posted August 13, 2008
I feel sorry for folks like Mitchell Thurmer, who must get awfully tired of sucking on lemons every day. I just got back from the new Middle/High School and the air is crackling with excitement. Kids are testing out their locker combinations, teachers are putting the final touches on their classrooms, and the front office is buzzing.
As a founding member of the Founders’ Fund, I take offense at Mr. Thurmer’s description of our organization. Maybe some history would help people like him understand better why we decided to do some fundraising. Of course, we were all excited when it was announced that a school would be built (finally!) on the mountain. For years, our children have had to trek to other schools off the mountain, even though the population had burgeoned and we were the largest community in Hamilton County without a high school. I need to stop here to thank the residents of Signal Mountain who voted to tax themselves not once, but twice to ensure a school would be built. Their $10 million went a long way to convince the county that we were serious about a school.
Our excitement faded a little, though, when we found out that the county could only afford to equip the school with furniture and textbooks. No science equipment? No library books? No sheet music for the band or uniforms for teams? I felt like the school was being doomed to fail before it even got off the ground. I called a few parents and we met and talked. My aspirations at that point were to raise enough money to fully equip the school so that every student that entered the school would have the right tools and programs to succeed.
The first meeting we called was well attended. It seemed that many parents were concerned and willing to help. Some decided to pool their talents and form an organization dedicated to raising the funds required to equip the school. I don’t think any of us understood how hard we would have to work to get the job done. We formed committees and studied successful schools both in- and outside our county. A large group of volunteers worked thousands of hours to collect and understand the needs of the new school and then met tirelessly to work out the costs and priorities associated with those needs. These expenses were not “extras.” They were basic equipment, tools and materials that all the other schools in the county already had that we wouldn’t have had.
And then something wonderful happened. The community decided to voluntarily pick up the tab. Additional taxes were not imposed, and the taxpayers of Hamilton County were spared almost three and a half million dollars in start-up costs that would have had to have been paid for at some point in the future. I’m still not sure why this is seen as something worthy of a complaint. And here’s the neat part: people gave to this 'public' school knowing it belongs to the county, that everything purchased with their contributions would be under the jurisdiction of HCDE. People gave time and money because they knew it was worth the sacrifice to create a great learning environment for their children.
Some of our donors don’t even have children in the schools; they just believe that a good school is good for the community. Our largest donor has chosen to remain anonymous. Others gave enough to receive a classroom donation plaque, but have asked that they not be recognized in that manner. Truly, it’s not about getting your name on a room. It’s about doing something good for your community.
All through the process, we met repeatedly with the executives at the Hamilton County Department of Education to ensure that we were always in step with their requirements and rules regarding fundraising and recognitions. We checked all our ideas out with the legal department at HCDE before we released any information regarding room recognition plaques. We didn’t blaze our own trail or ask Chip Baker to beg our case for us. We called Dr. Scales’ office, set up meetings, sat around a conference room table, asked questions and got answers. Ms. Thurman would have you believe that we took matters into our own hands or were doing something against the wishes of the HCDE. None of these insinuations are true, and I’m bewildered as to why someone in Ms. Thurman's position would not have checked her facts before she decided to crassly paint our community in such a negative light.
When people like Rhonda Thurman and Mr. Thurmer want to “urinate” on our efforts, I get a little upset. Contrary to popular belief, we are not all “rich” folks, and our students come from all socio-economic levels, not unlike Soddy Daisy or Ooltewah. I’m sure parents in those schools also care about their schools and education their children receive. Anyone who claims to be interested in improving education should be able to see that private donations to a public school should be encouraged, not degraded.
Even with all the criticism our community, school, organization, and individuals have endured, the Founders’ Fund is willing to share our experiences with parents in other Hamilton County schools who want to explore new fundraising strategies. That was always part of the plan.
I’d like to take this opportunity to publicly thank Lisa Crowder for being the heart and soul of the Founders’ Fund. She wore many hats: treasurer, donor cultivation chair, and all-around organizer and leader. She worked the equivalent of two full-time jobs over the last two years. She has my undying gratitude and thanks. Here’s to a job well done and a secure future for SMMHS.
Oh, and Ms. Thurman and Mr. Thurmer owe Lisa an apology for the urinal remarks. I’d love to purchase a urinal for you, Ms. Thurman, but I think naming the entire sewer pipeline for you would be more appropriate.
