Mark Hite is the president of the Chattanooga Association of Realtors.THE STORY SO FARFeb. 29 -- Proposed school rezoning unveiled at East Hamilton Middle/High School to harsh criticism from parents.March 2 -- School officials answer parents' redistricting questions at Ooltewah High School.March 6 -- Parents protest outside the Hamilton County Board of Education building.March 7 -- Parents hold meeting to coordinate efforts to oppose rezoning.WHAT'S NEXT?The Hamilton County school board is holding a work meeting to discuss rezoning at 5 p.m. today in the school board office.
The Greater Chattanooga Association of Realtors is against the recently proposed school rezoning in eastern Hamilton County.
In an open letter to school board officials, Hamilton County commissioners and the county mayor, the Realtors board called the plan "arbitrary" and "hastily prepared without public input."
"Plans don't need to be made knee-jerk," said association President Mark Hite, who added that association board members have been attending school board meetings to understand the issue better.
The letter urged government officials to "step back, study the problem, work with the community and craft a long-term solution." It maintained that rezoning would cause property values to drop, disrupt family life and dissuade businesses from moving to the area.
Hite said the school system needs to plan the rezoning further in advance so families can know where their children will attend school when they invest in a house. Under the proposed rezoning, children could be enrolled in new schools as early as next fall.
"Anything that affects property rights and home values is of interest to GCAR," he said.
Andy Hodes, a Realtor, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga finance professor and father of a student in the rezoning area, said school Superintendent Rick Smith has admitted that rezoning is not a permanent fix for overcrowding.
The problem, Hodes said, is "plain and simple -- not involving the community. On a wholesale level, that has not happened here."
The Realtors board has no official alternative to redistricting, but its letter called for "a deliberate, open and transparent process that involved the community."
School board member Everett Fairchild said he had not read the association's letter and that he wouldn't expect board members to give special weight to Realtors' thoughts. Nonetheless, he said he is unlikely to support rezoning if it comes to a vote.
"I don't think redistricting is the solution right now," said Fairchild, who will retire on Thursday.
Board member Linda Mosley declined to comment until she had read the letter.
Smith and other school board members could not be reached by press time.