Big issues will be tough to resolve

The twelve years I’ve spent as a student in the DeKalb County School System have served me well. I’ve come to know countless capable, creative and intelligent teachers. I’ve built relationships with open, actively involved administrators and community members.

Though it isn’t always easy for a student to appreciate a public education – and arguably impossible in middle school – the classes I’ve taken have been challenging and inspiring, and I wouldn’t trade the learning experiences I’ve had in DeKalb for anything. They’ve secured my place as both a Governor’s Honors Finalist and a four-year, full-tuition Posse Scholarship recipient.

But beyond any quantifiable benefits lie the intricacies: Public school serves as a microcosm of the real world, a diverse and sometimes difficult place to navigate, but an unquestionably rewarding one. Those experiences have shaped me into a passionate, motivated student, as well as an understanding and social one.

If DeKalb eventually loses accreditation, students like me will be stripped of that opportunity — at least for a while.

Public education comes with a few difficulties: In my school career I’ve seen strong programs cut, essential resources drained, and even the most resilient teachers distressed over things that are beyond their control (e.g. mandated tests or stagnant salaries). In a system DeKalb’s size, expecting a few problems is reasonable. What isn’t reasonable is placing the fate of students in the hands of irresponsible adults.

Watch a few videos of old board meeting minutes on DeKalb’s website, and you’ll find evidence of a (since-suspended) Board of Education that is not focused on student achievement. Board members bicker, berate one another, even fall asleep. As a student, it’s painful to witness adults behaving in a way that I would get detention for.

Thankfully, these board members are gone. But the looming threat of losing accreditation still hangs over DeKalb.