Officials say Gainesville Ag program not going away

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Posted: 10:36 PM Apr 14, 2008
Last Updated: 9:15 AM Apr 15, 2008
Reporter: Mystic Matthews
Email Address: mystic.matthews@kxii.com

14 comments

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GAINESVILLE, Tex. - Some Cooke County parents and students are saying the Gainesville ISD Agriculture-Education program is being unfairly cut. School administrators say that's not the case. Even though the school board says the program will stay, parents and students are disagreeing.

We talked to the school superintendent as well as a former Ag teacher. They both have very different stories about what's going on.

Two weeks ago, Chris Uselton says he was told that starting next year, there would be no Ag program at GHS.

As the program instructor, that concerned him. He starting notifying students and parents so that something could be done. A few days later, Uselton says he was out of a job.

Students and parents addressed the school board members Monday night, asking them not to cut the program. But those requests may not have been necessary.

Superintendent Bill Gravitt says the program isn't going away as Uselton claims. In fact, classes are being added, but they will be held at North Central Texas College.

Students and parents however disagree. They believe that by moving the majority of classes to the college that the school is phasing out the program over time.

School board officials said Monday night that there have been issues with the program that need to be resolved, like low attendance. But students and parents say administrators are to blame.

Gravitt said last week, even though they do not have an Ag teacher right now, they plan on hiring one for the remainder of this school year and for next year.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Been Lied to Before Location: Gainesville on May 3, 2008 at 03:22 PM
Well, you know the only way you know old Wild Bill is lying . . . his mouth is moving!

Posted by: GHS graduate,former FFA member Location: Cooke county on Apr 18, 2008 at 06:16 PM
When superintendent Gravitt was faceing the channel 12 News camara he obviously changed the story that he had told his staff back at the school, from no Ag program to adding classes. Also the mob of angry people standing up at the school board meeting I am sure influenced him also.

Posted by: Tired of the doubletalk Location: Gainesville, Texas on Apr 17, 2008 at 10:02 PM
(Continued) Small group of individuals to force their views and policies on the taxpayers of this community. They have not / are not telling the truth. They act as a group, talking in only big circles and taking no individual responsibility for this descision. In my opinion it is destroying a great program for our youth. The GISD Board and its superintendent should be ashamed of this action.If you are reading this and are not active in your communities school board elections, etc., then BEWARE ; you may also allow bad people to gain control and put thier intrests before your childrens.

Posted by: Tired of the doubletalk Location: Gainesville Texas on Apr 17, 2008 at 09:42 PM
The truth of the situation with Gainesvilles Vo-Ag / FFA program is that the GISD Superintendent and a few board members set out acouple of years to eliminate the vocational programs from the school to save money / space at a new highschool (under construction), they have deliberately tried to supress program numbers ( denied trips to speeking contests, livestock shows, state conventions, etc.. They even refused to allow the existence of a junior FFA organiztion), then they say class numbers don't justify moving the program to the new highschool.They forced the Ag teacher to resign and say Ag will continue. What they mean is that it will continue at NCTC (with the same classes that have been taught for 30 yrs). Would you want your 14yr old daughter taking classes with college guys? Do you think you should have to pay college tuition for your kids to take classes at the college? Don't you pay school taxes already? In Gainesville our complacency has allowed a small group (continued)

Posted by: baldwin Location: gainesville on Apr 17, 2008 at 09:09 PM
thanks to Bill Gravitt as principal for 2 years here he helped to get us academically unacceptable rating from the state. and thanks school board for makeing him superintendant really smart . and now he has helped get agg cut by not letting kids like my own in agg classes like my son wanted to be in this year and says numbers are down for the classes humm. well thanks teachers for the hard work you have put in to help the kids sry for all the mess you have had to put up with over the last 3 years with Bill maybe we voters can help yall out now and look out for the teachers behalf like we should have been .I want the teachers to know as parents we do not blame you at all it is because the admin has tied your hands . we as parents can help with that I hope . as voters I KNOW WE CAN AND WILL . once again thanks teachers and am verry sry for the working conditions you are under right now . we may have agg at college but no FFA in Gainesville like we need for the kids .

Posted by: Kenny Clayton Location: Valley View on Apr 17, 2008 at 08:33 PM
My wife talked to the GHS principle Mr. Fry days before the school board meeting and he said it had already been decided that the Ag program would be cut.

Posted by: chris baldwin Location: gainesville on Apr 16, 2008 at 07:44 PM
we have a sry school board and admin here in gainesville that has lied to all of us. they are selling college classes through the high school. we had the best ag teacher in tx here that really cared about the kids and the heads to be run him off and will fix it so the ag program will fail .

Posted by: HERE Location: GONE on Apr 16, 2008 at 10:11 AM
I Do agree with the fact that Gainsville kids are probably dodging bullets but you know my own kids told me that there are like 10 differnt gangs at Sherman High School and I dont doubt that a bet but we still have our programs for these kids and why shut down something that some of these kids like come on DONT TAKE WHAT THE KIDS LIKE AWAY THAT TEACHES THEM ALL SORTS OF STUFF THATS WHATS WRONG WITH OUR KIDS TODAY

Posted by: Anonymous Location: Sherman, TX on Apr 16, 2008 at 09:30 AM
My question is, if they're moving classes to NCTC are the students going to have to pay for the classes or is the GISD going to pick up the tab????

Posted by: me Location: here on Apr 15, 2008 at 10:35 PM
Gainesville has to get rid of ag noone uses it . The kids in gainesville are too busy trying not to be shot. That town is crazy. Filled with gangs and drug heads.I think oklahoma has stretched its border.

Posted by: ANONYMOUS Location: MARSHALL COUNTY on Apr 15, 2008 at 10:42 AM
YOU CAN HAVE THE AG TEACHERS FROM MADILL HIGH SCHOOL. THEY ARE A JOKE AND EVERYONE IN THE AREA KNOWS IT. OF COURSE THERE ARE TWO FAMILIES IN MARSHALL COUNTY WHO THEY KISS UP TO THAT WON'T AGREE WITH THIS.

Posted by: here Location: gone on Apr 15, 2008 at 09:19 AM
You know Ag as taught my son responsibility and how to be a leader he is a officer in Sherman he knows how to weld and all sorts of things and I am just really wondering what the heck gainsville is thinking about taking this away from students.

Posted by: Suling Location: Sherman on Apr 15, 2008 at 09:11 AM
If we don't start supporting our teachers and non-core classes, we are in deep trouble. Ag has produced some of the greatest leaders of our century, what are you thinking???

Posted by: Mary Location: Texas on Apr 15, 2008 at 08:20 AM
I don't believe it for a minute! If what the teacher was saying wasn't true then why did her get suddenly lose his job?? I'm sure glad my kids don't go to school there!

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