Diana Brewer (President of FEEF), Bob Baumhauer, Vince Boothe, Charles Durgin and other citizens asked the city council to appoint a committee to consider how a municipal school system may be operated/financed.
Brewer: " . . . asking you . . . again . . . to appoint an educational committee."
COUNCIL SPLIT
Councilman Kingrea said he wanted to have a city-wide referendum first, possibly in September, to get citizens' approval before proceeding with this; then "get professional help" with designing the system (instead of the committee). Kingrea said then another referendum would be needed--for final approval.
(Referendums cost the city about $15,000 each)
Council President Mixon called the proposal "too fragmented" and needed more specific details about the committee's purpose before proceeding.
Ford wanted some people "on the other side" of the issue appointed to the committee.
Stankoski said Kingrea's referendum-first idea would doom the school system proposal to failure if voters didn't have the numbers beforehand.
Quinn agreed with Stankoski: "People have to have the information (beforehand) to make an educated decision."
MAYOR KANT NOW SUPPORTIVE
Mayor Kant said he supported forming the committee; but suggested he could form a "Mayor's Committee" as an alternative.
(Publisher's note: According to a source close to the situation, a 3 member majority of the council subsequently favored appointing the committee. Alabama Governor Bentley recently announced the state may have to lay off another 1,200 school employees next year, statewide.)
Comments
There is no way Fairhope can or will expand the city limits and most of those families can't afford private schools. Ironically the some of the leaders of Good 2 Great are wealthy. Stirring things up is like a hobby to them, like attending Polo at the Point and the Grand Summer Ball.