Dont Consolidate In Mingo Build a New School for Marsh Fork Kids

I want to express my concerns for the Pennies of Promise campaign and the Marsh Fork Elementary School. We always hear that no kids are left behind and that they are our future, but actions speak louder than words. Because money means more to some people than our kids, we have kids slowly dying due to illnesses, and the coal dust, the chemicals and vapors in the air. Some of our children are even afraid to sleep, fearful of being washed away due to the sludge "ponds" around their homes and schools.

I am a parent from Mingo County with three children in the school system. I am speaking for myself and I am sure for many other parents. I do not want the schools consolidated here in Mingo. I think that we already have enough troubled kids in our schools and if they combine the schools together, there will be more trouble in the schools. Some kids already are on the buses long enough and the consolidation would make it worse. I think that there is more control of everything with the schools as they are. My children and I want the $18 million (slated for school consolidation in Mingo County) to go to Marsh Fork Elementary instead, because them kids are the ones that need a new school not us!

My son, 14-years-old, and my daughter, 13-years-old, were going to walk all the way to Washington, DC, with Ed Wiley and the Pennies of Promise campaign to raise money and raise awareness for the kids at Marsh Fork Elementary, but my son got too sick to go. Ed started his walk this week. My son is very upset because he wants to see something happen better for all them kids. I think that it is a shame that children like mine care more about them children at Marsh Fork than some of the adults that should be caring for them.

Our officials say that they dont have enough money for a new school at Marsh Fork in Raleigh County, but they have it to waste on building consolidated schools that we dont want in Mingo County. It isnt right, nor fair to all these kids! Theyre already punishing the kids at Marsh Fork and now theyre going to punish ours here.