Published: November 18, 2008 06:13 pm            

Murray residents glad school officials are listening

CHATSWORTH — In a county where statistics suggest not much importance is placed on education, more than 120 people attended a “Community Conversation” on Monday hosted by the Murray school system. Some who attended believe the idea of educators listening to community members hits the nail on the head.

“It’s very positive,” said Josefina Lerebours, a pastor and counselor in the Hispanic community, which now comprises 18 percent of the school system and 13 percent of the county’s population. “The people who are involved here will have more information about where the school system is going, and see there’s a lot of need in the community. We’re learning that the education system is getting interested in the family and the role of families — what is their need and how it can be improved.”

Tom Upchurch, president emeritus of the nonpartisan Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education, opened the session.

“Many school systems know what to do, but haven’t had the will to do it,” he said, adding that educators and parents should expect literacy by third grade, numeracy by eighth grade and graduation from high school.

But he recalled that sometimes parents have worked against education.

“As a principal in Calhoun, I had high-achieving students turn 16, come into my office, and say, ‘Mr. Upchurch, I have to go to work in the spreadhouse. My dad says I have to go to work,’” he said.

The retired educator said the economic impact of high school “non-completions” in the Northwest Georgia area costs the state $2.2 billion each year, and that when all the regions of the state are added together, dropouts cost Georgia $18 billion per year.

Superintendent Vickie Reed noted attitudes have changed in recent years.

“I’ve heard numerous times (from parents), ‘I want my child to do better than I did,’” she said. “Murray County schools are approving academically. In 2007 we had two schools not make AYP (adequate yearly progress under the federal No Child Left Behind law), and in 2008 only one school did not make AYP.”

Parents, educators, students and business leaders broke into groups and brainstormed around four questions:

• What do you feel proud of when you think about Murray County Schools?

• What do you think are the top issues facing students today?

• As a community, what do we want our public schools to provide for our students?

• What do you think are the top challenges faced by Murray County Schools?

Among the challenges identified for the school system were drugs, gangs, peer pressure, student boredom, bullying and the bad example of teachers smoking.

Chandler Bartley, a Murray County High student who was representing the Future Farmers of America, said teachers have made a difference in his life.

“Since my freshman year I’ve had awesome teachers,” the junior said. “When they’re hired, I feel like (the system) is looking at the teachers with the students at heart.”

Bartley said in his travels with FFA he sees the differences in schools.

“Every classroom in Murray County has smart boards,” he said. “We go to competitions at other schools and they’re still writing on a chalkboard.”

Steve Noland said that although Murray is a large system with 8,000 students, it maintains a “small town atmosphere.”

“A lot of the teachers and administrators went to school here and graduated here,” he said. “They come back here to work in our schools and it’s like there’s a personal touch between the community and the staff.”

Several attendees said they feel “comfortable” and “safe” leaving their children in the system.

“These schools are like home,” said Joyce Meadows. “You can talk to the educators, and they don’t talk down to you.”

Elaine Butler, a facilitator in one of the breakout groups, said parents are still having trouble grasping how important tardiness and absenteeism are in getting kids prepared to learn. Paula Martin agreed.

“We’ve got to be winning parents over to how important school is,” she said. “Some think that carpet mill jobs are still going to be there.”

In another session, Tony Patterson echoed the thought.

“We need to provide an education that prepares them for college, or the best way to manage in this world, like a trade or a basic knowledge of finances and life skills,” he said.

Reed said a strategic planning committee — drawn from the attendees of the community conversation — will meet on Dec. 10-11 to develop goals. The school system will use the services of the Georgia School Boards Association in planning.







Murray County: Child, family and community well-being profile



Teen pregnancies (ages 15-17, rate per 1,000) — Georgia rate, 37.7 (numbers from 2006)

— Murray rate, 71.1

Babies born to mothers with less than 12 years of education (2006)

— Georgia rate, 23.8 percent

— Murray rate, 50.3 percent

Students who graduate from high school on time (2007)

— Georgia rate, 72.3 percent

— Murray rate, 57.4 percent

Teens who are high school dropouts, ages 16-19 (from 2000 Census)

— Georgia rate, 13.6 percent

— Murray rate, 28.2 percent

Teens not in school and not working, ages 16-19 (2000)

— Georgia rate, 10.9 percent

— Murray rate, 18 percent

First births to mothers age 20 and older with 12 years of education (2006)

— Georgia rate, 66.4 percent

— Murray rate, 39 percent

Adult education attainment, high school graduate or higher (2000)

— Georgia rate, 78.6 percent

— Murray rate, 61.1 percent

Adult education attainment, bachelor’s degree or higher (2000)

— Georgia rate, 24.3 percent

— Murray rate, 7.2 percent

Students eligible to receive free or reduced rate meals (2007)

— Georgia rate, 50.3 percent

— Murray rate, 61.8 percent



Source: Georgia Kids Count (http://www.gafcp.org/kidscount/)

        

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