Staff photo by Doug Strickland / President Maeghan Jones poses for a portrait at The Community Foundation's new Williams Street location on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2019, in Chattanooga, Tenn.As Chattanooga's public foundation, we believe that quality public education is essential to a thriving community. That's why, together with hundreds of partners, we have invested millions of philanthropic dollars over the last 50 years to ensure that our teachers have the supplies they need, preparing our principals to lead excellent schools, and giving students opportunities to live up to their potential. But the resources of charity alone won't be enough to create the school system that our community needs and our children deserve.
Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Dr. Bryan Johnson has outlined a budget that brings our school system into the 21st century, ensuring every child has access to the technology they need to learn in a changing economy. More resources means we can attract the best teachers, our schools will have the additional counselors they need to support an environment of learning, and our teachers will have access to coaches that foster excellence in the classroom.
These are important steps forward, but progress is only possible if our community is committed to investing in a brighter future - together. That investment will have a positive impact on every child, in every school. And it will also strengthen our local economy and ensure we continue to build on the success that has captured the attention of the nation.
At the Community Foundation, every day we help people from across Hamilton County think about how their decisions today can build a stronger community tomorrow and a lasting legacy for years to come. In the same way, the investments we make into our students, our teachers, and public education in this moment will define our community for the next generation.
The future of our community and so many individual students depends on our persistence in pursuing what we know to be possible. This city has always risen to a challenge; we can't afford to fall short in this moment.
What would our community look like if we committed to bringing to bear our resources and full determination to building an excellent school system, in much the same way we answered the call to action 50 years ago to clean up our city?
Student success would no longer be determined by ZIP code, but by a passion for learning. Economic mobility would not be determined by neighborhood, but by the drive to succeed. Headlines about innovation and economic success in our city would come side by side with headlines advocating for improved community outcomes for all. And finally, investments would be made strategically so everyone has the opportunity to reach their potential, no matter where they started from in life, raising the quality of life for everyone.
Every child deserves access to a great education, regardless of the neighborhood they grew up in or how much money their parents earn. We believe these additional needed resources will go a long way towards building a city where that promise is kept and that future is possible. That's a vision worth investing in.
Maeghan Jones is president of the Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga. Tim Kelly is outgoing chairman of the Community Foundation.