In response to Commissioners Adams and Henry's comments on why the school board is waiting to make a decision on building a new school in East Ridge that could shut down McBrien and combine it with East Ridge Elementary, here is my take on this.
The simple reason why the vote to combine both schools did not happen this summer as Mr. Adams would have liked is this. Chairman Kenny Smith, who is the school board representative for East Ridge, gave his word to 400 parents at the last meeting at McBrien that a vote would not happen until the parents were back in school this fall. It's that simple. Mr. Smith gave his word and kept it. He believed that parents and this community needed more information and they deserved more information.
Mr. Adams, it is refreshing that an elected official gave his word and stuck to it, despite the pressure you have put on our school board representative to do otherwise.
Also, what is odd to me and maybe you can explain to the seniors of our county why you feel it's necessary to hammer our school board and push your agenda to build a new school, while you head up the committee to give our seniors tax relief and you have let this important issue drag on for more than a year at least. The school board is elected by the citizens and is accountable to us for their actions or inactions. The school board does not work for the county commissioners. I'm sure our seniors would like for you to concentrate and push your committee for tax relief for them, and let Kenny Smith and the school board debate building new schools, when and where.
One reason it's taking longer than you would personally prefer could be this. At issue is a much bigger picture than one school closing in East Ridge. It would seem that our school board understands that when you talk about closing a school in District 8, then the conversation must address a bigger long range plan. There are more than a dozen elementary schools that are older than McBrien. There could be a dozen or more that are close to other elementary schools that could be combined with other elementary schools. I'm not sure as I write this how many elementary schools even have a lower attendance than McBrien located throughout this county, but it could be a dozen or more also.
So, as I see this issue, this school board knows that when you shut down one elementary school because of attendance, location, age and in the name of saving money for our county there should be a long range plan of how many other elementary schools should close and merge. As schools age and merge, that means newer schools will have to be built. Since the County Commission funds the building of new schools in this county, the question is - how much is this going to cost and how much more are the citizens of this county willing to be taxed to merge schools that are close to each other?
If Mr. Adams wants McBrien closed and merged because its location is close to another elementary school, then to every parent who has a child in a elementary school in this county whose school is older than 50 years, has less than 500 students and is within a few miles of another elementary school, you're next. To the taxpayers of Hamilton County, your commissioners will decide or not to tax us untold millions of dollars more to build newer schools so that we can have larger mega elementary schools. I am for saving money in education, but not by larger elementary schools. Research does not support higher achievement in mega elementary schools.
To Commissioner Adams, I would respectfully disagree with you that there is nothing criminal with Kenny Smith and this school board's slow and deliberate public discussions with this community and voting on what is the best for kids. Spending millions to build a new school in a community that is declining in population will require much thought of what is best. I appreciate the board's "no knee jerk reaction" to any pressure to hurry up and decide and build a school.
Finally, and correct me if I'm wrong, you do not have the money. We the residents of this county have the money to build schools. This "I and me" attitude is obsolete. The East Ridge community does not tolerate a one-man show. The community, parents, and school board will decide what is best for its own kids and will do it at the pace that is prudent to assure what is best. I'm sure we all appreciate your one vote to secure public money for a new East Ridge school that is needed for East Ridge Elementary, but it's not your money.
Thank you, Kenny Smith, for honoring what you said you would do, and that was to hold the vote after the parents and this community got back in school and could discuss this again. Do not be pressured to hurry up and vote when our tax dollars and the education of our kids are at stake.
David Roden
East Ridge
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I could not agree more. For Mr. Adams to say "he has the money?" - this is exactly the kind of arrogance that made the citizens so angry with him while he was city manager. It is not "your money," Mr. Adams. He is a part and big part of good ole boy politics that most are sick of.
Mr. Adams knows why the school board did nothing this summer. Kenny Smith honored what he told so many parents that they would wait until school started back and continue the discussions with all involved.
What does Larry Henry have to do with this? To say that the school board needs to get off their "duffs?" You do not know our community, Mr. Henry, and I did not see you at the meetings where East Ridge citizens voiced their opinions on the matter. Again, thank you, Kenny Smith, for not getting off your duff as Mr. Henry says....thank you for honoring what you told the parents you would do.
Lastly, Mr. Adams, glad to know that the faculties at the schools want a new school.....that is what you said isn't it. They are employees and as employees I am sure they "may" want something new. But this is the East Ridge community we are talking about and East Ridge parents and students. Probably the vast majority of the teachers do not live in East Ridge. So please be concerned about our citizens' wants as well.
I don't know what your agenda is, but your agenda pretty much ran you out of a job as city manager and embarrassed East Ridge once again.
