The Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce is conducting an in-house survey to learn its membership’s thoughts on school consolidation. Through Tuesday, the chamber’s 1,000-plus members can participate in the on-line survey at www.valdostachamber.com The chamber hopes the survey will gauge both the local business community’s thoughts on consolidation, as well as the potential effects which consolidation may have on the business community.
The Valdosta Daily Times has made no secret of its thoughts on the matter. Consolidation has consistently been listed on this page as one of our Editorial Objectives for the past few years. Since being placed on the Editorial Objectives list, we’ve known school consolidation is not a project that can be resolved in one year’s time or, as its recurring placement on our list suggests, even a few to several years time.
But there could come a point where time is of the essence regarding consolidation or even when it becomes too late for local officials and citizens to have a say in how we should consolidate our schools.
Football has long been blamed for halting consolidation. As many folks have come to realize, however, high school football traditions would likely be unchanged by consolidating the city and county school systems. Valdosta High would still have its Wildcat traditions while Lowndes High would still have its Viking traditions, even if both high schools were part of the same school system. Consolidation would not have to change area football.
Possibly, the most intriguing arguments against consolidation are those who appreciate the policies of one school system over the other. Some parents and students prefer the educational benefits and programs of Valdosta City Schools, while some prefer the educational benefits and programs of Lowndes County Schools. These are the most reasoned arguments against consolidation because they show a preference for a system’s educational standards which would likely change, for better or worse depending on one’s view.
Race and the perception of racial segregation are often underlying factors in many consolidation arguments. Though many make the case that race is not a factor in having two school systems, and some even present convincing reasons why race is not the issue, the truth remains that one school system’s students are predominantly black while the other school system’s students are predominantly white.
Even if all of the locally crafted arguments about why race is not a factor in having two school systems are sincere and true, they still don’t negate the perception to many outsiders that Valdosta-Lowndes County has a system of white schools and a system of black schools.
One must wonder how many outside businesses and industries have passed on Valdosta-Lowndes County because of this first impression. It’s doubtful that any local official even had the opportunity to make a pretty explanation as to why having two school systems has nothing to do with race. Some business scouts may have seen our two school systems and immediately crossed Valdosta-Lowndes County off their lists of possible locations.
There is also the possibility that the federal Justice Department may some day deem that Valdosta-Lowndes having two school systems has more to do with segregation than simply a wrong impression. Then, we’ll have no say in how we consolidate. The feds will consolidate our schools for us, however the Justice Department sees fit.
And that, no matter what the chamber’s survey reveals, will not be good for Valdosta-Lowndes County business.
What We Think
OUR OPINION: Thoughts on consolidation
- What We Think
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Don’t jettison landmark
While we respect the request to relocate the F-86 aircraft from outside Mathis City Auditorium to the new Moody Air Force Base Airpark, we would hope the city and MAFB would reconsider moving it.
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Shame in Berrien County
Unfortunately for Sherrie Williams of the Berrien County school-based health clinic, she talked to The Times and praised the program that she oversees. This pride in her work led to the loss of her job.
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Grading policy: A second chance?
In clarifying the Lowndes County Schools’ controversial grading policy, Superintendent Dr. Steve Smith spoke of second chances.
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Be up to any weather challenge
Georgia’s Severe Weather Awareness Week starts today and runs through Friday. The idea behind the week is to prepare Georgians for weather emergencies and how to keep these situations from becoming tragedies.
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Parents and schools
There is a lot of talk lately about school systems and grading policies, and how all of a child's problems come back to a lack of parenting. But is it really that simple? Can it be a case where the school systems are so focused on the problem few that the majority of students are ignored?
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Thumbs up, thumbs down
THUMBS UP: To Brooks County High School engineering and technology teacher Don Morgan and his students. They recently received national attention for their work with biodiesel fuel. They collect used cooking oil from area fast-food restaurants then process this oil into biodiesel. Morgan hopes to next interest the Brooks County school buses into running on the fuel created in his class. This classroom not only prepares students for the future but may prepare all of us for an alternative energy source.
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Take me out to the ball park
The Valdosta State baseball season begins today. The Blazers host Lindenwood at 2:30 p.m. Nothing beats quality baseball played in warm weather with a great venue like Billy Grant Field.
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What We Think: Signing Day
Wednesday was National Signing Day, the day when high school athletes across the country make official announcements about what school they’ve chosen to sign with.
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School policy fails expectations
Lowndes County Schools recently implemented new grading guidelines for students. These guidelines have left many parents upset ...
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Just the facts, please
The Times has taken some hits this weekend following the reporting of the Rev. Floyd Rose’ rally on Saturday concerning the car which drove into a home, killing an infant on New Year’s, and an incident at Pinevale Learning Center. Some police officers think the VDT is not being fair, and Rose accused the VDT of not printing the facts, but the facts are as follows:
- More What We Think Headlines
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Don’t jettison landmark
