The question jumped from my Twitter account.
From the @TimesFreePress, never has fewer than 140 characters offered more possibilities for answers:
The Times Free Press and WRCB will host a one-hour panel discussion today on local education. What questions would you like answered?
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It floated like a solitary ice cube in a glass of water when released at 12:55 p.m. Wednesday. (If you'd like to submit a question for the panel, tweet it to @TimesFreePress or to me @jgreesontfp.)
Everyone from interim Superintendent Kirk Kelly to business leaders to David Steele from the Chamber will be there. There will be renowned educators from the public sector such as Howard School of Academics and Technology Principal Chris Earl to those connected to private endeavors such as Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy ace Elaine Swafford and former Baylor School and UTC top dog Bill Stacy.
Heck, there will even be elected bigwigs such as Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger, who graduated from Hixson High School and has an interest beyond politics in this matter, as well as state Rep. and State Education Committee Vice Chairman Todd Gardenhire.
The list is star-studded and carries with it a war chest of potential.
Seriously, where do we start with a government body that has failed us, as has the Hamilton County Department of Education?
We are dealing with month No. 6 of the fallout from the sexual assault/cover-up debacle that opened the year. That national news nightmare that was the Ooltewah High School basketball tournament field trip from Hades jumpstarted an awakening to the disservice being done by the leadership of the HCDE.
The angst toward the Board of Education, the claims of back-room, good-old-boy dealings within the meeting rooms of the deal-makers, the outrage of the test scores that made Hamilton County and Chattanooga look like the antithesis of this "World's Best Town Ever" mantra was overwhelming.
Questions? You think? Yeah, we might have a few.
What tangible steps have been taken to make sure the Ooltewah nightmare never happens again? Tell us; show us; give those of us with kids in Hamilton County schools some measure of reassurance.
Questions? OK, let's really spin this thing.
As for the question, well, what is being done to make sure the next superintendent is someone we can rally around and not a retread who fits into some back-room bull session?
What's worse, HCDE, the frustration of people who want your system to be better or the anger from those who know we could do so much better?
Feel free to weigh in on that one, because there may not be a right answer, but we are at a place that even those who want to help are wondering whether that help will help.
And finally, well, this is not a question as much as a statement.
As raw as the questions and emotional responses may feel right now, please know this, leaders of the HCDE:
Of all the emotions that we have collectively shared - and you have as well - the worst is not the angst or the anger or the fear or the frustration.
No, the worst is indifference.
If you lose the people who care and who want to help you make this public education system all it can be, then you will long for the days when people were angry at the system.
The tugging of the private schools around this county are real and rational. It becomes another draw on the resources for good and bad.
That indifference, and the possible disconnect that could likely grow, may be the biggest danger-filled question before the group. And, in a lot of ways, all of us.
Questions? Yeah, we have several.
And this one may be the most important: With all we are facing in a matter that is of the utmost importance for everyone, who has the answers?
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfree press.com or 423-757-6343. His "Right to the Point" column runs on A2 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.