Please let our school board member Kenny Smith do his job while he continues to find out what the citizens of East Ridge want.....and not what is good for you, Mr. Adams.
Matt Conners
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Well I see that Mr. Adams had to recruit another replacement for his shrinking ‘gang’. Why else would Mr. Henry stick his nose in East Ridge business?
I would also ask Mr. Adams to be more specific about ‘his money’. Does it include the additional 8/10 million that will be needed for a combined mega school, or will he ask for 'another' tax increase?
If he does have an ‘extra’ 8/10 million lying around, why not spend 5/6 of it to repair McBrien? After all, Dr Scales pointed out that it was a sound building that only needed cosmetic repairs.
Mr. Adams also refused to listen to the East Ridge City Council when they stated publicly that the city of East Ridge does not want nor can it afford to have the McBrien building back.
I, for one, am proud of Kenny Smith, who is not afraid to make a stand against the likes of Mr. Adams and Dr Scales even though it might put him in the same barrel that Jesse Register was in because he wouldn’t take orders from ‘King Curtis’.
To the citizens and parents of East Ridge, we have one more chance to show our support for East Ridge Elementary getting a new school and for McBrien not to be merged and any improvements as needed to their school on Sept. 29 at 6:30 p.m. at East Ridge City Hall.
Grant Sowder
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The arrogance of Curtis Adams continues to amaze me. I believe that the vast majority of people are no longer fooled by Mr. Adams and have caught on to his deceptions.
To make it sound like the school board is sitting on this is just foolish to say the least. He knows exactly what happened and maybe it is a new concept for him....you know to honor your word.
Thank you, Kenny Smith, for indeed honoring your word to the parents of East Ridge. You said a decision would not be made until school started back and additional forums, information would take place. Curtis, you were at that meeting and know good and well that is how it was left. Now that you are slowing losing power you pull in Larry Henry. Mr. Henry, how foolish of you to get involved in something out of your district. Curtis just pulled you in because he does not have a lot of support left. You fell for it.
As for Curtis saying he thinks it is what all the teachers want, excuse me. They are paid to do a job and it is one of the most important jobs that anyone could do. But, they are paid to do this and bottom line is it is what the citizens, parents, etc. of East Ridge want. I would imagine a tiny percentage of teachers in
East Ridge live in East Ridge.
Mr. Adams, I believe your kind of politics has no part of East Ridge any more. The embarrassment that you caused our city as city manager pretty much sealed that.
Thank you again, Kenny Smith, and the rest of the school board for honoring your word on this matter.
Tara Snyder
East Ridge
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Again, David Roden does not see the trees for the forest on the new school merger. He continues to delve in emotions and a long drawn out affair with rhetoric. We are talking about a building housing small children at least eight hours per day for a learning experience. David and his supporters want to hold on to a memory at the expense of small children and their tomorrows in education.
Their future in learning means nothing to them. Their education needs an atmosphere of learning at today's level. Their safety must be at all times taken into consideration and certainly the broken down facility is nothing but an accident waiting to happen.
Here's the facts: air conditioners hanging out of windows perilously, electrical wiring and fixtures hazardously in minimum working order and plumbing in constant need of repair. Small children cannot go up the stairs to the second level. Why? And the biggest reason to close McBrien School - asbestos. Yes, you go through the front doors and look down at original green asbestos tiled floors, worn, chipped and the asbestos is floating in the air into the lungs of the small children, innocent of the dangerous killer awaiting them. Not to mention the teachers and working personal in that same building you want to keep operating.
Who is going to pay for the removal of the asbestos? This is what you are proposing - asbestos floating in the air and into the lungs of unsuspecting children.
The proposed new school is less than/4 of a mile away. No other two schools in this system are that close in proximity. Both of these are long overdue for replacement. Forty years is the life of a school. The children, teachers and personnel are the future and to merge them makes common sense. As much evidence as you can gather showing small size is superior, I can present evidence showing justification for this size school.
If you love McBrien so much, why not fight for a name change of one great school. And, recently on separate occasions two young couples with children looked at East Ridge to buy a home. When they saw MCBrien they left and are now living in the East Brainerd area. Thank you, David.
Chuck Mehan
East Ridge
cbm2006@comcast.net
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In the event that the school board elects to close McBrien Elementary School, who is it that will be affected? It will be the families of children who are now ages 2, 3, 4 and above.
Most likely it will take at least two years to build and open a new school. If you are a parent of a young child in this school district, you should make your preferences known.
What kind of school and building facility would you wish for your child?
Susan Pleva
Alumni of McBrien (1960-66)
Former Staff Member for 7 years