Dear Editor,
Recently, I spoke at the Coahoma County Board of Supervisors meeting to hopefully express the sense of urgency for our community to ACT on how we can better serve students in Coahoma County.
As many of you aware, CMSD and CCSD are at-risk of being taken over by the state for having a F rating for two consecutive years.
At the meeting, I urged the Board to create a Commission made of key stakeholders to look at ways students can be better served. I also shared what happened in previous districts that experienced a takeover, and highlighted how Jackson Public Schools saved their district from a state take-over.
I understand that the options that we must consider are sensitive topics. However, as adults, we must do we is best for children. I am not for or against consolidation. I am not for closing any schools. I am not for anyone losing their job. But, we must begin having conversations to show that the community is taking the education of how children seriously.
When districts are taken over by the state, it can be almost ten years or more before it is given back to local control. In order for a district to be returned to local control, it must earn a C rating for five (5) consecutive year. This means that when the district rise up to a C, it cannot drop. If it falls back to the D or F, the restart button is hit.
There is so much at-stake. The students must be put first. Think about this:
A charter school was brought in our own back yard to give parents an option to not have to deal with either districts. This has created another divide within the community. CMSD, CCSD, Charter, CCEHS, & Lee Academy. At what point will we accept the fact that the current educational system is not working! It has not been working for years, this did not happen overnight.
We must get out of our feelings and think about the students entering college not being able to enroll in college algebra or English Comp I because they have been inadequately prepared. Or, the students not being exposed to technology. Or, the students not be taught by a certified teacher. Or, the students that cannot take a dual credit course because it’s not offered. Or, the teachers not getting the best professional development to serve students better.
I promise you, if you participate and initiate change, the students of Coahoma County will be striving. It’s possible! I’ve seen it and experienced it. As a product of CCSD, I would have love to have been exposed to some of the things I see happening in other communities across the country.
Remember, at the end of the day, our schools deserve to remain under local control with community folks ready to roll up their sleeves and inspire the children/teachers in every community to SOAR! Every child, no matter if they live in Jonestown, Lula, Friars Point, Lyon, Coahoma, Bobo, Farrell, Clarksdale, etc., should have a fair chance of meeting their academic growth goals.
NEXT STEP: I strong urge the Coahoma County Board of Supervisors to create a Commission ASAP and invite those key stakeholders to join. If they decide not to join, this Commission should move forward with coming up with solutions to recommend by end of November 2019. By December, 2019, we need to have the towns, city, and county governments to act by passing resolutions in support of the Commission’s recommendations. The state legislature or the state board will more likely put the final stamp of approval on the community’s collective vision so educational services can be improved for ALL students in Coahoma County.
If we do not, we have given up on our teachers and students.
Will Smith
Class of 2004
Coahoma, Miss.