And, finally, congratulations to Chip Baker for his District 2 School Board victory. I look forward to working with him over the next few years. I’m happy and proud to have someone representing my district who actually believes in supporting schools, not undermining them.
Lisa Shander
Signal Mountain
Founders’ Fund Recognitions Chairman
* * *
I am sure the Mountain Founder Group is excited to access public funds for an exclusive private school funded in part with public dollars. What else could you call it? Rather than resorting to name calling or personality issues, why don't you just address what is obvious and reported with regard to the finances and school data on Founderfund.org, and HCDE.org websites?
1-The Signal Mountain School was publically funded at the same time when there are eight ditch schools on the state's priority list for failing schools. Priority are schools that are in critical condition and require rescue.
2-The per child spending for standard education students in Signal Mountain schools exceeds all other schools in Hamilton County.
3-Attendance at Signal Mountain schools are strictly limited to one community with the highest per capita income in Hamilton County.
4- Excess is the word, while children in the ditch schools are in overcrowded classrooms, the Signal Mountain school was grossly over built has only 1/2 the building capacity.
5-The Signal Mountain schools are lily white and are absent of diversity, 96% white.
If the Mountain Founders Group is so pro education, why would this group ignore children in priority schools? There are many reasonable people that can see the obvious inequity that is occurring. Rescuing any of the eight priority schools with private funds would have represented an interest in education. Over building a public school in a lily white gated community that is spending more per student than the ditch schools is the essence of disparity for children in public schools.
Allison Graham
* * *
Kudos to Lisa Shander for advocating our new high school on Signal Mountain. Six years ago, my husband and I decided to relocate to Signal Mountain from East Brainerd at the mere chance (or hope) of getting a community high school on Signal Mountain our children could attend.
We were disheartened that every family on our street went to a different private elementary school. It created a disjointed community with different breaks, start times and extracurricular activities. Neighborhood children barely had time to speak, much less play together during the school year, because they were dealing with long morning and afternoon commutes. We wanted something
different for our kids. We wanted to live in a community that supported a public school, not a private school.
What we found on Signal Mountain has exceeded our most ambitious goals. We found parents who spend hundreds of volunteer hours each month supporting our teachers and children. And no, they are not stepford soccer moms who drop by the school in between pedicures and plastic surgery procedures. There are working moms (like me) and dads who spend their precious evening hours attending PTA meetings, tutoring kids, maintaining computers and our building's interior and exterior, among many other things.
I am shocked and saddened that so many people are bitter about a community that finds it a priority to improve public schools. The population of Signal Mountain are not wealthy elitists. We care about our community, our children and our school.
Leslie Briggs
* * *
I am a resident of East Ridge but have been reading the editorials for some time regarding the Signal Mountain schools.
I have been amazed at the negative, mean spirited comments by so many at the amazing efforts of parents and community leaders of Signal Mountain. With all of the things that are going wrong in our world today, and some people choose a strong community effort to help their neighborhood children and see it as an evil thing? Unbelievable.
Unfortunately, most people only write in to complain. But most I believe see the complaining as petty, jealous whiners for whatever reason.
I would publicly like to extend my congratulations to all involved in this effort. It seems that even when you try to do something right there will always be those who try to knock you down. Hopefully other communities in the area will call on this group in the future to help them organize an effort to help their community school.
Gwen Adams
* * *
I just read Lisa Shander's letter on the successful first day at Signal Mountain Middle High School. Congratulations. Every first day should be exciting for every student.
I noticed with interest Ms. Shander's comparison of her school to Ooltewah and Soddy-Daisy High Schools. Point well taken. However: both those schools accept dozens of inner-city, poor, minority African-American students from outside their zones. The county school district leaders made that arrangement years ago, and several other county high schools (Red Bank, Hixson, East Ridge, Central, Lookout Valley, etc.) do the same. They do not get to pick and choose which black neighborhoods send children to their schools, nor do they get to pick and choose which black students attend. They even have some black teachers and administrators. I'm certain Signal Mountain High will not want to be left out of this worthwhile program. After all, it's just like Soddy-Daisy and Ooltewah. Right?
