"Should Signal Mountain Schools separate from the Hamilton County School System?"
That’s the question posted on a Facebook page titled, simply, Signal Mountain Independent School District.
The creators of the page do not identify themselves. “(W)e certainly don’t want our kids dragged into the issue or targeted for special treatment by any overzealous champions of centralized planning and control,” they explain in a section titled “TO CLARIFY.”
“For that reason,” they continue, “at this time we choose not to associate our names with this page.”
However, the writers note, “There is no movement, formal organization or website at this point.”
Rather, the text continues, “This is simply a forum for sharing discussion, opinions (pro or con) and relevant information on the subject of whether or not the Signal Mountain school zone (not just the town proper) would be better off independent of (Hamilton County Department of Education).
The current push for another tax hike - on top of the millions of dollars and thousands of volunteer hours [expected and] donated by parents and community members to keep our schools functioning - has a few of us wondering, ‘what if?’ "
SMISD creators’ decision to remain anonymous has not gone over well with at least some of the Facebook page’s readers.
“Curious to know . . . who created this page and how do we find out more?” Andrea Adams Sarvis wrote in a comment dated April 23.
Mike Crowder’s comment, posted a day earlier, was blunt and to the point.
“In my opinion, ideas like this are why people who don't live on Signal think that people who do live on Signal have a mentality of entitlement,” Mr. Crowder wrote. “It wasn't so long ago that our high schoolers were zoned for Red Bank High School. To float the idea of building an independent school system around facilities that HCDE constructed is the height of arrogance. I'm embarrassed for our community.”
On their Facebook page, SMISD creators stress that they “are just middle-class, taxpaying SMMHS parents and school/community volunteers who want the best for our kids.
“The page administrator is generally content with Signal Mountain schools, is not anti-HCDE, holds no personal grudges against HCDE teachers or administrators, is not running for office and is not leading a personal crusade to sever ties with HCDE,” it continues.
“That said, we find no reason why the topic of an independent school system should be completely taboo or spoken-of only in hushed tones among small groups of trusted friends. It should be discussed openly. If the status quo is unalterable, as some suggest, what's the point of having a school board, town council, county commission or state legislature? Who works for whom?”