This is a photo from December, taken a few miles west of Majestic, in eastern Pike County. Basically, it’s getting as far east as you can go and still be in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. It’s also fairly representative of the unmet needs in the area. About 40 miles west lies Pikeville. Pikeville University (formerly Pikeville College) is a Presbyterian-supported private college. As with Centre College, it was meant to be a way to serve the state by providing more opportunities for education. It is in no way a religious school. It has served eastern Kentucky in that manner quite nicely for a long time.
Paul Patton raised the possibility of Pikeville University becoming part of the state university system. Cost estimates have varied, but have been consistently above $200 million over a ten year period. In addition, the assets of the school are estimated at $200 million, which is another cost involved.
So, over a ten year period, this is almost a half-billion dollar proposal. Kentucky Floor Leader Rocky Adkins and Morehead University State alumni is urging Morehead graduates to oppose the proposal, because it competes geographically with Morehead. Nearby Floyd County Speaker of the House Greg Stumbo not only is rallying support, but counter-attacking against Morehead, seeking spending records (presumably to find something wrong to weaken the opponents to the proposal).
Pike County is a huge county. It’s also far and away the most populous of the coal counties, and has fantastic poverty from Majestic (in the far eastern corner of the county) to Pikeville and all points in between. Despite the absolutely incredible accomplishment of Highway 119 to Williamson, and the breakthroughs in providing Pike countywide water, travel to any holler in the county, and see the inconceivable poverty. No one can deny there is a fantastic need in Pike County (and nearby counties) that rivals anything in the state.
The fairly recently established Pikeville osteopathic medical school is one part of the puzzle—and there’s no denying that life-saving medical care has been enhanced through the medical school and hospital.
Roads, hospitals, and schools. All would logically be part of addressing the needs in the area. But if there is already a school, and if bringing that school into the state system would raise tuitions for other students, is making Pikeville a state school still the right answer?
There has to be something like an impartial and objective analysis done by someone with the skill sets to propery analyze the numbers to answer that question. Before squaring off and putting up the area’s collective dukes, how about gathering information, objectively looking at it, and seeing where it leads?
Because until that happens, the only alternative is that there is no good answer. Until that happens the eminently powerful speaker and floor leader will excuse the rest of the Commonwealth, who probably feel sort of like Delmar did:
In other words, Bob, Beshear hasn’t decided, so neither have you.
Ewe still don’t no about what your fingers are flailing against the keyboard.
Cents ignorance is bliss, may you be certified as the most blissful mass of protoplasm in the Commonwealth.
Bobs, did you even read what I wrote? I’ve helped those in need in Pike County for over ten years, and I’ve been to Pikeville College and gotten to know it through my church. I agree there’s a great need, but I also see college in-state tuitions rising because politicians have cut state support for decades. To potentially raise student tuitions more is a serious issue, and one that I am not sure is worth bringing Pikeville University into the public system.
What do you have against actually hearing what some people who are supposed to be experts have to say? I’m reserving judgment on whether they know what they’re talking about until I read it for myself.
Our state has allocated public resources thoughtlessly for a hundred years. That doesn’t mean we’re compelled to continue blindly throwing money around based on whims. Yeah. I want to be able to make an informed decision. Guilty as charged.
I grew up in Eastern Kentucky. There are multiple avenues to a quality education. Great idea but, I agree with Bob, we simply can’t afford it right now.
If we’re going to put public capital into education, let’s get Engineering, Law & Medicine schools at Murray. They are a leading academic institution without respect in the capitol. They are languishing down in the west because Paducah sees the school as a liberal threat. The school historically has a greater proportional student population from out of state than any other. That is why and how it lacks political heft.
That picture of an abandoned house has nothing to do with the poverty level in Pike co. The house appears to be abandoned with a board over the door. But looking at the overall picture, it is still a lot nicer than not having a home at all like many in our inner cities. Give Pike County a break, and next time take your camera to Cedar Creek in Pikeville