At the Chamber’s Annual Meeting in December, Dr. Ed Richardson asked 700 business and community leaders, “Do you really want good public schools for Montgomery?” The Answer is YES.
Montgomery has earned some impressive accolades, scored major economic development wins and hit multiple high marks: The city was named one of the 52 places in the world to visit in 2018 by The New York Times; tourism numbers soared to new records; and the entire area celebrated the landing of the F-35, an achievement that will have an $80 million annual economic impact.
Things have been going well, and there are more bright spots on the horizon. But amid all of the good news and sunny skies, there’s a single dark cloud, one already raining on the capital city’s parade and one that could billow and grow into a storm that stops the area’s forward progress in its tracks.
Montgomery’s public schools are failing; they’re failing the students they exist to serve; they’re failing the city and its residents whose tax dollars fund them. And they’re negatively affecting the business community by stifling economic development efforts.
Mayor Todd Strange recently made a direct link between losing a major employer and the poor performance of Montgomery Public Schools. When the state board of education announced its intervention in the system in early 2017, it only underscored the issues residents and city leaders have been wrestling with for years.
Yet it’s not all doom and gloom. According to the Alabama Department of Education’s Interim Superintendent of Education Dr. Ed Richardson, we can fix this. “I want to assure concerned parents and others all over the city that these problems can be solved,” he said. “It will take commitment and a focused effort on the issues, but we can do it. Don’t be discouraged.”
Richardson says the first step is being honest about where things stand. The student achievement of MPS is among the lowest in the state. “That speaks for itself,” Richardson said. As do other disappointing numbers. MPS has lost more than 2,300 students in the last four years, for an average of 585 lost per year. “Most of these losses are due to concerned parents taking their children either to another public school system [Auburn, Pike Road, Autauga County] or putting them in private school,” he said.
The next move needed is a perspective shift, as Richardson explained. “During recent discussions with the Montgomery County Board of Education, you seldom hear anything about improving achievement for students. You hear, ‘It’s all about the students,” but actions don’t show that statement to be accurate.”
The public agrees that the problem is dire and change is needed. According to a recent poll conducted by the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, 7 out of 10 people believe Montgomery Public Schools are in crisis and blame that crisis on the leadership at the top.
Money Matters
Continual money woes only exacerbate the situation; the system is currently considered financially unstable. Richardson announced a plan to address this earlier this year, and it places major emphasis on keeping teachers in the classrooms. “It addresses the financial deficits without having to fire a large number of staff,” he said. “We’re closing some schools and selling unneeded central office buildings.” Each piece of property sold means fewer people losing their jobs. “That’s a big objective,” he said.
Funding is essential to public education, but it only goes so far and isn’t the remedy for every ailment. Developing strategies to improve student achievement is even more important, and Richardson is looking at an array of options, ranging from opening alternative schools to hiring more teachers.
Come Together
The real key is a commitment to keep pushing ahead, despite a hard road, and working together. “The local school officials have to be able to work with the accrediting body, as they will make specific recommendations to help boost student achievement,” Richardson said. More parents need to get engaged and get involved, which could prove to be one of the tougher tasks. “Many of the parents really interested in improving public education are no longer a part of MPS,” he said.
While Richardson has shown himself dedicated to telling the hard truths, he’s still positive when he talks about MPS. “There are several schools in the system doing exceptionally well. There are some strong, talented teachers and administrators,” he said. “But their performance is adversely impacted due to the fights for control over the system.”
He believes that before the start of the next school year, a final list of school closings will be out, giving teachers the security of knowing where they will be assigned. And as for the 2018-2019 school year in Montgomery, Richardson remains hopeful: “I think we can see some significant improvement during the next school year.”
A FRESH TAKE
It seems clear that shaking up the entrenched mindset of the Montgomery County Board of Education could go a long way in addressing the problems MPS is facing. This year, five of the Board’s seven seats are up for election, and 19 new faces are running. This alone signals better things ahead to Dr. Ed Richardson. “Based on the number of people who have announced they are running for the board, there is an increased interest in MPS, which I think is very positive,” Richardson said.
