By the numbers:
Hamilton County Schools: about 57 percent of the student body is white, and about 60 percent of students live in poverty.Signal Mountain Middle/High School: about 93 percent of the student body is white, and about 13 percent of students live in poverty.Thrasher Elementary: about 95 percent of the student body is white, and about 11 percent of students live in poverty.Nolan Elementary: about 94 percent of the student body is white, and about 13 percent of students live in poverty.Source: Tennessee Department of Education
Signal Mountain seems prepared to continue investigating the viability of forming its own school district.
During a packed agenda session Friday, the Town Council unanimously approved holding a Dec. 12 vote on whether to establish a special citizens committee to research the idea.
“The potential upside is significant, and I think we owe it to our folks to look at its viability,” Chris Howley, the newly elected mayor of Signal Mountain, told the council Friday.
Howley said he supports a transparent and impartial study of the idea but is adamant that Signal Mountain voters – through a referendum – will have the final say about breaking away from Hamilton County Schools.