POMONA — A divided West Franklin school board endorsed a bond issue proposal Monday night that would close schools in Williamsburg and Appanoose and bus all elementary students to an improved and expanded campus in Pomona. Board members were so divided they seemed ready to table the issue during their meeting Monday night, but at the last moment, a board member made a motion to proceed with the proposal called “Vision A.” The motion was approved on a 4-3 vote. The vote came at the end of a nearly two-and-a-half-hour discussion. That discussion included a review of the results of a community survey on Vision A and Vision B, which would keep open the schools and make improvements at them. Those responding to the survey showed more support for Vision B and a majority of responses opposed to Vision A. However, Vision A had overwhelming support among those responses from Pomona. Burke Jones, with the architectural firm Howard & Helmer handling the construction proposal, pushed the board into making a decision, saying he needed a sense of what direction the board wanted him to go in planning. The vote on the bond issue is set for June.
Tuesday, Feb. 12, 11 a.m.
