The construction of Wichita County's new dome schools.

For YEARS, people argued back and forth as to whether or not a new school building or buildings were actually needed here. Everyone had his or her own opinions on the matter. Some friendships actually deteriated over the whole issue. Time and time again, voters made their way to the Community Building to mark an "x" in the YES or the NO box under the issue. For awhile, I believed that there was no end in the debate. Then, Dr. James Hardy was hired as the new Wichita County Schools' Superintendant. Right away, he saw that the grade school was in terrible shape and was just getting worse each and every day. He set right to work on settling the issue once and for all.

He started by holding ALOT of public meetings that were held in the evenings or on Saturdays so that each and every adult resident could have a chance to come in, ask questions and to provide their own advice on what should be done. Citizens were not only allowed but were encouraged to tour the grade school and see for themselves what toll the insects and time had done to the building. I remember going into a former classroom in the "old" part of the school. There was a very large hole in the floor that allowed easy vision to the naked ground below. No way could class ever be held in that room again! Instead, it is now used for storage.

A couple of weeks before the bond election, Dr. Hardy called several of us into his office to ask us if we would be willing to contact other Wichita County citizens and ask them to please vote in favor of the issue. My husband and I were a couple of those people. We were only too happy to help!

Along came election day. I remember that right after we voted, a woman seemed to appear out of nowhere and began asking people who had just voted or who were about to vote, what their opinion on the matter was. I couldn't believe it! Out of about 20 people, I was the ONLY idiot who was secure enough in his/her vote to tell her how I voted and why. The other voters had gotten so accustomed to being ridiculed on their personal opinion of the matter, that they preferred to say absolutely nothing opposed to something. I admit that I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer but I must be gutsy. LOL!!! The out-of-nowhere lady was a reporter for THE GARDEN CITY TELEGRAM. Yeppers, my opinion was in the following day's edition. Soon after the polls were closed and the counting was done, many of us knew that the vote was found to be in favor of a new school. Dr. Hardy actually called people and told us directly that we had won!!! I honestly do not think that the bond would have passed this time if it had not been for ALL of the work that Dr. Hardy put out. He is a true jewel and Wichita County is very, VERY fortunate to have him here!!!

What would have happened if the bond had failed again? Eventually, there would have been no other choice but to close the schools permanently. Our kids would have been bussed to another nearby school. I am so happy that we do not have to worry about that anymore!

VLE-B