I don't understand the reasoning for having small schools these days either. In Allegany County we have 3 Schools that are all small when there is no reason to split the kids into 2 schools.
Also the school buildings at FH and Alco were a mess in the 90's and don't look like other schools I have been in at other places like VA,SC,NC and FLA
the buildings are so old and still heat with coal,there's no Air Conditioning yet they still have the kids in there when it's hot, the schools are not heated very well at all.
I think it has worked in Hagerstown after the area grew to have 2 big schools. Martinsburg,Jefferson are big schools and have worked out fine.
If it's good for Washington and Frederick Counties why not here?
FH & Alco Combined.
Clear Spring & Hancock Combined
Southern Garrett and Northern Combined
For Cumberland take The City of Cumberland and West of 68 and Cresaptown to Cumberland City High
For Mountain Ridge they have what they already have plus Lavale and Rawlings and we have 2 decent sized Schools.
would save money for sure, even if you have to build for them it would work out in the long run instead of having to build 6 schools it will only be 3
in the 90's there were more kids in the Cumberland Schools, 1 Principal 1 Vice Principal and a Secretary with no Teachers aides except with special education kids
Now these days there is a Principal 2 Vice Principals and Teachers Aides in every class yet the kids aren't any smarter.
How about 1 Cumberland School 1 Principal 1 Vice Principal 1 Secretary no Teachers Aides and carry over All the teachers you need and a few more to help instead of teachers aides and maybe things will get better.
If it works somewhere else why won't it work here?