Time Will Tell

Time will tell.

The fate of the Cranfills Gap School District is now in the hands of time. Students left in droves last year, mostly due to actions or inactions of former Superintendent Carla Sigler. Enrollment in a tiny school like Cranfills Gap is always teetering on a fine line. Any untoward event can tilt it to the side of dangerously low enrollment.

 The state of Texas will step in after a period of time if enrollment is too low.  If the flow of dollars from the state ceases, the school ceases. It is like having a business with no customers. No money comes in and soon the business is "out of business."

The blame for low enrollment can be laid at the feet of  2006-2007 former Cranfills Gap School Superintendent Carla Sigler. She failed to enforce school policy from the moment she was hired. Many parents were understandably upset and unhappy when their children were allowed to do things that were specifically prohibited.

Problems with teachers were not handled. One teacher who viciously hit elementary students with school textbooks and painfully twisted their little arms behind their backs when angry with them is still there. Favoritism by Sigler was rampant.She inappropriately kissed older male students on the neck and gave them full-frontal hugs.  

School rules and regulations were not followed. Public displays of affection were allowed to happen even though inappropriate and against school policy. Some uncorrected situations actually put students in unsafe situations. Add in a majority of derelict, incompetent, and corrupt school board members, and you have a recipe for disaster.

Unhappy parents had no choice but to withdraw their children when Sigler failed to rectify problems time and again when asked to do so. Sigler was asked by parents, a few of the school board members, and concerned tax-paying citizens of the Gap to do things right.  Many members of the school board don't know the law and relied on Sigler to tell them what to do. In many instances, her advice was not only incorrect but illegal, causing even more problems for the school district.

 In retrospect,  Cranfills Gap school board members Kenny Wiese, Jeff Rose, Kathie Witte, and Shelly Stuart appear to have unconditionally supported Carla Sigler in whatever she wanted to do.

Sigler's many malicious actions caused untold damage to the school and the town of Cranfills Gap. Damage that can never be undone. In my opinion, Sigler literally poisoned the school and the town. Even though she supposedly went back to Alaska, parents have not returned their children to the Gap school.  Why would they? Problems in the school are still pervasive. The school is rife with her supporters. 

Actions by new superintendent James Scott have made some improvements. He seems to be an effective, ethical, honest and moral man with great ideas. However, it may be too little, too late. Cranfills Gap School District may be at the point where nothing anyone does is going to be enough to save it from the fate of many small country schools that no longer exist.   It is doubtful that any action at this late stage can return the Gap school to its former glory--enrollment-wise or reputation-wise. 

Sadly, the Gap school's previously good reputation is gone forever. Like all those students. And perhaps the school itself.

Time will tell.