The need for change on the board has been apparent for years; Richardson pointed to a few of the complications arising from the current group. “There are some board members trying to do the right thing but, as I have told the board, if it wishes to be active in this process and the discussion, it has to demonstrate that it is willing to be more involved.” He outlined the activity he’d like to see. “Acknowledge the magnitude of problems we are facing; take responsibility for these problems; identify specific solutions. Unfortunately, I have seen very little interest by most of the board members in that regard [finding solutions].”
WHAT THE VOTERS SAY:
The Chamber conducted a poll of registered Montgomery voters that revealed some stunning statistics: Nearly 90 % believe the state’s intervention was needed due to the lack of leadership, mismanagement of the system, quality of education and discipline.
CALL FOR LEADERSHIP
7 OUT OF 10 Montgomery voters blame the Board of Education for Montgomery’s failing school system.
MORE MONEY? Yes, but not yet.
Throwing money at MPS’ problems won’t solve them, but according to Dr. Richardson, there will come a time for a discussion about possible increased funding. “Not now, but at some time, MPS will have to consider allocating more resources to its schools,” he said. “But right now people would be too skeptical for that. We have to fix what’s wrong now. We have to show that we are listening and being responsible and responsive. That is how MPS builds the confidence needed to ask for those additional funds in the future.”
OTHER VOICES: Parent Perspectives
It’s all well and good for city officials, politicians, administrators and teachers to voice opinions and ideas on how we can improve our public schools. But some of MPS’ harshest critics and its biggest cheerleaders are those most affected: area parents. We asked a few to share where their hearts and heads are when it comes to their children’s options for education.
Bethany Garth and her husband moved to Montgomery from Nashville after living in Auburn for several years before that. The couple has two daughters, ages 3 and 18 months. As soon as her husband’s colleagues at Neptune Technology heard he and Bethany were settling in Montgomery they asked: “What will you do about school?” “That’s sad,” Garth said. “We as a community are not educating our kids, our future, and I think it is our duty to equip them,” she said.
Some of her feelings stem from her Christian faith; part of it is just practical wisdom. “Different options – private school, home schooling, public school – are right for each different family, but for us, we feel strongly about getting our kids out of the Christian bubble, to send them out as arrows of light, and we believe school is an effective way to do that and a way to expose our kids to the fullness and diversity of this community. So we want to invest in our city by being a part of the public school system,” she said. “That being said, I’m not willing to make my kids martyrs for that cause. We won’t sacrifice their future for it, and sending them to the public schools as they are right now would do that.”
Garth stressed that she and her husband have not made any decision regarding public education for their daughters yet, but she did express a specific concern. “At least in the public schools we know the most about, thanks to friends in our neighborhood who are involved, overall, there is so little parental involvement,” she said. “I think that creates such an uphill battle for teachers. And the catch is, if we don’t’ figure out how to fix that, it is a cycle that will repeat.”
She believes it will take parents who care coming together and putting their kids in public school to change things from the inside out. She knows that’s a huge ask. “Three families can’t do it; you need a lot of people coming in, working to make things better. I’m not sure that’s at all realistic though.”
She is pleased with recent progress. “Dr. Richardson is taking definite steps in the right direction,” she said. “Just finally acknowledging the problem is major.”
She also understands the importance of MPS’ budget with a caveat. “There is no amount of money you can put into schools to compensate for the lack of parental involvement, so it can’t stop there.”
Aquan Robinson was born and raised in Montgomery and now works as a lease portfolio manager at BMW in Montgomery. He and his wife have a son in first grade at Dalraida Elementary and another child not yet school age. They’re currently pleased with their son’s education, but he’s unsure about the next few years. “I am very happy with the school my son is in right now, and I know other parents at that school feel the same way,” he said. “But once he gets to 5th grade, that’s where it drops off, and that’s when parents have to make a hard decision.”
