An Open Letter From Valdosta City Schools BOE Member About School Consolidation

Dear Friends:

The Valdosta Board of Education has made clear its position against the consolidation referendum on Tuesday’s ballot.   The purpose of this letter is written to express my personal views on the topic in response to several requests by my constituents as their Valdosta City School Board representative. That said, let me state unequivocally that I am AGAINST this current referendum to dissolve the Valdosta City School System’s charter.   While I could argue my opposition to this effort on numerous grounds, in an effort to be succinct I have three points I wish to offer:

1. I believe that any merger of the two school systems should be just that – a merger whereby both school systems’ constituents participate in the vote.   The common sense inherent in this approach was acknowledged in a 1983 Georgia state constitutional amendment which allows for such a vote.  It would seem, however, that knowing that this method presented a much higher hurdle to jump, the CUEE chose to utilize the more archaic 1926 law which essentially states that any local school system can independently vote to give up its charter and consequently be absorbed by its county system.  It is my firm belief that this method disenfranchises all county voters and is a disservice to all affected.  Stated another way, it’s simply unfair.

Now, to dispute those who might say that my statement is simply sour grapes, let me offer just one real circumstance out of innumerable others that would be a result of the current referendum passing:  Should the voters decide to relinquish Valdosta City School’s charter, any roll that the current system might otherwise play in an orderly transition will be at the sole discretion of the Lowndes County system.  As a parent, Valdosta City residence, and VCS Board Member invested in the Valdosta City School System, and more particularly, its children, this is unacceptable to me.  No, not because it’s Lowndes County but simply because it doesn’t make good common sense.  Lowndes County is ill-prepared to absorb our system into its current operations just as any other system would be under similar conditions.  Willingly, let alone under duress, any merger is a colossal undertaking and should be conducted only after careful, thoughtful, and exhaustive planning.  Not because a few people thought it was a good idea and spent what is reported to be almost $300,000 to-date getting it on the ballot and to a vote!

2.  From my own personal research it’s apparent to me that when independent systems have elected to give up their charter the decision, or lack of, has been the result of the relinquishing system being in dire financial condition.  In stark contrast to this pattern, by any reasonable evaluation, and contrary to numerous CUEE statements, the Valdosta City Schools are in excellent fiscal condition, particularly in light of current economic conditions.  The Valdosta City School System has a fund balance of $8.8 million dollars.  Furthermore, due to the diligent work of the System’s administration and with the full support of the School Board, the System is debt free!   Finally, on this subject, the system has been able to achieve this standing having not furloughed teachers nor cut school days in spite of the fact that Georgia State funding being cut to our system by $25 million dollars over the last eight years.   Truth is, the Valdosta City School System is one of the State’s financial “shining stars” and knowing what it has taken to achieve such recognition, it makes the statements of the CUEE seem all the more out of touch.

3.  Recognizing that school consolidation is an exceedingly complicated matter, as a theoretical concept, I have mixed emotions about whether it might be a positive long-term answer to the educational needs in this community.  In reading and evaluating numerous studies on the subject, both for and against consolidated systems, I’ve come to realize that bigger is NOT always better.  Disturbingly, I have observed a trend in this country when it comes to public policy. It often seems that we have become a nation of people willing to be rushed up to a deadline at which point we’re thrown a poorly formulated idea for solving a complicated issue with the promise that we’ll worry about the execution of the plan after the vote.  I’m among those that believe that is no way to run our governments. It is at best irresponsible and at its worst, lazy.  This is how I view the referendum before us on Tuesday. If you’re asking how I’ll vote on Tuesday, I’ll VOTE NO! 

I am sincerely yours,

Kelly Wilson, Superward West, VCS BOE