PULASKI, VA – Dozens of people in Pulaski County are demanding Supervisors put the decision whether or not to build a new middle school up to a vote.
Speaker after speaker took to the podium Monday night to discuss the issue that wasn't even on the Supervisors' agenda.
People involved with the school system say they're at a breaking point in Pulaski County.
Dublin Middle School was first built in 1951, and neither of the existing schools have air-conditioning.
Now, teachers and parents say they're tired of waiting for Supervisors to deal with it, and want to make the decision themselves in a referendum this coming November.
Ashley Hale says, she knows from first-hand experience as a student, the middle schools aren't pleasant.
"They were uncomfortable and hot. It was difficult to learn," said Hale.
Now, like many parents, she has children who are getting ready to go there, and she says it's only gotten worse.
"I had several people express to me the concern over dead mice in lockers, and just things that, it's not that they don't want to keep these places clean, it's that the building is in such a state that these things just naturally occur and it's unacceptable for our students," said Hale.
Dozens more concerned about the middle schools joined Hale Monday.
"It's shameful, it's just downright shameful. They don't look good, the atmosphere is depressing, and I fear that we've lost both staff as teachers certainly, and certainly residents that don't prefer to send their children there," said Lezley Wilson, with the Pulaski Education Association.
But there were some against the proposal, that some estimates put at a cost of more than $40 million, and a real estate tax increase of up to 11 cents.
E.W. Harless says to bring that cost down, they should combine sports facilities with the high school.
"Use the money that they're going to spend on the sports complex for the middle school, spend it on the high school complex and let it be used by both the middle school and the high school," said Harless.
But Hale says that wouldn't make sense.
"It just would not be a viable option with middle school teams, freshman teams, junior varsity teams, and varsity teams to be able to share the sports facilities," said Hale.
Even with a high cost, Hale says if put to a vote, the school would be built.
"I have no doubt that, if the referendum ends up on the ballot, that we will begin moving forward with the consolidation building of a new middle school," said Hale.
The board is expected to get architectural drawings for the new facility next month, as well as an official cost estimate.