Reporter’s Note
What are your thoughts on Hamilton County Schools’ facilities planning process so far? What about the condition of your school building? Share your thoughts here.
– Meghan
THIS WEEK IN EDUCATION NEWS
Leaky ceilings, outdated science labs, shifting foundations – 19 Hamilton County Schools buildings are considered poor or unsatisfactory facilities, according to the MGT preliminary facilities report released in July.
But what makes a facility “poor?” What is a “satisfactory” learning environment versus an “unsatisfactory” one for students? And what should happen when a school building is deemed terrible but the programs inside that building are making a difference in the lives of children?
Many community members only know what their school looks like – the one they attended decades ago or the one their children or grandchildren attend, says Krystal Scarbrough, principal of Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts.
The Times Free Press visited more than a dozen schools and attended three of the five community forums hosted by MGT and Hamilton County Schools earlier this month.
We met with district officials, principals, teachers and community members and toured every inch of many schools.
In “State of Our Schools,” we explore what failing facilities actually look like – and what’s next for Hamilton County.
Keep reading for more.