Ligonier Valley Consolidation Success Story

[Athens/Cat]

Although it will never happen I would LOVE to see a true Greater Johnstown School District. Combine Johnstown, Ferndale, Conemaugh Valley, Richland, and Westmont. A school district like this could offer so much athletically and academically. You would have enough students where you could even field sports that are not offered around here such as field hockey, lacrosse and many others. This school could immediately join the wpial and compete with any of the schools in AAAA in football or basketball. Academically you could have more AP courses offered that would drastically improve the educational experience for studens.

Wouldn't it be so much more fun competing and beating the schools in big old Westmoreland/Allegheny county than continuing to beat each other up every week? To me it would be.

It really sucks that there has never been a true "Greater Johnstown" identity around here. If you had that..."I'm from Johnstown" attitude prominent in the area compared to "I'm from lower yoder, minersvile, morrelville, woodsdale, brownstown, westmont, franklin, lorain...blah blah" it would do a lot more towards consolidation IMO...problem is is that people have been trying for 100+ years to incorporate the boroughs. It's never happened and people don't really even bring it up anymore.

[sportsfan1000]

I agree Athens. Like I said, it will never happen. As far as wh or rich kids not wanting to sit by jtwn kids thats an attitude of 30 yrs ago. With facebook and twitter these kids all know each other and are for the most part friends. Thats why I think it would be awesome for the area if they came together under one school.

[Athens/Cat]

As far as wh or rich kids not wanting to sit by jtwn kids thats an attitude of 30 yrs ago. With facebook and twitter these kids all know each other and are for the most part friends.

Agreed

[knowitall]

Parents and grandparents decide where kids go to school.

[WPIAL~Titan]

A Greater Jtown school district like you're suggesting would be competitive with the ultra-weak eastern AAAA section in football and hoops.

However, when they run into the big boys come playoff time (North Al, Pitts CC, etc.) they'd be one-and-done 95% of the time.

[sportsfan1000]

Id bet my paycheck a Greater Johnstown consolidated would take out Shaler yearly.

[WPIAL~Titan]

Not last year in boys hoops. Shaler by 20+ in that game.

[Crimson's Ghost]

He's right in that hoops game last year. It was essentially Johnstown + Brandon from Westmont, Flick from Richland, maybe one of the Valley kids.

[El-Moldo]

Right now, CV, GJHS, Ferndale, Richland and Westmont each has a quarterback. Each has a center. Each has main runningback, etc, etc. Now if they combine, the new big team will have a quarterback, a center, and a main runningback. The 4 others at these positions eliminated by the consolidation can all hang out in front of the drugstore.

[deepcreek]

Not true. You would see platoon systems like you see at other large schools. Those that decided not to play could enter another sport or club as the larger schools would have more offerings. Many kids would become one sport athletes to make sure they are competitive with their peers.