THE SILVER LINING OF SIGNAL’S SCHOOL EXIT THREAT

What part of “no” does the Signal Mountain Town Council not understand about the predominant reaction to a suggestion of forming its own separate school district: The N or the O?

A meeting Thursday among town council members, Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Bryan Johnson and all but one member of the county Board of Education seemed to leave little wiggle room.

The school board and superintendent made a united front against the split, saying more than once they hope Signal Mountain schools remain part of Hamilton County schools and reiterating the accomplishments the system has seen since Johnson took the helm in July — six months after the town began toying with the idea of splitting from the county school system.

The reiterated message comes after the board’s pledge vote in November not to sell or transfer ownership of the school buildings on the mountain if the town does vote to break away. That leaves the town only with the options of building their own school facilities or spending tax dollars to sue the county in hopes of forcing a transfer.

But Signal Mountain officials, led largely by Mayor Chris Howley, continued Thursday to prod at negotiations, asking school officials their thoughts on a report brought to the town council by the School System Viability Committee the council formed to investigate the feasibility of the split, as well as what Hamilton County Schools would gain by Signal Mountain schools remaining a part of the county system.

Board member Joe Wingate answered succinctly: “I don’t want to downplay the energy and effort that was put into the report at all, but … as a school board that’s responsible for the education of the community, our concern is not where the report went right or wrong, our concern is with the education of the children in our community. The report does not matter to me personally as a board [member], it matters to me what you’re going to do with it.”

At the meeting’s end, both sides planned more meetings — separately — to “get input.” Translation more talk about talking. The Town Council plans to hold more meetings to receive public feedback, and school board member Kathy Lennon, who represents District 2 including Signal Mountain, later this month will launch an advisory committee consisting of representatives from each of the schools in her district, as well as parents.

It was the county schools superintendent, however, who was the only official to receive applause from the large crowd attending the meeting.

First Johnson was cheered when he emphasized the district is seeking to understand the town’s concerns that prompted Signal’s exploration of breaking with the district — something that now is increasingly becoming a distraction from the real issue: students.

“We haven’t talked about children yet. We haven’t talked about instructional practices yet. We haven’t talked about wraparound students yet. Those things are at the core of educating students,” Johnson said. The room erupted in applause.

The second time the crowd clapped for Johnson followed his sage advice: “Don’t allow personal agendas to allow something that is special to erode.”

On the surface, Signal’s stated concerns are not unlike those of any community. Mountain residents want community school support, flexibility in school start times and a second entrance (for safety) at Signal’s middle/high school. The district is exploring possible solutions — not just for Signal, but for all communities.

But it seems increasingly clear — based on the applause Johnson received and on the fact that public Signal meetings on the schools secession question have drawn mainly people opposed to the split and very few who’ve stated they support it — that this is an idea Signal’s town council should now put in the history file.

Johnson is right to term continued contemplation of a split as a distraction.

But he’s also right to take the lessons provided by the discussion. Parents and community leaders want and deserve school board attention, as well as reasonable flexibility and community schools’ customization.

All communities are not created equal, and their needs cannot be met with cookie-cutter solutions and one-size-fits-all policy.

The good news is that Hamilton County’s new school leadership, for the first time in decades, seems to understand this simple fact and already is taking steps to act on it.

The district is looking at schools geographically in an effort to more efficiently provide support. The system’s new chief schools officer, Justin Robertson, is charged with proposing an overall plan for this in his first 60 days in his new position.

Hopefully, Lennon’s District 2 advisory committee will be one of nine — one for each district and school board member in the county.

It also is a good sign that the school board left its comfort zone out at the district’s Bonny Oaks headquarters to come out in the community and meet with officials and parents in a community school.

It’s been too long coming.