We completely agree. For the first time, in what at times has been a contentious process, we completely agree with what was said during Tuesday’s last public hearing scheduled to discuss proposed school closures.

With only three of the school board members in attendance, dozens of citizens stepped forward to either speak for or against a proposed plan by Selma superintendent of education Donald Jefferson to close Byrd Elementary, School of Discovery and the Phoenix School at the end of the next school year.

“I want to make sure we don’t take 10 steps backwards to take just one step forward,” board member Brenda Obomanu said. We agree. “I would hate to make a decision to close these schools and then two or three years later realize we made a mistake,” she said. We agree.

“I would have thought there would have been more here tonight,” board member Frank Chestnut Jr. said, speaking of the poor turnout from parents whose children attend on of the targeted schools. We agree.

The meetings have, by and large, been attended by owners of homes and property around the targeted schools talking about the affect closing the school will have on property values, teachers talking of their passion for teaching children in those schools and the programs that have shown so much success. But, for the most part, the lack of parental participation in the four public hearings has been obvious.

“No one wants to close schools. I don’t want to close any schools. No matter what we decide we are going to make someone made,” board chairman Henry Hicks said. We agree.

The process put forth by the Selma School Board in seeking public input and then making a decision should be applauded. They have thus far lived up to their word of asking for input. It is our hope they were listening and now weigh what they have heard before reaching a final decision.