Hamilton County, we need to accept the fact that as a community, we have a major problem. Our public schools are not getting the resources they need to provide the world-class education our students deserve. There are systemic deficits that one-time monies will not fix. It is time for long-term plans and ongoing, honest collaborative conversations.
Depending on who you ask, the problem lives wholly with someone else. Ask the Hamilton County Commission, and it’s the school district’s fault for how they used federal COVID rescue funds and for a bloated Central Office. Ask some Board of Education members, and they’ll blame school administration for being too top-heavy. Ask the administration, and they’ll blame the County Commission for not ponying up sufficient funds. This same circular conversation has been going on for at least 20 years. I am tired of the cycle. As one person described at a recent county commission meeting, it’s like two divorcing parents fighting over the kids.
This is where we are in Hamilton County; our educators are tired of coming to the budget season every year having to fight for their students, their salaries and their jobs.
It’s important to acknowledge that while the state has invested more money in K-12 education, Tennessee remains woefully behind other states. This year, instead of strategically investing even more in our public schools, our elected state leaders took money to create private school tuition for students (most of whom already attend private school).
Let’s look at some of our bedrock principles: First, our students deserve the very best that we can give them. Our Department of Education has a mission “to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and supports to thrive in life” and a motivation that “all children thrive and experience a future without limit.” These principles were developed as a community and codified by the school board.
Most children in our community attend our public schools. Our economic and political future demands a robust education that prepares students to compete fairly. If we fail to do that, we leave a generation behind.
Second, nobody has a monopoly on good — or bad — ideas. It’s past time to stop looking backward and to collaborate on solutions to problems.
Third, public education is a public responsibility. This community will rise and fall with the school system. Do we really value our schools and our people? What sacrifices are people willing to make? Our whole community needs to leave the pitchforks at home and come together with a spirit of inquiry and hope.
What does this all look like in concrete terms? Yes, as any good leader will do, we need to look at staffing and see which positions are adding value and which are not. But we also need to look at ongoing revenue streams. What are plans to find new revenue? We need to look at giving educators their well-earned step increases every year. We need to have open conversation with the municipalities to see what, if anything, they can do to support public schools in whatever way they are willing.
We need the school board and county commissioners to come to the table on a quarterly basis to discuss the largest part of the county budget. We need them to come to that table with an attitude of collaboration and honesty. And we need to do these things together with a view toward the future.
It is time to shift the conversation. We can’t say we want quality educators and schools, but not be willing to plan adequately with a forward-thinking plan. We must move beyond short-term solutions and toward a sustained, collaborative plan to ensure long-term, adequate funding for Hamilton County public schools — for the sake of our students and the future of our community.
Jeanette Omarkhail is president of the Hamilton County Education Association.