This story appears in the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald of Ahoskie and is reprinted with permission.

Despite last minute pleas from the public and a dramatic objection from one board member, the Northampton County Board of Education’s decision made in December to merge the county’s two high schools still stands.

On Monday, board members voted 6-1 to ratify their original decision on consolidating the county’s two public high schools (Northampton County High School-West and Northampton County High School-East) into a single high school to be located in the Creeksville precinct, on the campus of East.

The board also decided upon the name of the consolidated high school –NorthamptonCountyHigh School(what it was known as prior to the inception of NCHS-West) its colors (navy, white and teal) and mascot (Jaguars).

The administration noted a group of students were involved with a committee created to come up with the name, colors and mascot for the school.

The vote to ratify the original decision did not come without controversy from opponents of the merger, mostly parents and community members from the western end of the county, and most notably from Board member Erica Smith-Ingram. After the vote was taken she left her seat and stood in protest.

“It is appalling that my fellow board members would put anybody’s child on a bus for an hour and 45 (minutes) to two hours and expect them to be in a condition to be able to learn,” said Ingram, voicing opposition to her colleagues’ decision. “I’m just going to take a stand and I will stand up for the rest of the meeting.”

Several audience members also showed their displeasure by standing up as well.

“We want to spend $7 million on a 50-year-old building. That is ridiculous. That is unfair and you are killing the future ofNorthamptonCounty,” Ingram said.

Also related to the school merger, the board agreed to the purchase of 80 new high school band uniforms from Fruhauf Uniforms, Inc. for the total cost of $33,009.92. A $98,209 painting contract with ARMEN Construction for the merged high school was also approved.