He echoed Garth’s worries about public schools, but had some additional thoughts about root causes. “There’s a lot of blame to go around. Some board members have been in place a long time, and I’m not sure if it is just complacency or a resistance to work with others, but their inactivity has played a role, so I think it’s time for some change,” he said. “There is a butting of heads between the school board and other powers above them and not enough working together.”
He also believes race still plays a role. “When you talk about MPS, and the magnet schools, the majority of the students are minority kids, while a lot of the law makers and policy makers are white, and typically, their kids aren’t even in MPS,” he said. “On the flipside, you have school board members who are minorities who have not been making the best decisions, and there is so much finger-pointing and not much accepting of responsibility.”
He’s a product of the magnet schools, graduating from BTW, but he’s conflicted about the program today. “The magnet schools are great for the students they have,” he said. “They are the best and the brightest, but that also means the best and brightest aren’t with other kids, where they could have a positive influence. And you’re taking all of the involved parents and putting them in one place. So, I love them, but I wonder if they are hurting other schools. Same with charter schools. I like the way that sounds, but I’m not sure how it really works.”
Pride in his city has pushed Robinson to stay active and engaged; it sparked him to form the South Central Business District, a group of concerned citizens and business owners working to help revitalize and reenergize the area around the Southern Boulevard, Troy Highway and McGhee Road. It also prompts him to look for the good. “There are a lot of things wrong with the school system, and we hear a lot about that, but no one talks about what is right, and that is unfair to the teachers and administrators working their tails off to do right by the students.”
BETHANY GARTH
“We as a community are not educating our kids, our future, and I think it is our duty to equip them.”
AQUAN ROBINSON
“There’s a lot of blame to go around. Some board members have been in place a long time, and I’m not sure if it is just complacency or a resistance to work with others, but their inactivity has played a role.”
“There are a lot of things wrong with the school system, and we hear a lot about that, but no one talks about what is right, and that is unfair to the teachers and administrators working to do right by the students.”
MEET THE CANDIDATES:
The Montgomery County Board of Education’s Districts 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 are all up for election. Earlier this year, the Chamber launched educatemgm.com to provide information and cultivate interest among the public to run for the board. As a result, 19 new candidates are seeking election.
FIND YOUR DISTRICT AT educatemgm.com
We asked all of the new candidates for the Montgomery County Board of Education what motivated them to seek the position. Here’s what they had to say.
EDITOR’S NOTE: We contacted all new candidates (not incumbents) and gave them the opportunity to share their thoughts; two candidates did not respond before press time.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES:
SOURCE: Montgomery County Elections Office
DISTRICT 1
Liletta Mahone Jenkins (D)
Lesa Keith (R), Incumbent
Frederick Turner (D)
Marcus Vandiver (D)
DISTRICT 2
Brenda Irby (D)
Larry Lee (R)
Ted Lowry (R)
Misty S. Fairbanks Messick (D)
Clare Weil (D)
DISTRICT 3
Brenda DeRamus-Coleman (D)
Phillip Ensler (D)
DISTRICT 5
Jannah Morgan Bailey (R)
Dianelle Gross (D)
Rhonda Oats (D)
Carey Owens Jr. (D)
DeVona Sims (D)
Melissa Snowden (R), Incumbent
DISTRICT 6
Jessica Johnson Anderson (D)
Timothy Bass (D)
Claudia T. Mitchell (D)
Robert Porterfield (D), Incumbent
Deena Weston (D)
DISTRICT 1
Liletta Mahone Jenkins / As a citizen of Montgomery, parent and an advocate for education, I can no longer watch the public schools in my hometown fail. Because I care about the children in our public school system, I decided to run for the board. I believe all children deserve a quality education and failure is not an option.
Marcus Vandiver / I believe the school board is in need of fresh ideas, new perspectives and energy. My knowledge of K-12 education, experience as a teacher and an educational professional, and data-driven approach to problem solving will positively impact the decisions facing the board over the next few years.
