I believe speaking up for what you believe in takes a lot of courage and I have a lot of respect for anyone that decides to speak before the school board especially the past and current students.

I enjoyed my days in JROTC as I took the class both semesters 9-12 grade and made a lot of friends and learned some valuable life lessons so it is understandable to me that there are students who value this program and will hate to see it end.  This was not an easy decision for me, and probably not for others either, but we have to look at the facts and I feel the numbers in enrollment have spoken pretty clearly over the last several years.  The school board has to make decisions for many reasons, in the case of JROTC enrollment was only one of the reasons.
To address another aspect of the discussion; it was said “welding is not needed” and “where will kids get jobs?”As it stands, our students who seek to stay in Patrick County or return after college or the military will have a tough time finding employment. A substantial portion of citizens in Patrick County has to travel to neighboring parts of Virginia or to North Carolina for jobs. I will say that I do personally know of many of jobs out there that are in need of people with a skilled trade.

Saying that welders are not needed is discounting skilled workers and is a blatantly false statement. In fact, I just did a quick Internet search and found jobs with pay beginning at $16.55 to $25 an hour as close by as Mount Airy, N.C. While no program can guarantee that students will stay in the area, we’re hoping that some will. We’re hoping that with the training they receive, those who do leave the area will be productive members of society, where ever they end up.

Part of the mission of Patrick County Public Schools and the Patrick County School Board is to create a system that allows our students to be college or career ready. I feel like this welding opportunity will create an avenue for the part of our student population that chooses not to attend a 4-year college, but rather earn credentials for a career that pays well, and could allow them to stay in Patrick County. I am hoping this program will give an advantage to the Patrick County Board of Supervisors to attract employers to the area that require welders.

It was also asked what if Patrick Henry Community College does not come through financially to assist with the program? We have no reason to think they would not. All indications have been very positive looking forward. I feel that question was asked because there was concern that the county could not afford it if PHCC did not come through, and that the county was in a crisis, and honestly, it is a fair question.

I do feel the county finances are not as stable as they could be; however, the Patrick County School Board does not have the power to levy taxes, and currently receives the minimum required by law from the Patrick County Board of Supervisors. The school board has little power to change either of these. Our job is to make try and make the school system we have the best for our students, create opportunities, and prepare them for life in Patrick County or life outside of Patrick County.

The school system employs some of the hardest working individuals I have had the pleasure to work with, we stay within our budget, and we work great as a team to better the lives of our students.

I also have the utmost respect for the Patrick County Board of Supervisors and do not envy them in the decisions they have to make every day. That being said, there are many things that the county has done in the past and things they are working on now that I feel could be very risky for taxpayers, and potentially very costly.
When it comes right down to it, I think this school board is moving in the right direction.  Change is hard, we will always have to make decisions that will have an impact on the lives of others in some way but it has to be done to ensure there is progress. Sometimes we agree as a board, and sometimes we do not.  It is democracy at work, but ultimately our job is to do what we think is best for our students.

In the end, I feel like what is best of our students may have been forgotten. No one ever said that JROTC isn’t a good program, but given the cost, enrollment and an opportunity to develop this partnership with PHCC on the welding program, I think this board made the right decision.

I believe the best thing we can do for our students is to offer them something to enhance their lives in the future and to set them out on the pathway to success. I feel confident that our upcoming welding program and the other programs that follow will do just that.

Brandon Simmons,

Patrick County School Board