Fayette County’s school system is in the midst of budgetary turmoil that’s creating deep divisions and upheaval. Fayette’s estimated FY2014 deficit of $15 million is not nearly as high as that of other metro Atlanta counties, which are also making cuts. But declining revenue and enrollment mean drastic measures are necessary. -
It now seems inevitable that as many as four schools will be closed and the rest will be redistricted. However economically necessary, it’s a rough thing to go through.
A child’s school identity is often second only to his or her family identity. Starting in kindergarten, kids come to think of themselves as Cleveland Crocodiles, Inman Eagles, Kedron Knights, etc., with all the rah-rah that comes with that. They know early on which high school they’ll attend, and watch older siblings make that ascension.
But now the Brooks Elementary Indians, Fayette Middle School Tiger Cubs, Fayetteville Intermediate Cougars and Tyrone Elementary Tornadoes might become footnotes in county history. Some kids who thought they’d become high school Chiefs or Tigers might instead become Patriots or something else.
Closures and redistricting raise financial concerns as well as logistical and emotional ones for parents: How far will my child have to travel on the bus? How does that affect our family’s daily schedule? Will the sports teams and bands have the same opportunities? Does my house still have the same value in a different district?
It’s normal to have those concerns, but what about the larger picture? Regardless of which school a child attends, this is still Fayette County. This is still a place that always ranks near the top in the state, still a place people put on their short list when moving to metro Atlanta.
So perhaps the larger question is which matters more, the quality of the instruction or its location? Do we let go of buildings in order to keep the caliber of teachers and courses that make our schools worth going to in the first place?
It might help to remember that dire circumstances of other types force student relocation, too. What do we say when we hear of a tornado or hurricane destroying a school elsewhere? We tell them it’s OK, you’ll get through it, and we’ll all work together to help the children.
As for the decisions the Fayette County Board of Education soon has to make, don’t we tell our children that doing what’s right is more important than doing what’s popular? It’s unfortunate that what’s likely right for the county might feel very wrong for quite a few families, at least for awhile.
But if we expect our children to solve problems, think creatively, stay positive, play fair and respect others, perhaps this process is just part of a bigger lesson that we’d all better work hard to pass and not fail.
Jill Howard Church has lived in Fayette County since 1994. Reach her at jillptcblog@aol.com.
