In April, Tennessee Education Commissioner Candice McQueen presented the idea of the state's first "Partnership Zone" to boost state and local support for five of Hamilton County's lowest-performing public schools.
This new plan was proposed so that the Hamilton County Department of Education, the Tennessee Department of Education, and other partners like Chattanooga 2.0 could begin to work in even closer partnership in devoting new funding and new instructional strategies to directly assist the students in Hamilton County's five priority schools: Brainerd High, Dalewood Middle, Orchard Knob Elementary, Orchard Knob Middle and Woodmore Elementary.
Initially, some in Hamilton County were skeptical of the state's proposed plan, and in the midst of our search for a school superintendent, the school board wisely asked the state for more time to consider. But much has changed since April.
Bill KilbrideDr. Bryan Johnson was selected as our new school superintendent, and he has hit the ground running.
Most notably, Dr. Johnson and the school board quickly set up a larger and complementary "Opportunity Zone," encompassing not just the five priority schools Dr. McQueen and the state sought to address, but a total of 12 schools in the Brainerd High and Howard School feeder pattern to better target resources, staff and support from the district to improve academic growth and achievement in those schools.
With that plan and strong leadership in place, it reopened the door for the school board, with support from Johnson, to reconsider and embrace the state's proposed "Partnership Zone," to layer even more state funding, assistance and support for our five priority schools in most urgent need of improvement.
We commend this decision by the school board, the state and all of the partners to work together. It is also very gratifying to see our state legislative delegation actively engaged in discussions focused on the "Partnership Zone" strategy and dedicating time to community forums and individual meetings where the concept has been discussed. The importance of this moment for our community is emphasized by these state leaders' interest, input and support. All of this collaboration signals a new era of cooperation where we can begin to set aside differences and focus more of our attention on what is ultimately most important - the students and schools that are struggling in our community.
Dr. Johnson and the district have committed to a new laser-like focus on this challenge. Dr. McQueen has committed to bring additional support and state resources. And community leaders, like the Chattanooga Chamber, Chattanooga 2.0, and others, are continuing to advance ideas and rally community support to help create swift, positive and meaningful action for all of our students and our community.
Chattanooga and Hamilton County are on the move. But to continue attracting and growing the kind of jobs and industry we want and the opportunities we seek for all of our citizens, we must adequately educate and prepare each and every child for a successful future.
The new companion Opportunity and Partnership Zones will help bring more partners and resources to the table as well as a more comprehensive and collaborative strategy to create real and lasting results for more of our students.
The Chattanooga we know and call home is up for this challenge. We've done it before, and we will do it now. The stakes are high, but the return on investment will be profound. Together, we will not only honor the aspirations of our neighborhoods within the Opportunity Zone, but we will also reinvent public education, charting a new course for students throughout Tennessee.
Our children, youth, and our community are counting on us.
Bill Kilbride is president and chief executive officer of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce.