Being a retired educator myself, having taught in three states and five districts, having substituted in Hamilton County, teaching chess in numerous area schools, and now with all my concerns for workforce preparedness; I have more than just a passing interest in the state of our schools in Hamilton County.
Personally, I do not believe the citizens of Hamilton County should vote to retain any of the current school board members seeking re-election.
In regards to Donna Horn in District 7, it is like she was never there the difference is so negligible. She expertly showed her leadership skills by traveling the district with now disgraced Supt. Rick Smith to advocate for a tax increase believing money would be a key element for the answer of how to right the ship of the worst school district in the state of Tennessee. Mr. Wingate sweeps the floor with Ms. Horn whenever and wherever they speak together. What a great candidate and a real "Win for District 7."
In regards to Mr. Ricks, who recently received the endorsement of City Councilman Moses Freeman - bless his heart - District 4 is the worst district in the worst system in the state. The Worst of the Worst. What has he accomplished in his tenure? And, why in the world wouldn't the voters of District 4 choose the dynamic leadership of the challengers. Personally, I prefer Tiffanie Robinson. Oh, that's right, it's that "white" thing. It appears the color of Mr. Ricks' skin and his genuine concern has done nothing to change the trajectory of the schools in his district.
In District 2, Mr. Welch has probably done the best of the four, especially under his leadership during this stress-filled year. However, considering the dramatic events and damning evidence of system-wide central office failures, even that may not be enough to save him from the challenge of Kathy Lennon.
What a refreshing difference most of the challengers offer the taxpayers this year. The voters should feel blessed so many brave souls are willing to offer themselves up to take on the momentous task which will be facing them. The school district needs dramatic change: year-round schooling, longer school days, a new state-of-the-art technical/vocational school - just to mention a few.
I hope the rest of this current board also get ousted in 2018. Maybe the HCDE will then start to see some genuine improvements by 2020. Until then I pray all the good teachers of Hamilton County hang on and continue the hard, hard work of doing their best to educate the children of the county each and every day.
Please support Chattanooga 2.0 and all the organizations in the county working to improve the academic achievements of our students.
City Councilman Larry Grohn
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I think Larry Grohn's statement attributed to me, " I got up at 6am to get to school by 7:15, so can the students today" was made in reference to the 2010 order from the state to allow Howard to change their school start time from 7:15 (the start time of other high schools including Soddy-Daisy) to 9:00. While the state's intention was admirable, it did not accomplish the goal of increasing attendance and academics. In David Carroll's article titled, "Do Hamilton County's High Schools Start Class Too Early?", dated Nov. 5, 2015, he says that Howard students have not improved since later starting times were implemented. He states that Howard scored 15.8 on ACT, but the overall score declined to 14.3 in 2014. Carroll also reports that the state report card showed attendance rates dropped slightly since 2007 (89.8 to 87.4).
David Carroll also quotes long time educator, Michelle Buchanan-Egle, "At first it did improve, but after a while they adjusted. When we started at 7:15, they got there at 9:00. When we moved to 9:00 they got here at 11:00; so, they adjusted."
The article continues, "Some elected officials say a 7:15 start time is an education in itself, because it teaches students and families the discipline and structure that is often needed in the workforce. The lesson teaches, they say, is show up on time, whatever time that may be." I would fall into this camp of elected officials, Mr. Grohn would not.
Mr. Grohn says he now has all of his concerns focused for "workforce preparedness". I might offer a little advice, you might want to tell young people they better be on work on time or there will not be any jobs for them to prepare for. You may be able to find a company who will let employees show up to work two hours after everyone else has started, but I doubt it.
One would think Mr. Grohn would have enough to do in his elected position as a City Councilman since at least one person gets shot in Chattanooga every night.
Our job on the school board is to educate young people so they can be productive, taxpaying members of society. Rather than focus valuable time seeing what new educational fad will actually work, I prefer to tell students the time-proven way to get a good education - get up, go to school with a good attitude, follow directions, do your homework, repeat every day. I once heard you have to take the stairs to success, there is no elevator.
Rhonda Thurman
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You are wrong, city councilman; if any elected board needed to be removed it would be that huge circus tent on Lindsay Street. I understand that when people get elected they become experts in everything. Look closer at Chattanooga 2.0.
Rhonda Thurman is the people’s huckleberry and is a keeper.
The financial contracting and procurement operations of HCDE speak volumes. These educational non-profits are motived by easy government contracts. They are highly motivated financially to control HCDE.
The PEF, Chattanooga 2.0, and UnifiEd have a mission to fund their organization to the greatest extent possible from public resources.
It is so lucrative to claim to possess solutions for government. The contracts associated with being the self-proclaimed saviors of public education are millions. These contracts are so desirable new non-profits have emerged and others created to divert public funding from real and tangible need in the classroom to the bank accounts of these organizations.
The PEF has remedied nothing in public education and is a tiresome brand that is completely spent. As public education continues to decline from bad to worse, the same PEF group has created a new brand with the Chamber of Commerce, and a new face that has absolutely no track record in educational reform.
Several years ago, a group of people with no financial interest sought to examine whether the PEF was indeed the giver to public education they claimed to be.
The following records were obtained.
- For a three-year period, all contracts PEF initiated and executed with HCDE
- Copies of all payments to the PEF from HCDE.
It was truly mind boggling that each open records request sent to the HCDE Finance Department was forwarded to PEF by HCDE staff. For a non-government agency, this was rather curious. PEF has great control over HCDE. The staff at HCDE acts in a manner to protect the private interests of PEF. These organizations collect elected HCDE board members. Unfortunately, they cannot collect Rhonda Thurman.
These open records requests actually raised questions about HCDE acting in the best interest of PEF. Is it really the function of HCDE to protect PEF from transparency? I think not. Why would third party organization yield so much control over the HCDE board, they do.
This type of protectionism of PEF also extended into the school board, except with Rhonda Thurman.
We titled our open records search Siphoned from the Top Funds because that was the financial model. Funds came into HCDE from the federal government, and left with the PEF.
The PEF wasted millions of public education funds in contracts with the HCDE acting as their human resources, actually hiring teachers, and consulting contract windfalls. As a result, these organizations are extraordinarily motivated to keep the contracts flowing, which requires having favor with board members. Oh, but you know this, right?
We tend to believe that we the people control our elected boards. The opposite is true, we elect them and these organizations control them.
There is only one HCDE board member that will tell you the truth no matter who you are, friend or foe.
As a new resident of District 1, please keep Rhonda Thurman.
She’s our huckleberry.
Aprile Eidson
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Mr. Grohn,
I had much rather see the City Council dumped rather than the school board.
At least I have hope for the school board. Politics does not rule it nor does the mayor make its decisions before each meeting.
Charlotte Parton
Chattanooga