Frederick Turner / The reason I'm running for Montgomery County School Board is because I am MPS, and I believe in the future of MPS. It's up to us to change the culture of our schools!
DISTRICT 2
Larry Lee / I am running for the MPS board because we need people with common sense, maturity, the ability to cooperate and an understanding of what goes on in our schools and the challenges they face. We certainly need members who are fiscally conservative.
Ted Lowry / I know we can have a world-class public school system. Montgomery Public Schools must have new leadership that is willing to make difficult decisions and back those decisions with appropriate action. Our children deserve no less.
Misty S. Fairbanks Messick / I am running for the board because I want to be part of the solution. Our children deserve better. And they need better if they are going to grow into successful adults. As a smart, hardworking lawyer, I believe I have something to contribute.
Clare Weil / I am running for the board because I believe every child deserves a first-class education. The current board has failed to expect excellence. Leadership has been missing, and I hope to bring that back as well as a sense of optimism that we can fix this problem.
DISTRICT 3
Brenda DeRamus-Coleman / I am a candidate for the board because I have dedicated my life to education, and I want the opportunity to help to formulate sound policies and programs to move our community forward. I believe that what is good for children and schools is good for the community.
Phillip Ensler / I am a civil rights lawyer and former Robert E. Lee High School teacher, and I am running because our public school students deserve a fierce advocate who will fight to ensure that they are receiving access to an equal, quality education.
DISTRICT 5
Jannah Morgan Bailey / I am a product of MPS and I want children in our community to have the same quality education and opportunities that I had. I believe this can only come with change. I am running for the board because I have the experience to work with groups of diverse people for a common mission.
Dianelle Gross / I am a United States Air Force veteran with no education experience; yet I am a proud parent of two MPS graduates and two current MPS students. I don’t feel our children nor our schools are failing; they are victims of a failed system. It’s time to rebuild MPS.
DISTRICT 5
Rhonda Oats / I am running for the board because I firmly believe that education matters for students, teachers, parents and the community. I believe our schools must provide a safe environment and ample opportunities for all students to achieve and excel.
Carey Owens Jr. / The Montgomery Public School system is the foundation of our community. However, our foundation is cracking. We have an opportunity to make adjustments. I am asking to be the voice for the children, parents and community.
DeVona Sims / I am running for the board because I believe that public education is ultimately connected to the vitality of our community. I am running because our future depends on leaders who are willing to take a stand and do the right thing.
DISTRICT 6
Jessica Johnson Anderson / I believe that by investing in children, we are investing in not only their future, but our city’s as well. As a mom, the thought that we are failing children means I can’t stay on the sidelines anymore, even if it means an uphill battle.
Claudia T. Mitchell / I am running for the board because our school system is facing challenges that require responsible leadership. I understand the importance of ensuring that all perspectives are heard, policies are enacted, timely budgets are adopted and decisions properly meet the needs of our constituents.
Deena Weston / I believe that MPS can become a success story for all families. I want to serve on the board because I believe Montgomery should expect more from our public school system, and I believe I am prepared to lead MPS toward the high performing lists.
Do Your Homework
Since a clear line can be drawn between quality public schools and economic development (and therefore, quality of life), even if you don’t have children, the state of MPS should concern you. And area parents are all too aware of how it affects their families, knowing that their children’s futures are at stake. So what can you do? Dr. Ed Richardson offered a few suggestions:
1 / Review the current board members and the board candidates for your district.
Learn as much as you can about them; listen to what they are saying; ask them questions and be specific.
2 / Vote.
3 / Stay informed and involved. You can’t just vote and walk away. You have to communicate with board members and hold them accountable. That doesn’t mean every single time something little pops up you cry foul. It means attending meetings, expressing your opinions and offering your ideas. And don’t just let them know when there is a problem affecting your child. Look at and be concerned about the overall issues.
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The Time is Now - Transforming Montgomery's Public Schools
Tuesday, May 1, 2018
