The news from last night's Powhatan School Board meeting has perplexed some, but the overall news is quite good. In short, a door is open that was closed before.

The board voted first to appeal the Board of Supervisors' denial of the permit to demolish parts of the Pocahontas Landmark Center complex. This seemed to be setting in motion rumored plans to sue the county for the right to tear down the school. That is not what happened.

Board chair Susan Smith, immediately after the 3-2 vote to appeal the permit denial, started discussing an option that would seek a meeting of the two boards to see if they might begin discussion on how to save the buildings that are in question. Seemingly a contradiction-- why appeal for the right to demolish if you are willing to talk about NOT demolishing-- Ms. Smith later commented that it was important to vote first for the appeal to make sure the school board was covering all of its bases.

Then, based on Ms. Smith's recommendation to try for collaboration, which Michelle Ward indicated was a surprise to her, since the suggestion to meet with the BOS apparently had not been proffered in a closed session, last night's discussion turned towards a motion to open a two-board dialogue for possible feasibility study and plan for preserving the buildings.

Ultimately, Jeanne Ward moved to seek a meeting to include the two board chairs, the schools superintendent, and the county administrator to begin to explore a possible path forward, towards preservation. The board approved this 3-2, with Michelle Ward and Vicki Hurt objecting, based on the plan being too unclear and not optimal. They are still in favor of simply deeding the buildings to the county as surplus property, since the buildings are not used for school purposes and the impasse over real estate is presumably taking time away from the mission of schooling children.

Although questions certainly remain-- whether county leaders will pursue a referendum, whether and what grant funding sources might be located, how long a period of study and possible preservation might take, and how to address immediate and time-senitive building repair needs-- this school board decision marks the first time in months that a majority on the school board has been willing to explore preservation. It was described by Ms. Wade as "an olive branch".

Now that this reprieve has been granted, a hopeful step forward (given the BOS has recently been unanimous in wanting to investigate the feasibility of saving all the buildings), it is time for Pocahontas proponents to get more serious than ever in clarifying what level of commitment you have to ensuring a future for this entire complex. To that end, more information is forthcoming. Information and questions for you.

For now, please take the survey if you have not. If you want these buildings to serve the community for generations to come, how should that look? Please give your input in the survey and via email at mythoughts@savepocahontas.com. 

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8Z6THHY 

And thank you for your continued support of this campaign.