Signal residents digest final report on viability of seperate school district

SSVC member Amy Wakim breaks down the budget for the proposed independent school district during a presentation of the group's final report Oct. 18. (Staff photo by Myron Madden)
SSVC member Amy Wakim breaks down the budget for the proposed independent school district during a presentation of the group's final report Oct. 18. (Staff photo by Myron Madden)
photo Community members listen as SSVC members describe the findings detailed in their final report Oct. 18. (Staff photo by Myron Madden)

The School System Viability Committee's final report was met with a flurry of mixed opinions from the community when it was formally presented to the Signal Mountain Town Council last week.

Signal Mountain resident John Riddle said he was impressed by the amount of work the committee put into the study and that he was open-minded about the possibility of forming an independent school district.

"I have children in elementary school here, in middle school here and in high school here," he explained. "I believe in public education. So my goal has always been the highest quality public education you can get."

The father said he was particularly surprised by the $1.9 million surplus an independent school district would have to devote to educational enhancements after paying salaries and other operational costs, saying it "highlighted the waste going on off the mountain."

Riddle added that the breakdown of financial contributions from the Mountain Education Foundation and supply fees paid by parents also put the issue in perspective for him.

"If it weren't for those sacrifices now, we would be grossly underfunded," he said. "The fact that this budget can ensure that continued stream of contribution is encouraging."

Town resident and retired Hixson Middle School teacher Mitzi Stone, however, said she doesn't believe the surplus will make a difference in the educational issue parents are most concerned about: test scores.

"I don't think that the extra money will address the needs that the parents have up here," said Stone, who currently serves as a substitute teacher at Signal Mountain Middle/High School. "They say they can have an excess of $1.9 million, but I'm telling you, it'll be spent."

The committee in their report highlighted steps other municipal school districts have taken to increase student performance, but Stone said she did not find enough data in the document to confirm that scores would definitely improve.

"Tell me how much their scores went up. Two percent? Three percent? In what area did they go up? And did you test the same group of kids, or did your student population change when you became a separate district?" she said, adding, "If there was a magic wand in there [that would improve test scores], I would be for it from a selfish standpoint because it would make my property value go up. But there's no magic wand in that paperwork."

Some residents said they were concerned that the committee may not have come across as objective as they described themselves to be, and though new Signal Mountain resident Hilarie Robison admitted she was a newcomer to the SSVC's proceedings, she agreed she felt it could have been a possibility.

"I think it's hard to go into developing a report like that without a preconceived hope of what the outcome will be, at least as individuals," said Robison, who formerly served as executive director of the Nevada Public Education Foundation, an organization akin to MEF. "Whenever you're trying to support a position, you can find whatever answers you're looking for. We all know that."

Still, as a newcomer, she said she could not speak to the committee members' individual interests, and applauded the group for producing what she believed to be a "fairly thorough" report.

Town resident Ed Chapman said he also believed the committee did a good job producing the report, though both he and his wife, Barbara, said there was still more that needs to be addressed.

One particular concern for the retired couple was how the formation of a new school district would affect their taxes. They said they still remain undecided on whether forming an independent school district is a good idea.

The issue of financial contribution to a new district was one of the potential obstacles the committee listed in its report. If the town created its own school district, it would be required to contribute at least 15 cents per $100 of its assessed property value to the district's operation.

While each of the six municipalities near Memphis that broke away from Shelby County Schools approved a tax increase to support their created school districts, the law does not specify that a town must implement a school tax, and the committee said it was "beyond the scope of our authority" to make a recommendation.

"I think more has to be talked about," said Barbara Chapman.

Signal Mountain Mayor Chris Howley said during the Oct. 18 meeting that the council is nowhere near a vote and still needs to seek public comment as it considers its next steps.

"I think it's great to have community dialogue," said Robison. "I'm curious to see how this develops."

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