Editorial: Community Conversations - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Editorial: Community Conversations

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By John Shryock - bio | email

  • Editorials

  • Thursday, May 16 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-16 23:20:04 GMT
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;
    In my editorial on Tuesday I chided our legislators for being the last state to pass a no-brainer  bill legalizing home brewing.  Today I want to challenge them to be one of the first states to pass another no-brainer;

  • Tuesday, May 14 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-14 23:20:07 GMT
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 
    Kudos, or perhaps, cheers to the Alabama Legislature for passing HB9, the home brewing bill. Legalized home brewing may not be up there with education reform or prison funding, but it was overdue. 

  • Thursday, May 9 2013 7:20 PM EDT2013-05-09 23:20:06 GMT
    What was the old Pan-Am gas station at the corner of Bibb and Coosa is now no longer.  Last weekend that landmark was demolished with nothing remaining where it once stood other than the outline of a foundation. What
    What was the old Pan-Am gas station at the corner of Bibb and Coosa is now no longer.  Last weekend that landmark was demolished with nothing remaining where it once stood other than the outline of a foundation. What
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MONTGOMERY, AL (WSFA) - Montgomery Public Schools have lost 32 million dollars the past two years due to funding cuts.  

Montgomery's population has shifted with a majority of people now residing in the East but there are only 24 schools in the East part of town compared to 34 schools in the west part of town. 

Because of the funding cuts and population shifts, the school board is considering closing several schools that have 2,500 empty seats between them. 

The new zoning plans aim to have students travel no more than two and a half miles to school. 

The plan also involves adding a new high school in the East Side of town to prevent losing students to other parts of the region or to private schools, and adding slots and improving facilities to meet the growing demand for magnet school education. 

To do nothing is not an option and to do what is proposed requires plenty of strong will.

Key to executing the plan or changing it is community input.   There are two more public hearings prior to the scheduled February 15th board vote. 

 In addition, there are several community conversation meetings being set up over the next two months by the Montgomery Education Foundation to engage the community in determining the focus, direction and priorities for the school system moving forward.       

Similar community conversations have already taken place in Mobile, Birmingham and Dothan.  One thousand students have come back into the public school system in Dothan after their community conversations two years ago and Mobile's schools are showing marked improvement since their conversations. 

We encourage community input into what is clearly the most important aspect of our community: educating our citizens the best way possible.