One on One: Pat Sabiston

For at least 30 years, Bay County High School Juniors and Seniors have been allowed to jump in a car and leave campus for lunch. But in recent years, car accidents at that time of day involving students seems to have increased, and a Mosley Senior was killed in a lunchtime car accident two years ago.
This year, several accidents have taken place at lunchtime at area high schools.

The debate over whether or not Bay County should close campuses is once again on the table. Principals have the right to close the campus if they wish, but are not mandated to.

School Board member Pat Sabiston is in favor of closing campuses. She says times have changed and it is a safety issue.  “There are plenty of tables and chairs in storage, Sabiston says, so it can be done.”

There are two high schools in Bay County with closed campuses, they are AD Harris and Bozeman.

To hear the extended interview with Ms. Sabiston, click below.

Posted by on 08/30 at 06:58 PM
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Thank you for such a great session with Pat.  I have full faith that we can do this to protect our children...it’s true accidents can happen before/after school as well as at lunch time...but that lunch “time” crunch puts young, inexperienced drivers into harms way.  We can protect them more hours of the day by keeping them on campus for lunch.

Please continue to help us keep the closed campus issue in the minds of your viewers.  We need to contact or school board members and/or be at their budget meeting on 9-7-07 if they are to “vote” on allowing this issue to be on the ballot.  If we wait until the work shop, they will say they don’t have time to “vote” on placement...they don’t vote at workshops.  Taking their time is in their favor. 

I hope WMBB can place the school board members email addresses on the television screen and on the website.  The public needs an easy way to be heard…

Thanks for all you do!

Best Regards,

Terri Sprankle

Above comment posted by  on  08/30  at  11:00 PM
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