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Post by thepat24 on Sept 25, 2006 23:55:02 GMT -5
I have just read and signed the petition: "Petition to Honor Ken Bruce" An online petition has been created and will be sent to Dr. Blevins and Campbell County Board of Education to continue the request of Mr. Ken Bruce's family, alumni and student of CCHS, and our community to honor Mr. Bruce by naming Lafollette's new elementary school in his honor. It takes just 30 seconds, but can truly make a difference. Please sign here: www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/292093142 |
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Post by bigb5 on Sept 26, 2006 11:52:53 GMT -5
what will be the new name of the school?
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Post by theal on Sept 26, 2006 13:31:51 GMT -5
Most likely "Ken Bruce Elementary".
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Post by ae2 on Nov 16, 2006 23:59:16 GMT -5
Very good idea jigsaw!!!
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Post by Big Blue on Nov 17, 2006 9:57:09 GMT -5
Sorry Pat, got to agree with jigsaw on this one. I don't think that naming the school after him is the right thing to do. Maybe naming the new school's gym after him or taking jigsaws idea and running with it. My daughter at the high school has been taking alot of heat on this one because she agrees with me. Imagine that, a teenager agreeing with their parent!!!!
Now that I think about it, with Mr. Bruce's history with the military, jigsaw's idea about the JROTC wing at the high school would be a greater honor in my opinion. It was the school that he worked at and ultimately gave his life at.
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Post by Ainge 4 Heisman on Nov 17, 2006 10:23:07 GMT -5
I was kind of upset at first after hearing about the board's decision, but after thinking about their explination of why, I have to go with them about not naming the school after Ken. There are some other faculty or former falculty that are just as deserving. Jigsaw has probably the best idea Ive heard so far about this.
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Post by Big Blue on Nov 17, 2006 10:29:54 GMT -5
Haven't heard the explanation yet, got any details?
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Post by Ainge 4 Heisman on Nov 17, 2006 10:33:08 GMT -5
Basically they just said it would be unfair to other teachers and faculty or former teachers and faculty to name the new school after Ken Bruce when others are just as deserving as he is.
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Post by Big Blue on Nov 17, 2006 10:38:50 GMT -5
I understand that line of thinking, makes sense if you think about it. Know a couple of board members really well and will ask if they have thought about something like jigsaw suggested.
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Post by thepat24 on Nov 17, 2006 11:11:44 GMT -5
I have no problem with dissenting opinions as long as they are respectful. I won't get on my soapbox about it here, as it is really not so much a sports issue, I will post a blog about it on my myspace for those who care to read it.
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Post by Big Blue on Nov 17, 2006 11:20:05 GMT -5
Hey Pat, what is your myspace address?
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Post by thepat24 on Nov 17, 2006 11:48:34 GMT -5
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Post by The Viper on Nov 17, 2006 15:13:33 GMT -5
Crowd yells "Shame" after Campbell Co. School Board vote
Crowd yells "Shame" after Campbell Co. School Board vote
"Those people can do the right thing and they chose again not to do it and it truly disgusts me," LeEllen Green says.
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November 16, 2006
By TIM MILLER
6 News Anchor/Reporter
JACKSBORO (WATE) -- By a 6-3 vote, with one abstention, Campbell County School Board members voted Thursday night against naming the new elementary school in LaFollette after slain administrator Ken Bruce.
That set off a number of angry reactions from the crowd at the meeting.
"And the rest of you, it's a shame. It's an absolute shame," resident David Davis told the board.
The crowd then joined in, shouting, "Shame, shame, shame!"
The only three board members who voted for naming the school "LaFollete's Ken Bruce Elementary" were Mary Michelle Gillum, Delbert Buckner and Mark Wells. Sarge Collins abstained.
After the vote, Ken Bruce's widow, Jo, cried and later said students and the community who pushed for it weren't heard.
"It's just another tragedy, truthfully," Bruce told 6 News. "I've taken the high road. I've worked hard. I've worked hard for them. I've worked hard for the children."
LeEllen Green, who organized a petition drive for the naming honor, added, "Those people can do the right thing and they chose again not to do it and it truly disgusts me."
The school board also voted against calling it "LaFollette Elementary in memory of Ken Bruce." They then voted to simply call it "LaFollette Elementary."
Board member Eugene Lawson at first said he had no comment on his "no" vote, then said, "We have many many good educators and they kind of thought it was kind of a slam on those that had given a lot of years service."
Board Chair Faye Heatherly said before the vote that she didn't want to explain to future students that the school was named for someone who was shot and killed in a school.
Others who voted against it, like Johnny Byrge, refused to explain their decision.
Mary Michelle Gillum said she was disappointed in her colleagues. "To me, this would have been the ultimate honor for the ultimate sacrifice which I thought would have been a nice thing to do."
6 News also asked Director of Schools Judy Blevins if she supported the decision. She also had no comment.
The school is in the early stages of construction and will replace the current East and West LaFollette Elementary Schools
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Post by Ball Coach on Nov 20, 2006 11:46:27 GMT -5
I think I would agree...military men and women are a special breed...In my opinion Mr. Bruce would deem it a greater honor to have his name associated with a JROTC wing of the school above all others. The Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps is truly a great program for those that will go on to military service. It prepares young men to be the best and brightest in the officers corps, and after college service in the ROTC they are ready to go on to the military with the rank of 2nd lieutenant unless I am mistaken. Here the JROTC seems to gain ire and disrespect...yet another enigma in Campbell County that I will never understand. Does anyone really think Campbell County's board will do something as necessary and proper as building a separate wing for the JROTC? They rarely make right decisions regarding the education of children; rather they maintain the dismal status-quo in that county.
My prayers are truly with the families that the healing process can continue despite the ongoing saga around them.
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