Can Richmond County be the epitome of a demographic wasteland? You can try to fix what's broken, but you cannot turn a Yugo into a Rolls Royce. Not in RC anyway.
Residents continued to lay the groundwork Monday evening for their vision of Richmond County education, a vision that could necessitate the restructuring or even the closing of some schools.
The focus group of parents, educators and business leaders participated in rightsizing, the process by which the school system develops a vision and incorporates data to establish a comprehensive long-range facilities plan. The process was initiated after an audit released in March recommended closing at least five schools to offset under-enrolled facilities and free up money for all schools.
It was the second time in just over a month that the focus group had met. The group was tasked with developing a framework for the criteria the school board will use in the rightsizing process.
"Form follows function, which follows finance," said Bill Montgomery of Absolute Technologies Inc., the consultants hired by the school system to guide the process.
Schools should be constructed around a particular function, such as providing rigorous Advanced Placement courses, but funding can greatly limit what functions schools can serve, Mr. Montgomery told the group.
Although finances aren't the driving force behind rightsizing, money must be considered, and there should be an expectation that money saved will be reinvested in academics.
"The more money you are able to garnish from whatever rightsizing program is established goes into developing these programs," he said.
School board member Jack Padgett reminded the group that the board is already taxing property owners at the highest rate it can by law and that the governor is withholding 2 percent of its funding for this school year to offset a statewide economic downturn.
This summer the school board whittled away at its budget to erase a $13.4 million shortfall.
And all signs point to an even worse financial situation next year, Superintendent Dana Bedden said.
Bob Harkrider, a member of both the focus group and one of the board's sales tax oversight committees, agreed with Dr. Bedden.
"We're in la-la land if we think it's going to get any better," he said.
Mr. Harkrider added that it's sad the board didn't undergo rightsizing 10 years ago, before three phases of its construction program and the investment of $500 million in sales taxes.
Reach Greg Gelpi at (706) 828-3851 or greg.gelpi@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
Can Richmond County be the epitome of a demographic wasteland? You can try to fix what's broken, but you cannot turn a Yugo into a Rolls Royce. Not in RC anyway.
Well if "funding isn't the driving force behind rightsizing" then what is. And by the way in my household budget funding determines everything. I am sure the RCBOE isn't constrained by such a minor thing as funding though because if they have problems, they just hire a study expert and the problem will go away. What do we pay them top dollar for? If we need a MBA then get rid of the educator and hire a business major to run the system. We are having way too many expensive "studies by the government controllers in this county.
"rightsizing" is just another buzz word, there will not be any highschool closings..why do you say? well that will mean a loss of seat on the school board, but more importantly one less football team, since rich county feels it is more important to build football stadiums, and basketball gymnasiums for the worse high schools in the county than make sure there are enuff text books and school supplies, let alone poor teacher pay the result is low test scores and wasted money for needless studies and useless "programs" that gouge the taxpayer leaving them with a poor return of their tax dollar investments. my idea of right sizing is model the remaining schools after johnson, davidson and ct walker that will weed out all the students who are there for things other than education. the taxpayer will get relief gthere will be fewer schools to fund, higher test scores due to the environment will now be conducive to learning and achievement. and to all sorry parents that disrupt or make trouble in school, the school system is not your babysitter, why not grow up and be a parent for a change instead of shirking your reponsibility and shifting it to the school system and society.
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