Ms. Shander, would you, or one of your fellow Signal Mountain Founders Fund members, be first to go public, here on Chattanoogan.com to request that your Signal Mountain school be included in this worthwhile program? After all, diversity and school choice is a good thing, right? Would you, or perhaps your beloved School Board member Chip Baker hold a press conference, or announce at a Board meeting that Signal Mountain is openly recruiting and welcoming black inner-city students from anywhere in the county to attend Signal Mountain School to increase diversity, and share the wonderful educational opportunities at your school with those who live outside your zone? The other Hamilton County high schools do. Will Signal Mountain do the same?
If policies or bus routes need to be changed to accommodate the transportation of black students to Signal Mountain School, I'm sure Mr. Baker will make the necessary arrangements. Care to comment, Mr. Baker? I'm sure you'll want to be out front on this important issue.
If so, please avoid your usual political double-speak, and tell us how important it is to open the doors to all, and not just two or three athletes or bright kids from a hand-picked neighborhood. After all, that isn't how Soddy-Daisy or Ooltewah does it.
Even Baylor, formerly the school of choice for Signal Mountain residents, has a much higher percentage of black students than Signal Mountain School. You folks on the Mountain don't want to fall behind Baylor, now do you?
This forum is open to all. Since Signal Mountain High is just like Soddy-Daisy and Ooltewah, let's open the doors to minority students, just as those schools have done. And Ms. Shander, don't feel you have to be the only Founders Fund member to endorse this program. Ask your fellow members to chime in as well. There's strength in numbers.
Joe Davis
Chattanooga
* * *
I would like to add my thanks to Ms. Shander, Lisa Crowder, and the countless others who made today possible. As I was taking my son to school this morning, I was telling him that this day had been dreamt about for longer than his parents had been alive. This was a very special day for which I am very thankful.
It has taken an exceptional group of dedicated individuals to help make this happen. They focused on the positive, and put forth remarkable effort to help make it happen. My husband and I are one of those many families who both have to work, have a modest house and are proud to live in this community and feel blessed to have this wonderful addition to our area.
Thank you Chip Baker, Richard Cassavant, Founders Fund, Hamilton County Board of Education and my fellow taxpayers of Signal Mountain for investing in my children. Thank you for sticking with it through the hard work, belittling, insults, and every other negative Ms Thurman and her minions has thrown at you and giving all that the value it was really worth.
Thank you for showing everyone what can be accomplished even when some are experts at tearing others down and too lazy or scared or unqualified to simply recognize a wonderful plan and try to bring some of that same success to her own district. It is always easier to complain at a computer than it is to get out and work for positive change. Thank you Signal Mountain for rising above.
Proud to live on Signal and not Soddy Daisy,
Shannon and Mark DeFriese
* * *
Thank you Lisa for reminding the rest of Hamilton County that it is not just money but hard work and personal time that make a great school. Normal Park Museum Magnet has also received some similar criticism of private donations turning a public school into a school "for the rich." Through the hard work of committee members and every faculty member of that school, they brought together a community and completely overhauled a school that needed a lot of attention. A great deal of this was done through soliciting help from the community, but just as much was giving up their evenings and weekends to put their own sweat into it, including huge number of families who are not "rich" in money but in their commitment to their child's education.
The same is true for Signal Mountain. This is a community that has needed a school for a long time. There is nothing wrong with a school receiving private donations. It is unfortunately a necessity as the funding for our children has diminished. The catch is the amount of time that is needed to solicit these donations, and the parents at each of these schools have been willing to give that time.
If your school doesn't have the same demographics then there are other ways to invest in your child's education. Give your teachers a chance to focus on your child by giving your time whether it is required or not. It doesn't matter if you help paint a room on a weekend, help a teacher paste journal entries, or clean an auditorium that needs attention, every minute that you invest in your child's school will pay off. Your child notices when you put his or her school at the top of your list. Even if you work full time there are ways to pitch in, but it means a sacrifice and that is something that the parents and communities of both Signal Mountain and Normal Park have been willing to do.
I have recently moved to the United Kingdom and leaving Normal Park was difficult, but I am very excited to return to Chattanooga and reap the benefits of the hard work of so many people at both of these schools. I hope it is a new trend.
Jennifer Waxenberg
Chattanooga
* * *
As one of the citizens of Signal Mountain who voted against the extra town taxes for a county school, but has to pick up my share of the bill anyway, I have a couple of comments for Ms. Shander.
Regarding the issue at hand with respect to naming facilities: the School Board has a published policy that addresses this directly. The policy manual is available on-line to anyone who wishes to spend even a few seconds searching for it.
