By Billie Diane Ford

When driving through my old hometown of Griffithville, I often muse over what was our Alma Mater. Just a few years have passed since kids walked the halls of the great school.

The American Flag along with the school flag once flew high above the attractive campus which included some of the most unique school buildings that have ever been erected. From 8:00A.M. until 3:30P.M. you could hear the students engaged in their busy schedules, laughter echoing from the playground, the old school bell ringing as far away as downtown. The memories which I have still linger on.

What once was, but is no more, epitomizes the devastating effect consolidation had on this small town economically, physically and socially. Less than ten years ago Griffithville was a vibrant community with a strong economy.

There was a bank, five grocery stores, two gas stations, a pool hall, the post office, a fire station, a dress shop, a pallet factory, and a community center. Physically, Griffithville was a quaint and attractive setting. Every house was occupied and well maintained. Real estate values in the area were up. Lawns and gardens were groomed as if vying for "Yard of the Month."

Socially, Griff was a very peaceful town that was always busy with people of a neighborly kind. The very core of the economic and social structure of the community was the school itself.

Tuesday and Friday nights consisted of adults filling the huge barn shaped gym or the big Grand Ball Diamond to capacity in support of the young participating in their sports. Saturday nights, the young would turn out to watch the adults compete in their independent games.

Once a month each class (K-12) would perform a talent show in the school's auditorium which had 800 wooden theater seats. The overflow Griffithville High School crowd would line up along the lacquer covered oak walls. Year round, the campus was utilized for special events for all occasions.

Quality teachers, quality parents, and quality students are the main factors that make for a successful school. It usually takes the first two to make the third.

I can honestly say the classroom environment at Griff was one of the best learning environments I have ever been associated with. The Griffithville school system produced men and women of noble character and integrity.

There are many factors which make for a sound economy in a community. One of these is the existence of a public school. Without a public school the community will wither like a flower deprived of water.

This is what has happened to my beloved Griffithville. There is only one convenience store left in town now, the one that my husband and I sold when the talk of consolidation began. We both knew what effect this would have on the economics of the area.

The couple who purchased our business have since closed the gas station and car wash that went along with it. They only operate the store a few hours a day. The population of the town is mainly made up of the elderly who had purchased their homes years ago.

Consolidation forced the younger generation to relocate to areas where their children will be attending schools. We also moved, not only out of Griffithville, but out of the county as well.

A few squatters have moved in., throwing up makeshift dwellings. Houses have been abandoned and businesses vandalized. In some places the grass has grown over the sidewalks and the weeds have overtaken the vacant lots. Not a pleasant sight to behold.

I believe it is a collaboration of all stakeholders-students, parents, teachers, staff, and community patrons-who share the responsibility for a successful school. Although the issues, at times, may seem overwhelming, we must never believe it is beyond our ability to change the status quo.

The truth of the matter is that consolidation is so final. There is no returning, no going back to the way it was.