Committee member: Mathews BOE is spineless

VIENNA

The woman who headed Mathews schools levy committee last November strongly criticized the board of education for its decision to keep Neal Middle School open for the 2010-2011 school year.

Wendy Thompson, who chaired the committee in the unsuccessful effort to pass a $22 million bond issue for a new school building, claimed board members didn’t keep promises they made about the middle school when the committee was organized.

“You did not have the backbone and the spine to stand up for this decision,” Thompson told the board Wednesday evening. “You’re keeping the school open one more year and that will suck the money out of the budget.”

The board had originally planned to close the nearly 90-year-old building at the end of the current school year, but changed its mind in the wake of complaints from some district parents.

Thompson said she was misled by the board and charged that the Neal decision resulted from that public protest.

Ken Wallace, board president, denied her allegation.

For the full story, read Thursday's Vindicator or Vindy.com.