Some Ironton residents plan to attend Thursday's Ironton board of education special meeting and others said they won't be able to be there in person.

Regardless, city residents said they are interested in the exchange of opinions that is supposed to take place and are eager to know the outcome.

The meeting is to allow people to ask questions and make comments about the future face of the city schools: Should all new facilities be built or should Ironton High School be renovated?

Comments vary greatly from person to person.

Greg Wylie put his four kids through the city system and now has grandchildren who will follow in their parents' footsteps. He wants to see those grandkids crossing new thresholds and sitting in new classrooms.

&#8220We just need to pass it,” Wylie said. &#8220I'd like to see all new schools. If they could save the high school that would be nice but if we can't let's just get something done.

&#8220This is for the kids and the future of Ironton. We're always second-guessing and getting second opinions but let's just go ahead and get these new schools built. Š I've seen the inside of some of these schools and it looks like a Stephen King novel.”

Wylie said he not only voted for the school levy last week, he voted for all the money issues on the ballot.

&#8220Maybe I'm wrong, but I live here and I've got too much invested in it.”

Others don't want to see that much change.

&#8220I like the high school and I think they should save it,” Kelli Kearns said. &#8220It's too pretty a school to be torn down.”

Kearns, a property owner in Ironton, will have to pay for whatever decision the voters make, even though her children attend Dawson-Bryant schools.

&#8220Maybe they can build one somewhere else,” she said. &#8220My parents live near the school and I love to look at it. I would hate to see them tear it down.”

Sherry Castle said she wishes the state would pick up the entire tab. &#8220I think that's why a lot of people voted against the levy,” she said.

Castle, whose daughter is in third grade at Whitwell Elementary, said in spite of the age of the building, her daughter is receiving a good education and that is what she is most concerned with.

The meeting will be at 6 p.m. at the high school auditorium.