Sampson County Board of Education members will set a date to openly discuss and get feedback from parents about the reconfiguration of the Midway District Monday night.

The news came during two separate board committee meetings earlier this week.

“I will get some dates together and present them to the board Monday night,” said superintendent Dr. Ethan Lenker. “I feel that we need to have another public meeting to let people in the arae share their comments and concerns,” Lenker said.

It is his hope, he added, that the forum would allow parents and community members the opportunity to take a few minutes and tell the board and administration exactly what they think.

Although both the Auxiliary/Finance and Personnel/Curriculum committees have expressed the desire to select the option in the district that will put grades K-2 at Midway Elementary and grades 3-5 at the old Midway High School, a cost to the system of $679,329, nothing will be finalized until after the meeting with parents in the district and the board gives its nod of approval.

The other options presented at earlier meetings were to close Midway Elementary and move it to the old Midway High School (option 1); move grades 5 and 6 to the old Midway High School (option 3); and to move grades 7 and 8 to the old Midway High School and move grades 5 and 6 to Midway Middle School (option 4); and close Midway Elementary and move Midway Middle with sixth grade going to Midway Elementary and grades 7 and 8 to old Midway High School (option 5). The total costs of the individual options are: Option 1 —$590,000; Option 3 —913,242; Option 4 — 1,118,157 and Option 5 — $854,387.

The option committee members like is the cheapest of the reconfiguration plans.

“I know that this will not happen for at least another year,” said Lenker of the reconfiguration, “but I would like to put this issue to bed. We need to make a decision on this in June or July so we can get a plan and then move forward with it.”

When the options were discussed with members of the Auxiliary/Finance committee, board chairman G.H. Wilson inquired about the workability of other options.

“I don’t think anyone wanted to close that school altogether,” noted Lenker of the old Midway High, which now sits empty. “The majority of the people we talked with wanted to go with option No. 2.”

“Well, isn’t it true that the longer we keep that school open, the more it is going to cost us?” asked Wilson.

“That is true,” answered Anthony Vann, executive director of auxiliary services.

“That is why I think it is so important to get out there and get that feedback from the parents,” said Lenker.

Board of Education members are expected to confirm a date and location of the upcoming public meeting Monday night at its regular meeting, to be held at the central office, Rowan Road, Clinton, at 7 p.m.

The public meeting is expected to be held in the Midway District within the next few weeks.

To reach Doug Clark call 910-592-8137 ext. 139 or send e-mail to sisports@myclintonnc.com.