schools and cost to operate Ridgeland and Hardeeville's campuses. According to the district, based on teacher's salaries, the cost per student at Hardeeville High is $6,188 compared to $3,760 at Ridgeland High. Neither campus has been built as a comprehensive high school. Ridgeland does not have outdoor athletic facilities and Hardeeville is lacking classrooms.
The district hosted a public meeting in Hardeeville last October and recently it sought participation from the public in forming focus groups to address consolidation. Washington noted the district sent letters to churches, call alerts were made and the information was published in the Jasper County Sun. Thirty people are part of the groups.
Board member Barbara Clark thinks the school board should be invited to the focus group meetings, but Washington doesn't think that's a good idea.
"If a board member would participate it would appear they are influencing parents and community members," said Washington, who hopes the groups "allow the community a free will to speak."
Clark said the public has not been allowed enough of a voice. There were no public comments at the September meeting and at the October meeting the public was given two minutes to speak.
"We know it is a process, but I don't think you have heard from the public enough," Clark said late last week.
Clark would like to speak with Dr. David Longshore and David Rawlinson. Longshore is a former superintendent in Holly Hill who has worked in merging three high schools and Rawlinson is the director of the Office of Special Projects at the state Department of Education. They are independent consultants and have attended the prior public meetings.
Rawlinson and Longshore will make recommendations to the board after looking at curriculum and course offerings; scheduling; transportation, including the length of bus rides and students who drive or walk to school; the amount of unused classrooms; athletic programs and other extra-curricular activities; and staffing, including class sizes and student-to-teacher ratios.
They said they'd be willing to speak individually with the public.
Longshore and Rawlinson are expected to give Washington a complete report by March 15.
"I think when you start a Step 1, you want to be informed about Step 2 and Step 3," Clark said.
Clark said she's opposed to consolidation because of the county's size.
"It's unfair to travel," she said. "When your child gets sick they (school district) call you. How do they know I have gas money to pick my child up? How can I get my child to different functions? I feel as if something else can be put into place."

Looking to 2013-14
Possible consolidation will not happen until the 2013-14 school year, but Washington said ideally the board would decide by June 30, 2012. A $3 million School Improvement Grant ends June 30, 2013.
Lack of state funding has hurt the district. According to the district, in 2000, the state's base-student-cost funding was about $2,200 per student; this school year it is an estimated $1,765.
"I'm trying to keep (the public) informed," Washington said. "I know it's an emotional issue for some of the public...I am here for the best interests of all students in Jasper County."