SPIVEY’S CORNER — Parents from the Midway District came to share their ideas and suggestions with the Sampson County Board of Education Thursday night, discussing the proposed reconfiguration of schools in their community.

 Board members had whittled the choices of options for the district down from five to three. Option A was to have grades K-2 go to Midway Elementary School and grades 3-5 go to the old Midway High School. The option would house no mobile units and is expected to have 208 students at the K-2 level and 233 at the 3-5 grade level. Option B would move grades 5-6 to the old Midway High School and require two mobile units; the option would house 350 students. Option C would move grades 7-8 to the old Midway High School and grades 5-6 to Midway Middle School. The option would require six mobile units and will house 425 students.

 In previous meetings, the board has hinted at favoring option A, the major reason being that option was the least expensive.

 However, an impromptu vote of the audience, called for by superintendent Dr. Ethan Lenker during the meeting Thursday night, showed more hands going up for option C. The vote was 10-8 in favor of that option.

 Lenker began the meeting by explaining the three options in detail to parents who were spread out in the Midway High School gymnasium. After his presentation, Lenker then welcomed parents to come in front of the board to share their opinions.

 The only speaker in the 12-minute meeting was Sandra Carroll Williams, a Clement area parent and former teacher.

 After thanking the board for hosting the meeting, Williams said that she and most of the parents” she has talked with about the reconfiguration were in favor of option A. “I am at least 20 miles away from Midway Middle School and the old high school,” she said. “I am not the only one ... I want my child to stay at Clement Elementary School, there is no overcrowding issue there and I don’t see a need for the K-5 to be changed.”

 Clement principal Linda Williams said after the meeting that she has received some parental concerns about the distance from her school to the Spivey’s Corner area.

 ”For the most part, that is what the parents were concerned about most,” she said. “They really want the students to stay at Clement K-5. There is not an overcrowding issue (at Clement). We love Midway and we love Plain View, I just think that the biggest thing is the amount of distance between the two schools.”

 While there were no other speakers, most parents in the audience stayed to fill out comment forms that will be looked over and considered by the board.

“I thought it went well,” Lenker said after the meeting.  “I think the best thing we did was inform the parents that it was online and we have gotten lots of emails and written comments from that. It is a busy time for everyone right now. We will take all of it into consideration the same as if they were here tonight.”

Lenker told parents throughout the meeting that nothing was “set in stone” about the reconfiguration and the board will take all the comments and suggestions into consideration.

To reach Doug Clark call 592-8137 ext. 139 or email to sisports@myclintonnc.com.