posted December 27, 2005
All human relationships are based on agreements or conflicts. Unresolved conflicts ultimately destroy relationships and deny future improvement. Tragically, this has become the case between the District 8 county commissioner and the County School Board and superintendent. Curtis Adams has destroyed that relationship and generated bad feeling throughout the district and county.
I want to repair that relationship, bridge the gap before it widens further. Our businesses, schools, and families are counting on a remedy. But it can't be a "quick fix."
One of the best ways to improve the frayed gap immediately is to produce an "Accountability Agreement" that will bridge the gap between schools and County Commission, using measurable goals instead of petty fighting. The bright side of such an agreement is that it holds both parties accountable.
In counties and school districts where "Accountability Agreeements" have been used, community relationships improve and school results strengthen. A good example of this kind of turnaround is the politically conservative Moore County in North Carolina. There an "Accountability Agreement" between county commissioners and school officials changed everything. What happened? The county saw increased community consensus, higher student scores, and stronger civic responsibility. Within five years, Moore County became one of the top school districts in the state.
As commissioner, I will commit to a four-year or five-year "Accountability Agreement" that would attach county spending to measurable learning and facility results in our schools. We owe our taxpayers this much: To be accountable and hold others accountable.
The results expected in the "Accountability Agreement" could be higher SAT scores, stronger proficiency numbers, and construction/maintenance goals. By consensus we would find these goals together. With a new superintendent, we will have new ideas and new direction.
If results can't be met, then spending limits may be negatively impacted. Whatever the criteria we agree on, an "Accountability Agreement" does this—it holds school officials to high but achievable standards that can be objectively measured. The measurable results must be professionally attainable and attached to spending. I can't think of a more responsible way to hold both our school officials as well as our county commission (myself included) to the fire.
John Bailes
john@johnbailesforcommissioner.org
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I think the candidate for County Commission District 8, John Bailes, makes a strong argument for school funding reform by establishing a contract between the primary funding body (the County Commission) and those ultimately responsible for how those funds are spent (the administration of our school system; primarily the superintendent).
Something must be done to achieve actual results and responsibility in our school system since all we’ve had in the past several years is finger-pointing and bluster. When all was said and done, there was still a significant tax increase passed (taking several hundred more dollars out of my pockets), an outgoing (and somewhat ineffective superintendent) still received a huge bonus for staying on another year and “advising”, and our school system is still no better off.
The additional concern I have in this funding/public education equation is the Hamilton County School Board. They can apparently spend tax dollars without the consent of the county commissioners (i.e., the hotly debated and hugely unpopular “consulting” contract with outgoing Supt. Jesse Register). I suppose they ultimately answer to the voters; however, their “answering” is often years in coming and, with the memory of most voters no longer than a spring shower, I don’t have much confidence in the prospect of reform in that body as long as voters go to the polls and vote the name they most recognize, canceling out the votes of those who actually bother to be informed, stay abreast of the issues, and cast out those who fail to do a good job for the people.
Keep the good ideas coming John. We’re long overdue for some progressive leadership in this county. We currently have “leaders” who rant about issues over which they have no authority (who should and should not get married, etc.) and who are more interested in getting their name in the press than they are with coming up with solid solutions to our troubling problems.
John Dixon
Chattanooga
JTDixon@comcast.net
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