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2/27/13
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2375 views
Group won’t decide high school issue
Strategic plan development under way
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Decatur City Schools’ strategic planning committee will not decide whether Decatur has one or two high schools.
But the 40-member group will provide “vital information” the board will use to make a decision, which should come before this summer, Superintendent Ed Nichols said.
His comment came Wednesday morning as the committee met for the first time at Calhoun Community College with consultant Tony Arasi, of the Georgia School Boards Association.
The board is paying Arasi, GSBA policy development director, $13,000 to help develop a five-year strategic plan.
Nichols said he needs to address the high school issue “up front” because it’s “the big issue everyone is talking about.”
“Will we build a new one or remodel two,” he asked. “We’re not sure yet.
“But we’re starting the process to look at the big rocks we want to focus on in our school district.”
A facilities and enrollment study the school board commissioned recommends one high school and two middle schools.
Arasi said every school system can be improved because education is an “imperfect business.” He said Decatur is taking the right approach by involving the community on the front end.
“It doesn’t matter what the problems are, you have to get the community to buy in if you want change,” Arasi said.
Declining enrollment and Decatur’s increasing student poverty rate are two reasons some committee members said the school system must change.
In four community meetings in December, as the school system was preparing the facilities and enrollment study, the school’s 62-percent poverty rate was a recurring subject.
“There are so many other issues associated with poverty,” board president Karen Duke said in her focus group Wednesday. “It’s not pleasant for a child that comes to school hungry.”
Decatur High freshman Maggie Cushing said, “The privileged have to realize that we have a lot of students in unfortunate situations.”
Arasi divided the committee into five groups and gave them assignments. They were asked to identify what is unique about Decatur schools and to brand the system.
Regardless of the plan’s outcome, Austin student Brandon Watkins said he doesn’t want schools to lose their sense of family. He said he had teachers in elementary school who still remember him by name.
“The school community feels like family,” said Watkins, one of two students on the committee. “I go home to my parents, but it’s a good feeling to also be able to go to my teachers.”
Arasi challenged committee members to label the system. One group identified it as an Oldsmobile.
“My grandfather owns one, and it runs fine. But when it goes down the road, it does not turn any heads,” said Dwight Satterfield, director of safety for Decatur schools.
Another group labeled the system a Timex watch that has “taken a licking and kept on ticking,” Ellen Didier said.
But some people no longer use watches, and the demographics of the school systems have changed, she said.
“There’s a lot more community pressure on the schools,” Didier said.
Arasi said he will complete his work in two to three months. His next step is to take what the committee discussed and meet with principals and central office staff.
“We can’t stay where we are,” Nichols said. “Good is easy, but we have to sacrifice to be great.”
Deangelo McDaniel can be reached at 256-340-2469 or deangelo@decaturdaily.com.
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Such a waste of time - the decision on the ONE high school has already been made. The time and energy of these professionals and students is appreciated, but is purely "PR"opaganda.
Really? Gosh, please tell us about it!
What's really nonsense is Alabama's tiny little school systems, each with a superintendent and directors for everything. How about looking at consolidating school systems instead of schools?
Dump all the excessive and duplicated central office staffs at Decatur, Morgan County, and Hartselle and combine the systems. Use the money saved for hiring teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria staff and custodians and other people who work directly with students.
Absolutely, no decision has been made. The school system board and leadership make this clear at every single community input meeting.
Absolutely, no decision has been made. The school system board and leadership make this clear at every single community input meeting.
Jerry please don't be a conspiracy theorist! They truly want to know what everyone thinks! Let's all be part of the solution not the problem. Also all of these people that say I'm LEAVING if we do this or I'm LEAVING if we do that STOP! Whatever decision is made it will be made with the idea of taking us forward! It might be uncomfortable for a little while, but it will be made by people who are researching and trying to do what is best for our kids! And remember... EVERY school system has problems (even private) and the grass is NOT always greener on the other side!
Let me ask this: Why not let the citizens of Decatur vote for one school? What exactly is the benefits of having one school? WHat is wrong with keeping two schools?
Several questions?? What is the rush? Why can't the parents have a say? Not just a select few.
Yes we need some changes but putting so many students together is NOT the best. Just think how many kids will NOT be participating in after school activities , which usually means they find trouble! The average student will be lost in the mix.
With a city our size why would we want to have the largest school in the state. Bigger isn't always better. We can "offer more classes" (since that seems to be a main issue) but we might have to use the internet or the good ole school bus!! How about a joint venture with the county school system to have a Top Notch Tech./ vocational school that could be funded through both school systems. There are lots of ideas to be looked at I sure hope that we don't have folks in place to rush to judgement with out first weighing other options. A MEGA high school could mean MEGA problems!! Its time for parents to speak up!
@Marty - You are right! I am no conspiracy theorist as someone above suggests but there is too much talk of it being a done deal. I have even heard from someone in the school district that the new school is going to be called Stephen A Decatur High School and the mascot will be the Commodores (Black and Gold colors). The same person also told me that DCS was trying to buy Decatur Country Club to build the school there. Truth is probably in the middle somewhere. If you read above they are going to announce a decision by the end of the school year. To me that says the decision has been made. I say let the people vote - but you can bet that will not happen.
Looks like the congressmen at work.