Jim Coppinger
County Mayor Jim Coppinger, at a Thursday appearance with County School Supt. Bryan Johnson before the Chattanooga Rotary Club, said it is "time to step up" in behalf of education.
The county mayor is pushing for a 34-cent property tax increase that would bring $34 million to the county schools. The County Commission is set to vote next Wednesday with a close vote expected.
County Mayor Coppinger said they have both spoken at a lot of places to let the public know "how much it is needed because it is our future.
We need to step up to give the young people an opportunity."
The Hamilton County general government is the entity most responsible for public education and public safety, said County Mayor Coppinger. Before he made up his mind, he said he asked two questions, "Do we really value education in Hamilton County and are we satisfied where we are with the public schools? He added, “We all think we can do better and I agree.”
A tax increase in 2017 was for buildings, this one is only for the classrooms, he said. There is “no fat” in the $34 million budget request from the school system, said the county mayor. Something that “sold him” on it was the explanation for the need of counselors and social workers, who would free up classrooms from disruptive students so teachers would be able to teach.
This is a local issue, said County Mayor Coppinger, “We are where the rubber hits the road.”
Dr. Johnson said results that were seen this past year include meeting the most academic goals since 2013-2914, having the highest graduation rate since 2012-2013, having 17 reward schools and students receiving $95 million earned in scholarships.
"You have to invest to be excellent," he said. He said he personally invests in what his children will become, so they can become whatever they desire.He said he wants to extend that promise for every child by providing access to excellent teachers, excellent leaders and excellent resources, all to meet the needs of the diverse students.
He said that this budget includes the promise for access to technology for all and the opportunity for each student to take advanced placement courses which correlates with advancing to a higher education. Everyone needs to understand the opportunities available to them, said the superintendent. Included also is a five percent pay increase for school leaders and teachers in order to stay competitive. “The budget is a statement of your belief,” and the $443 million requested, equates to $8 per hour per child. “Our children are absolutely worth it,” said Dr. Johnson.
Superintendent Johnson announced a new public/private collaboration with Blue Cross Blue Shield. The company will launch a second technology academy for the schools.
In participation from the audience, Rose Decosimo, a local CPA, recounted her belief in the importance of the entire community investing in education, which brings new companies to Chattanooga. Some communities are able to make private contributions to augment the schools in their district to enrich education. She said all schools should have the same opportunities, urging support for the tax increase.
Rotary member Austin Seay questioned the large increase. He asked what happened to all the money that came from the tax increase in 2017 and he said it is really about all the additional jobs that will be added to the school system. Mr. Seay said he has concluded that the large budget was due to bloated bureaucracy, and that it needs further review before it is passed.
County Mayor Coppinger responded that tax dollars from the last increase were used for $110 million in debt service for building Harrison Elementary, the new East Hamilton Middle School, and an addition to Snow Hill Elementary and miscellaneous work done at Howard High School. The new proposed budget is totally unrelated, he said.
Dr. Johnson said the “Hamilton County Promise” will be a key component in the plans of the school district to reach the goal of ensuring graduates are “Future Ready” found in the five-year strategic plan Future Ready 2023. The promise involves four components including the opportunity for graduates to take five advanced courses in high school, each student in grades six through twelve provided an electronic device, high school students access to a full-time college and career advisor, and ensuring students will be Future Ready Now with access to internships and work-based learning programs.
He said, “Our promise as a public school district is to ensure every student that walks across the stage at graduation is ready for success in whatever their hopes and dreams for the future. By providing the right support, resources, and access to early post-secondary opportunities, we are confident that every student in Hamilton County Schools will graduate future ready.”
Access to five advanced courses in high school will better prepare graduates for success in college or a career. The advanced courses include dual enrollment and Advanced Placement (AP) classes with the opportunity to earn college credit, International Baccalaureate (IB) and industry certification or credential programs. The advanced course options will allow graduates to leave high school with college credit at no cost to the student’s family.
He said access to technology for students in grades six through 12 will provide an electronic device for students to improve academic success. The school district introduced a learning device for each child in middle school during the 2018-2019 school year. The digital learning opportunities will expand to high schools next year with teachers participating in training this summer to effectively use the new classroom technology.
The new school budget includes full-time college and career advisors in every high school. The additional support for teens preparing for graduation and the next step in life is also a big part of the “Hamilton County Promise,” it was stated. The advisors provide access to college admission representatives, hold scholarship workshops, offer essay advice, provide interview preparation, provide information for parents, set-up conference calls between students and colleges, perform career interest inventories, and act as a resource for anything related to college and career for students and their families.
Dr. Johnson said Future Ready Now is the last ingredient in the “Hamilton County Promise” that will ensure every child will graduate from a Hamilton County school prepared for the future. Future Ready Now will provide internship and work-based learning opportunities for students to experience career options and understand how problems they study in school translate to issues in their real world. Programs like Gestamp that hosted Tennessee’s new Governor earlier this year to honor the program as the first in the state to be a U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship. Future Ready also includes the innovative VW Akademie and Polytech programs. Future Ready Institutes in our high schools that provide internships and project-based learning with a career theme are also a big part of Future Ready Now and the “Hamilton County Promise.”
Dr. Johnson said, “Over the last several months, we've talked a lot about promise - the promise of our students, the promise of our great teachers and leaders, and our promise to the students of Hamilton County. As a school district, our promise is that every student will graduate Hamilton County Schools future ready - equipped to be academically and professionally productive, socially and civically connected, and physically and emotionally healthy. The budget the Hamilton County Commission will vote on next Wednesday will provide the resources our teachers and staff need to make sure our graduates leave high school prepared for success.”
Bryan Johnson