Opinion Article: Local School Systems fail Chattooga County Children

Local School Systems fail Chattooga County Children

Opinion Article by Christy Slayton – Moms for Liberty Chattooga County

Chattooga County and Trion City Superintendents and their Boards of Education members refuse to continue to give our high school kids a SCHOOL CHOICE.

Chattooga Mountain Education High School is not a school that most of you are aware of BUT this HIGH SCHOOL has existed since Nov 2019 in Summerville, Ga.

Up Until June 30, 2023, YOUR CHILDREN HAD A CHOICE…. Maybe you knew, maybe you didn’t.
Our most vulnerable children are 9th-12th graders. Some of them experience social anxiety, bulling, ADHD, ADD, physical challenges, learning disabilities, or are unable to attend during regular school hours? Children that struggle in a “traditional” high school environment should have the OPTION to earn a high school diploma and not be forced into obtaining a GED.

Legislation was passed by the state that now requires CMEHS to be governed by our local school systems. THEY HAVE REFUSED. These questions were emailed to both School superintendents and each board member of Chattooga and Trion School. Trion Superintendent Phil Williams has been the only one to respond.

1) Was there a vote by the BOE to decline or accept the partnership with Chattooga Mountain
Education? “There was not a vote by the BOE to accept or decline the partnership with Chattooga Mountain Education. TCS is not currently under contract with CME.”

2) If there was a vote, when did the vote take place? If not, who made this decision? “NA”

3) What financial impact would a memorandum of agreement with Chattooga Mountain Ed have on your school? “I do not believe that there would be any financial impact if TCS was under contract with CME.”

4) What financial impact do you face without the memorandum of agreement? ” TCS does not have a memorandum of agreement with CME.”

5) What options will you offer to those students that are 17yrs and under? No response provided.

6) Will the school system provide alternative hours for students that require an option to traditional
hours of operation? “TCS hours of operation are from 8-3:30. We do not provide alternative hours for students who receive their education from TCS.”

When asked about the fate of CMEHS future students, Superintendent Hosmer stated, “Mountain Education Charter is still open in Chattooga County. Anyone who was enrolled there by June 30, 2023, was grandfathered into the school. Any new student that wishes to enroll in Mountain Education Charter after Jun 30, 2023, must be 18 years old and be considered a dropout. Please feel free to reach out to Mrs. Driskell, the counselor at the High School, if you need assistance.”

I reached out to Joe Cash, Assistant Superintendent of Mountain Education for comment, “Through this transition, Mountain Education (ME) maintains that every student has unique strengths and challenges and learns at their own pace. ME will continue to offer self-paced and mastery-based learning through our teacher created courses that are aligned with state standards. Our goal is to continue to be the first choice for a second chance for students to build a better future through education, whether that be through our directly enrolled students or program students that we sserve in partnership with local districts.”

These students will forever be affected by our local school systems that appear to have abandoned them. Our community will witness the effects of the schools decision by the increase of drop-outs that will inevitably follow.

WE CAN FIGHT FOR THESE CHILDREN. If you won’t, then who will?

Email or call the Superintendents and School board members to request action be taken by drafting a collaborative operating agreement (contract) with CMEHS to complete the mission of giving Chattooga County children the option they deserve.

CHATTOOGA COUNTY SCHOOL (706) 857-2402

TRION CITY SCHOOLS (706) 734-7316

phil.williams@trionschools.org randyh@mvmills.com, karilawrence@windstream.net, johnny.brimer@trionschools.org, jeff.maddux@trionschools.org

jhosmer@chattooga.k12.ga.us

eelsberry@chattooga.k12.ga.us, bmontgomery@chattooga.k12.ga.us Lbrady@chattooga.k12.ga.us, bfletcher@chattooga.k12.ga.us, tlawrence@chattooga.k12.ga.us