Dear Dr. Robertson and Members of the Hamilton County Board of Education,
My name is J. Miles Jorgensen—a parent of a STEM School Chattanooga sophomore and an elected member of the Signal Mountain Town Council. I am writing to ask that the district restore—or provide an equivalent alternative to—the long-standing magnet-school bus stop at Thrasher Elementary that previously served students on Walden’s Ridge.
Why this change matters:
• Student impact. This single stop reliably transported an estimated 12–20 STEM School students each year (including 6–10 freshmen and sophomores who cannot yet drive).
Families now face a daily 40- to 50-minute round-trip commute, complicating work schedules and limiting participation in before- and after-school programs. My understanding is that routes were also eliminated for other magnet schools for our community as well.
• Equitable access. HCDE actively promotes magnet programs as a county-wide option. Eliminating the only practical transportation link for Walden’s Ridge students undermines that promise and disproportionately affects those who lack flexible transportation arrangements.
• Community contribution. Residents of Signal Mountain and Walden contribute significantly to county revenues through above-average property values and sales-tax spending and higher Federal Income tax contributions from higher than median county income levels. Our students should receive transportation services on par with other areas of Hamilton County.
Information requested:
1. Decision criteria. What standards or ridership thresholds were used to eliminate the Thrasher stop, and when was the decision finalized? Please show how all routes in the county were considered equally and fairly.
2. Comparative changes. Which other magnet-school routes or stops were removed for the 2025-26 school year?
3. Remediation options. What steps can the district take—such as a consolidated “hub” stop on the mountain—to restore service for the 2025-26 academic year?
Desired outcome:
I respectfully request that HCDE reinstate the Thrasher Elementary stop (or establish an equivalent mountain-side pick-up point) ASAP since the school year began today, or provide a clear timeline and process for doing so.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I would appreciate a response by August 8, 2025, so families can plan accordingly.
Sincerely,
J. Miles Jorgensen
Parent, STEM School Chattanooga
Councilmember, Town of Signal Mountain
cc:
• Chip Baker, Hamilton County Commissioner, District 2
• Lizzy Schmidt, Vice Mayor, Town of Walden
* * *
I went to City School (CHS) because, at the time, the school the Signal Mtn. kids were assigned (zoned) was not accredited for college bound teens. I attended from 10th grade thru graduation ('69...hoo-rah). The whole time a group of us carpooled and parents agreed upon set driving dates and duties (none).
Some of my happiest and most cherished memories are from that precious time in the car with my friends and a parent. Hilarity seemed to be the basic theme combined with goofiness, critiques of the cutest boys in school, silly hi-jinks and scoffing about the mean girls.
Surely with the number of students needing transportation, a solution could be found without relying on a bureaucracy to solve the dilemma (and saving taxpayer money which, as a council member, you must appreciate.). It might be a win/win situation with the students getting to spend unstructured time together and the parents getting insights into what their little darlings are thinking.
Congratulations to these outstanding students and parents for achieving academic excellence, and I wish you all good luck in the coming school year.
Leah Geraghty