New Fairhope School Study Committee Proposed

Brewer
EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Fairhope residents Robert Seaborn and Diana Brewer asked the mayor and council to consider appointing a new citizen's committee to study the condition and needs of Fairhope area schools.

Seaborn: "While the issue gets talked about ... whether there is ever a city school system or not ... is there something to be done in the meantime ... ?"

Brewer: "Truly, there seems to be no one minding the store ... no one person or entity looking at a plan ... ."

Brewer said the Baldwin County School system was facing  "a major financial crisis, now and even more in a couple of years." She said local School Board Member Bob Callahan was predicting at least an $18 million shortfall, by 2013.

NOT GOOD 2 GREAT or YES WE CAN

Brewer envisioned the committee, consisting of 5 members from the community plus one city council person, would work closely with local leaders, school principals, and citizens to "find out our needs and priorities; then make a recommendation back to the council." She said one member should be a non-resident from the "feeder pattern".

She said she hoped the EAC could be appointed by December and it could meet in the Spring and report back its findings to the council by March.

Brewer: "We feel very strongly ... this is not a Good 2 Great Committee ... or Yes We Can ... or FEEF ... this is about all of us ... ."

MAYOR/COUNCIL VOICE SUPPORT

Mayor Kant said he supported the idea: "I've said all along we need a school committee ... to tell us what are the needs in our schools ... one group to pull it all together and lead the charge ... ."

Kant mentioned how important having quality schools is to the local business community and the city's overall economy.

All council members responded favorably as well;  Ford called it "a good idea" and pointed out the city had such a committee about 15 years ago (1995).

Kingea: " As I understand it ... the goal would be ... to come back ... and say ... this is what we need ... and this is what it would cost ... then its up to the mayor, council and citizens of Fairhope ... whether we want to bite the bullet ... or not."


Comments

Anonymous said…
This will be an issue in next years election , sounds like.
Anonymous said…
A super secret super committee....Oh my!

Pay attention to what is going on here Fairhope sheeple.

This group of elitist parents want to segregate your schools..Only the wealthiest will be able to pay to enter the kingdom of Fairhope schools..
Anonymous said…
Why doesn't the city council just call the principals in and ask what they need?

Why is Good2Great making this more complicated than it needs to be? Because it may not work out like they want it to?

And what does Diana Brewer know about public education anyway? She's a Public Relations/Marketing person.

After her "Fairhope Way" comment earlier in the summer that offended so many people (and really irritated Dr. Lee at the BCBOE) I'm surprised anyone continues to find her relevant.
Anonymous said…
The city could budget an annual allocation for FEEF and accomplish the same thing much more efficiently and without any political dimension. Perhaps an advisory committee could make recommendations for parameters for the expenditures, but FEEF has a working relationship with the schools and could be trusted to be good stewards and to put city money where it could do the most good.
Anonymous said…
Why not form a special district here?
Anonymous said…
Why recreate something that is already working pretty well?
Anonymous said…
Is this another Super Committee?
Anonymous said…
A super committee that is not speaking directly to funding OR annexation..