PURE GOLD VALLEY

About 300 attend Montgomery Public Schools' forum

During an open community forum at Carver High School on Tuesday, a panel of local leaders answered questions that ranged from transparency in the magnet school-selection process to parent notification of late school buses.

Superintendent Barbara Thompson did most of the talking for the panel that included state Rep. Jay Love, Mayor Todd Strange and County Commission Chairman Elton Dean.

She discussed the pending consolidation of the district?s 14 central office buildings and personnel, saying they expect initially to save about $1.6 million.

She expects a recommendation on that issue to go before the board in the coming months.

The forum drew a crowd of about 300. Some submitted questions through Twitter, while those present were required to write their questions upon arrival.

Ruth Harris, a public education advocate whose children graduated from the district, said most people were expecting to speak live.

?I think it would have been better had people been prepared to write their questions,? she said. ?It was very surface.?

Harris also found odd the number of security officers on duty.

?I?ve traveled a lot most recently to the Middle East, and I?ve not seen that level of security even there,? said.

Grayson White, a concerned citizen, said he was disappointed in the freedom of information exchange.

?I?m not going to say it was a waste of time because it got people together who have a vested interest,? he said. ?But I just think it was more of a show.?

Thompson said the district faces the problem of changing public opinion.

?Our challenge is getting people to really see (the difference) in the perception and reality,? she said. ?That only happens by getting people in our schools so they can see what our children are actually doing and how excited they are about learning.?

Dean said funding is another major challenge for the district, but the county commission supports fully they work they are doing.

?We believe in what they are doing,? he said. ?We want to encourage all the naysayers to be ambassadors for the public school systems. It?s not about the board, it?s not about the superintendent, it?s about the students and teachers.?

Although the crowd was advised upon opening that the panel would not take questions regarding the impending grade-changing investigation, each panelist commented on the issue in closing.

?I don?t want to ignore it because I don?t think it?s the thing to do,? Love said. ?The allegations are something that are extremely serious and something that can derail all the progress that?s been made in the Montgomery County school system for years.?

He said he feels confident that when the results are released they will be dealt with quickly and honestly, holding those responsible accountable for any wrongs.

?Academic fraud is to a school system what pancreatic cancer is to the body, and it can kill it quick,? he said. ?We?ll see what happens with the investigation.?

The district will continue to receive questions by email at facetoface@mps.k12.al.us and Twitter @MPSAL. Those accounts will remain open as a continuing way for community members to get questions answered.

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This post was written by: Franklin Manuel

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