Policy 3.210 deals with "naming new facilities." Some relevant excerpts include: "Facilities of the school system shall be named through Board action.
"When a new school or facility is to be named, the chairperson will appoint a committee composed of the Board member in whose district the facility is located, community supporters of the school, alumni, faculty members, and the school principal.
"The committee will submit its recommendations with supporting reasons to the chairperson.
"The chairperson shall have the authority to recommend the naming of a portion of a facility, such as a section of a building, a single building on a campus with multiple buildings or a specific area on campus within a school.
"The chairperson shall submit a recommendation to the Board in either situation for its consideration and approval at a regular meeting and vote on the name at the next regular meeting.
"The Board may determine that all recommendations for names be considered at a specific time of the year. The final decision on all names shall rest with the Board."
Catch that last sentence: the final decision on naming any and all school facilities shall rest with the Board. That is the entire School Board, not just one member ... and certainly not a private organization that operates without Board (or taxpayer, or any other) oversight.
To the best of my knowledge, the naming of SMMHS facilities, from the football stadium ($650K price tag) down to each individual classroom ($35K apiece) has never even been discussed with the Board chairman, let alone voted on by the full School Board. And yet Ms. Shander's group has the audacity to advertise "naming rights" for the school on its website as though they had the ability to grant those rights any time they wish.
I don't know about anyone else, but promising something that one cannot legally deliver, in return for money, seems like fraud to me.
It is commendable that Ms. Shander and her group want to raise funds for the new school on Signal Mountain. However, they must follow the rules just like anyone else. Taking offense when others point out that you have violated the rules is not a productive way of handling the situation. Neither is suggesting the naming of the sewer pipe after Rhonda Thurman, but that is another topic.
Finally, I resent the implication in Ms. Shander's last sentence, where she congratulates Mr. Baker for winning re-election to the District 2 School Board seat. "I'm happy and proud," she writes, "to have someone representing my district who actually believes in supporting schools, not undermining them."
As a professional educator at a public institution (UTC) I take pride in educating students every day - a job Mr. Baker has never done. I ran for School Board because I wanted to make sure that all Hamilton County schools prepare students for success in my classroom or wherever else life may take them.
That is all our schools - not just the ones attended by children of the "upper echelon." It is too bad that the long-ignored students, teachers, and citizens of Red Bank (and other areas down in the "ditch") will very likely continue to be ignored by the powers-that-be on the mountain tops.
Joe Dumas
* * *
I would like to personally thank Lisa Shander for her proposal to name the entire Signal Mountain sewer pipeline in my honor. I would have never dreamed that something costing millions of dollars would have ever been named after me.
I only ask one thing - that you spell my name correctly on the recognition plaque.
I would also like to know if the plaque will be located at the top of the mountain where the sewage originates or at the bottom where the sewage is dumped untreated into the Tennessee River? I would like to know the location before I load up all of my relatives from the "ditch" to come and see it.
Thanks again,
Rhonda THURMAN
* * *
I have to respond to Allison Graham's tirade concerning the new high school on Signal Mountain. Apparently she has been done wrong by a Signal Mountain resident in the past, and therefore thinks badly of all of us. For the record, we do NOT live in a gated community. People may move to and from here as they please. Not all 15,000 residents of the mountain area are filthy rich, in fact the vast majority of them aren't. I personally had no problem with sending my kids to Red Bank, I'm a graduate of RBHS myself and have no issues with the school, but yes I am happy that Signal Mountain has finally gotten a high school, I see nothing wrong with it.
Now I'd like to respond to the points made in your letter:
1. You say since we have eight failing schools, that no new ones should be built, that no non-failing schools should be renovated? I'm my opinion throwing money at failing schools is not the golden ticket you think it is.
2. I was able to find no info on per child spending based on schools, but I would imagine if the spending on Signal Mountain is greater, it is likely due to the fundraising of the Mountain Education Fund. I see no problem with that, if the people of a community want to raise extra money for their schools, so be it.
3. Of course, attendance is limited to one zone, that's what zoning is for! If it wasn't limited all the "higher ranked" schools would be busting at the seams even worse than they are. Also, for the record, Lookout Mountain has the highest per-capita income in Hamilton County, by a sizable amount. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
4. The new school was built for a capacity of 1,230 students. According to an article in today's Chattanoogan, the opening day attendance was 840. This doesn't account for the lack of a senior class this year, and a very small junior class. So far they are at 68% of capacity, I would imagine next year they'll be closer to 85%. I hardly call that grossly overbuilding.
