[Pulp Fiction]

Jenkins and Phelps are two small rural schools in the dying coal fields. In twenty years we will lose some of these community schools much like Cumberland and Evarts. When the President decides to kill an industry it has a wide effect on people and communities.

Phelps is so far out in Pike County, the BOE would have to split the students up between Pike Central, East Ridge & Belfry and that would be VERY long bus rides for the kids. The drive from Pikeville to Phelps feels like you are eight miles and a left turn past the middle of nowhere.

Jenkins' students would have to be absorbed by Letcher Central. LCC has a big enough school that they wouldn't be overcrowded.

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These are the only schools in the 15th region that I know of that could be consolidated. Projected status ten years from now.

Johnson Central. (Safe)
Magoffin County. (Safe, brand new school. Only high school in the county)
Paintsville. (Small, but Safe)
Lawrence County. (Safe, only high school in the county)
Floyd Central. (Safe, brand new school)
Betsy Layne. (Safe)
Prestonsburg. (Safe)
Shelby Valley. (Safe)
Pikeville. (Small, but Safe)
Belfry. (Safe)
Pike Central. (Safe)
East Ridge. (Safe)

Sheldon Clark has seen enrollment drop the past few years. SC has been moved down to 2A for the next realignment. The new Martin County high school (that feels like it has been under construction since the Truman presidential administration) will be completed this school year. I highly doubt the only (and brand new) high school in Martin County will close down due to enrollment, but you never know. Students would probably be transferred to Johnson Central, Paintsville, Lawrence County and/or Prestonsburg. It would be an absolute shame to see the SC classmates be divided up between four different schools.

Johnson Central & Paintsville - 28 miles.
Lawrence County - 28 miles.
Prestonsburg - 14 miles.

These distances are from high school to high school. Not sure how close the nearest West Virginia school is from Martin County, but I could see some kids from the Warfield area going that route if Martin County ever did close.