The Hamilton County Commission voiced unanimous support to Chattanooga 2.0 – an initiative to improve local public schools. But it sure sounded more like a feel-good move than one with any real commitment.
They didn’t talk about scores. They didn’t talk about teachers. They didn’t talk about vocational training, or early childhood education or even bricks and mortar.
Yet they made a point of saying they don’t like the name. And they made sure to make it clear that by voicing their support, they’re were not talking money.
“Why is it called Chattanooga 2.0?” asked Commissioner Joe Graham. “The city of Chattanooga got out of the school business voluntarily many, many years ago and we had no choice whatsoever but to take their schools.”
Well, well. Doesn’t that pretty much say it all about Hamilton County’s stingy support of Hamilton County schools? Not Chattanooga schools, but Hamilton County schools. More correctly the some 43,000 school-age students in our public schools.