5. Yes, the Signal Mountain schools are "lily white" as you say, they represent the community. However, if you look at the state report card for schools in 2007, you'll see other examples of "lily white" schools. Soddy Daisy High is 96.8% white, Sale Creek is 95.9% white. I guess we should just close those schools down and send those students to Brainerd and Howard, which are almost totally African-American.
I think maybe you should come visit our community some time, and see for yourself that we're just regular people, not the filthy rich elitists that you think we all are.
Seth Graham
Signal Mountain
* * *
First off Ms. Shander, the students should be excited about a new school. I am sure all kids in the county wish they could attend a new school.
In reference to your closing paragraph, no one is surprised you are happy Chip Baker was re-elected, as your name as well as Ms. Crowders was on the Bob Linehart email listing concerning Joe Dumas, along with several others who are either employed by the new school, or are on your "Founders Fund" committee. And regardless of what Jim Scales tells you, you are breaking the rules by selling naming rights the way it is currently being done. Apparently, you need to learn to read the policies established for all schools, not just the ones that follow the rules.
While you are basking in your new school; before the ACLU comes marching in to ask why students from less fortunate areas are not being allowed to attend Signal Mountain University as they are other local schools, you might want to realize the name is Rhonda Thurman, not Thurmond. Honest, hard-working people have a strong feeling that she and her ideas will be an influence in our schools long after you and your "Founders Fund" is long gone.
Brandon Back
* * *
Rhonda Thurman should feel honored to have the Signal Mountain sewer pipeline named after her. Signal Mountain has the only sewer pipeline in the state of Tennessee without a foul odor.
The rest of Hamilton County would be excited with a true neighborhood school in their community.
Richard Sims
* * *
Congratulations Signal Mountain on your new school. There is nothing wrong with the residents of a community coming together to make their community or neighborhood a better place to live.
The residents of Soddy are equally as proud of our new Soddy Elementary School where my grandchildren attend. And I hope my community will continue to support the new school and the children who attend there.
In reading the opinion letters, I was a little surprised at the letter from Shannon and Mark DeFriese. The closing statement "Proud to live on Signal and not Soddy Daisy" was unnecessary, thoughtless and rude. You should be ashamed and offer an apology to the residents of Soddy-Daisy for that remark.
Shelia Nelson
* * *
Ms. Graham probably doesn't realize that a bus has run for many years from Dalewood Middle School and East Lake to Signal Mountain Middle School. It's running again this year; I passed it on my way off the mountain this morning.
Of course the high school doesn't have reciprocal agreements with any other schools; it's takes two years to get accredited.
Also, to my knowledge, this county still has an open door policy - if a school is not at capacity a child can attend any school if they have transportation. Why doesn't she get approval from the central office and drive her children up the mountain every day?
My three children rode off the mountain for a combined total of six years to Red Bank High School.
Macel Holloway
* * *
Thank you, Ms. Shander, for your recent article and all that you and countless others have done for the Signal Mountain community.
Those involved with the initial push for a community high school and all of the subsequent supporters have shown what can be accomplished through hard work, dedication, sacrifice and the commitment of a strong community.
From my perspective, other communities should be encouraged to emulate Signal Mountain’s efforts and successes - not condemn them. The Signal Mountain community should be an example, but instead has become the target of many - including the laughable Rhonda Thurman. She is, in my opinion, nothing more than a divisive force within the school board (and beyond) who will never be able to effectuate meaningful changes which would ultimately benefit the students of Hamilton County. At the end of the day, given her approach and delivery, she is and will remain irrelevant and insignificant.
As for those such as Ms. Graham and Mr. Davis, they have a right to express their opinions. However, their respective opinions reek of envy and negativism. Maybe, if they and others expended their energy with the objective to have a positive impact in their own communities, they, too, could experience the same sense of pride, excitement and accomplishment that we, as a community, are currently enjoying.
I am proud and candidly blessed to live in a community comprised of individuals with similar values, beliefs, aspirations and expectations and whose commonalities make for a strong, successful community which we are and will continue to be.
On behalf of me and my family, thanks to all who have worked to better our community and afforded us a place we are proud to call home.
John "Cam" Cameron
Signal Mountain
camlawof@earthlink.net
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