The evil empire..........

[tubmill]

Good one knowitall. It is too bad that the Liggy board doesn't know as much as you. You would think that the board would have tried to do everything they could do to make the transition from two high schools to one as smooth as possible. They have done exactly the opposite! I will give the school directors of forty five years ago some credit in at least having the vision to start anew should the consolidation be completed. Ligonier needed new band uniforms. Mellon, of course was footing the bill (lol). The board decided to take advantage of the gift and also replace Laurel Valley's uniforms. The intent after all was eventually consolidation. A cross section of forty students, twenty from each high school, was chosen from each school to choose new school colors. I happened to be one of the contingent from Laurel Valley. The parameters which we were given werethat we wtcould not choose any blue (Ligonier's blue and white) or any shade of green (Laurel Valley's forest green and white). After much discussion, today's red and black was chosen. The same uniforms were chosen for each band and it worked out well.
Fast forward to 2010. The kids choose Rams as their mascot. The board appoves. I guess it was their idea of throwing the Laurel kids a bone. From that point on, the board, with their pretentious attitude, has thrown salt into the open wound which was losing our school. They have made it difficult for Laurel Valley kids to assimilate into the new school. They stopped the activity bus, which proexvided transportation from Ligonier to Laurel Valley extracurricular activity practices. They reasoned that because Ligonier students didn't utilize the bus on their end, it would no longer be available to any student. Next came pay to play and pay to park. Guess who that affected the most. Two years ago there were ten guys from the northern end who would have normally played football, who didn't because of the hardship it created for themselves or their family.There are alot small things which they could have done to create a unified, blended school of which ALL of the students could be proud.
They could have chosen a new fight song; designed new varsity jackets and even chose a new name.
Instead, they use Ligonier's old fightsong; wear Liggy's varsity jacket and recognize only the individual records of Ligonier.
I am not naive enough to think that the consolidation would never have taken place. I see that many of you want the state to force consolidations. Be careful what you wish for. Any time the govermment gets involved, they screw it up!
The state forced the unholy alliance which is Ligonier Valley. At worst case scenario, Seward, New Florence and St. Clair Twp should have been merged with United or Greater Johnstown. Bolivar should have been merged with United and Fairfield Twp. with Ligonier.

Finally, Liggy school directors, give us Laurel Valley's trophies!

[konjo78]

Great post tubmill! Thats sad.... this is the fear that has kept Blairsville and saltsburg from uniting

[Blueandwhitefan]

Good one knowitall. It is too bad that the Liggy board doesn't know as much as you. You would think that the board would have tried to do everything they could do to make the transition from two high schools to one as smooth as possible. They have done exactly the opposite! I will give the school directors of forty five years ago some credit in at least having the vision to start anew should the consolidation be completed. Ligonier needed new band uniforms. Mellon, of course was footing the bill (lol). The board decided to take advantage of the gift and also replace Laurel Valley's uniforms. The intent after all was eventually consolidation. A cross section of forty students, twenty from each high school, was chosen from each school to choose new school colors. I happened to be one of the contingent from Laurel Valley. The parameters which we were given werethat we wtcould not choose any blue (Ligonier's blue and white) or any shade of green (Laurel Valley's forest green and white). After much discussion, today's red and black was chosen. The same uniforms were chosen for each band and it worked out well.
Fast forward to 2010. The kids choose Rams as their mascot. The board appoves. I guess it was their idea of throwing the Laurel kids a bone. From that point on, the board, with their pretentious attitude, has thrown salt into the open wound which was losing our school. They have made it difficult for Laurel Valley kids to assimilate into the new school. They stopped the activity bus, which proexvided transportation from Ligonier to Laurel Valley extracurricular activity practices. They reasoned that because Ligonier students didn't utilize the bus on their end, it would no longer be available to any student. Next came pay to play and pay to park. Guess who that affected the most. Two years ago there were ten guys from the northern end who would have normally played football, who didn't because of the hardship it created for themselves or their family.There are alot small things which they could have done to create a unified, blended school of which ALL of the students could be proud.
They could have chosen a new fight song; designed new varsity jackets and even chose a new name.
Instead, they use Ligonier's old fightsong; wear Liggy's varsity jacket and recognize only the individual records of Ligonier.
I am not naive enough to think that the consolidation would never have taken place. I see that many of you want the state to force consolidations. Be careful what you wish for. Any time the govermment gets involved, they screw it up!
The state forced the unholy alliance which is Ligonier Valley. At worst case scenario, Seward, New Florence and St. Clair Twp should have been merged with United or Greater Johnstown. Bolivar should have been merged with United and Fairfield Twp. with Ligonier.

Finally, Liggy school directors, give us Laurel Valley's trophies!

Great post. But you forgot one thing that as an outsider is obvious. They should have kept The laurel Valley school and football field. A much nicer school that if my memory serves me was recently renovated. But wait, I gues that would mean the Liggy kids would have had to ride the bus. Can't have that!!!!!!

[d6footballfan95]

Great post tubmill! Thats sad.... this is the fear that has kept Blairsville and saltsburg from uniting

All people ever want to do is pull out the bad out of the Ligonier Laurel Valley situation. I was a kid a part of the consolidation I've never had a problem getting along with anyone from another district in fact im incredibly happy that Laurel valley and Ligonier consolidated. I've made friends friendships through the whole situation that will last a life time and i would've probably never made them if it wasn't for the dreaded school board. I've never heard a friend from another end of the district complain as much as the parents and adults complain about the whole ordeal. It just seems that everyone wants to knit pick at why the consolidation was horrible an not see anything good in it.

[knowitall]

Kids living in Stahlstown and along Bethel Church Road in Cook Township have nearly as long of a commute to Ligonier Valley High School as do kids living in Seward and New Florence.