I

would like to inform the public of the school closure board meeting set for Thursday, May 12,at Payne Elementary. Over a year and a half ago, I shared my platform with the community: “Better Schools means a Better Community.” I often hear people say, “It is all about the children.” Frankly, everything we do is about the children and their learning environment. Even school closures are about our children. We need hard numbers and facts. What should the cost of school closure be? How many should we close? How much cost-savings really warrants a closure? Is it $30,000 or $300,000?

Three months ago, the closure options were revealed in the work session. To my amazement Selma Superintendent of Education Dr. Don Jefferson asked the school board to consider closure of the Phoenix, School of Discovery and Byrd Elementary. Even more shocking, after numerous town hall meetings and lots of concerns voiced by the community, he says everyone knows what’s coming. So, it appears the majority of the thoughts and ideas the people brought to the town hall meetings were not considered. We will have to wait and see exactly what the superintendent means via his recommendation.

Let me share questions I gathered from the town halls.

Will school closure disrupt our children’s access to their community school? Where will they go next year? Will children’s safety be considered as they walk further distances though unfamiliar neighborhoods?

As proposed, Dr. Jefferson has looked at adding transportation. How can a school system already hurting for funds afford an estimated $1 million for a transportation system? Who will teach them next year? How do we prepare our children? What is the rationale for one school over another?

The board has noted there is a school NOT proposed, which will require a $300,000 roof within the next couple of years, while one proposed school will not need replacing for at least another five years. Not to mention the challenges of re-organizing staff, continued maintenance on vacant buildings and possible legal issues we may face. How much are we really going to save? More importantly, prove it!

Another matter of fact that’s troubling is the projected savings for the closure. Clearly estimates are inflated and inconsistent from one document to the other since we started this process.

All of this began with a so-called “study” done by a consultant group outside of this community in 2009. This is 2011. And, who knows our community better than us? Is this the blueprint for Selma City Schools? If so, the assessment lists the aforementioned schools with the next step being Knox.

So, if the assessment is being followed then Knox is next, leaving no school in Wards 3 and 7. If it is such a good idea, why wait two to four years? As you all have read in last week’s column (written by school board member Udo Ufomadu), board members have and always put excellent options and alternatives on the table. The question is, will they be in Thursday’s recommendation?

For the record, I took the responsibility of noting any and all suggestions and concerns. I have patiently reviewed the data, asked tough questions and did my research. If everyone knows what’s coming, I pray this huge shift does not totally disrupt the learning environment and move the community backward instead of forward.

In order to truly put the children first, the superintendent and the board should develop a long-term plan with solid numbers and then make the very best informed decision possible. Lastly, board members have a duty to not only hear the voices of the people, but consider them as well. My advice is call your school board representative or look them in the eyes and demand to know the savings.

Selma City Board of Education

District 3 Representative and Vice-Chair,

Frank Chestnut, Jr.