The hand is outstretched

The man slated to be Richmond County's interim school superintendent has a golden opportunity before him.

At 11 a.m. Oct. 28, the grass-roots group Parents United will hold a "public accountability hearing" at the Diamond Lakes library. School system officials, including Deputy Superintendent James Thompson, are invited.

This is one invitation that shouldn't be passed up. Make this meeting top priority.

It's sad that the school system has been compared to a castle where its occupants fight off parents as if they were interlopers scaling the walls. If a business had that attitude toward customers, it would go bankrupt. And that's exactly how the school system should view its parents: as customers, not angry villagers waving pitchforks and torches.

When it comes to a child's education, parental involvement is key. Teachers agree with that. School administrators agree. Concerned parents agree.

So despite this apparent unanimity, why is there such a wide gap between the Richmond County school system and the parents they serve?

The school system is in one corner, and concerned parents are in another corner - two sides supposedly working toward the same goals: better schools and better pupils. But there needs to be a willingness to meet in the middle and join forces.

Both sides have the chance to tread that middle ground Oct. 28. And if you're a school official, clear your calendar for that day. Showing up at the meeting will show parents that, as someone responsible for running the school district, you care about what parents think, and the old way of doing business is gone.

Some officials might fear that the meeting could be an ambush in which they'll be pelted with parental grievances. But we're confident that the good folks at Parents United will conduct a meeting that will be constructive and informative, but above all open-minded and civil.

By attending that Oct. 28 meeting, Thompson and his associates have the opportunity to help create for the school district a new reality in which parents matter.

It's that important.

The school system is at a critical stage. Dysfunctional Superintendent Charles Larke has one foot out the door, and Thompson will assume his new duties Nov. 1 as interim superintendent until a permanent replacement is named. As the new man in charge, Thompson has the chance to put his first important marks on the clean slate that's been placed before him.

Here's the first thing he should write on that slate: "Reminder: attend Parents United meeting Oct. 28."