Years ago, on the rare occasion when someone, anyone, spoke of consolidating the Valdosta and Lowndes County school systems, the discussion was conducted in a whisper, with usually the veiled implication that such talk was to go no further.
Whether it was concerns about football traditions, race, or differing academic programs, a discussion on consolidating the school systems was not entered lightly.
Most local politicians, who wanted to attain or retain elected office, avoided any mention of school consolidation on or off the record.
Bring up the subject of consolidation amidst the wrong group of people at the wrong place, at the wrong time, which was almost anywhere in the city or county not too many years ago, and the offender could expect to at least be shushed, shouted down, potentially threatened, and possibly punched.
While there are still two school systems for Valdosta and Lowndes County, things have changed.
From 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monday, the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce hosts a public meeting at the James H. Rainwater Conference Center on the subject of school consolidation.
The public meeting follows the recent release of the chamber’s report on the economic impact of consolidating the school systems. Through a survey of hundreds of local chamber members and business people, 81 percent chose a consolidated school system.
For the past, few years, The Valdosta Daily Times editorial board has listed school consolidation as one of our editorial objectives. It is the only objective that has made it on each list, year after year. While, ultimately, we would like to see the city and county schools consolidated, we have repeatedly placed it on our lists of objectives hoping it would, at least, remain a point of public discussion.
The public meeting will allow area residents to speak their minds on school consolidation. There will likely be those who are for consolidation and those who are against it. But one thing is for certain, school consolidation will be what everyone’s talking about.
What We Think
OUR OPINION: Consolidation: Something to talk about
- What We Think
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Leaving NCLB behind
Georgia schools may be sighing in relief today, following the announcement that the U.S. Department of Education granted a waiver to the state, along with nine others, from the rigorous requirements of the No Child Left Behind act.
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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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Leaving NCLB behind
