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With the possible exception, and a debatable one, of a tax increase, school rezonings are probably the most common contentious and emotionally charged issues local governments address.
That is obvious in our community right now as the Rutherford County School Board wrestles with new high school zones and new zones involving the area around the Brown’s Chapel Elementary School that opens next fall.
Moving school children to new schools always causes stress and distress for families. Citizens are seldom more attentive and likely perturbed than when changes are made affecting their children.
But, as a community grows, room must be made. Much as fitting one more person on a bench, everyone must move down a little to make room.
Recutting the school population pie to fit in a new and needed school has to have far-reaching impact in order to make an impact on the overcrowded schools requiring the new facility.
That reality doesn’t make it any easer on families who may have actually purchased a home based directly upon its school, or more likely school’s zoning.
The logistics, the wants and needs and the demographics of school rezoning are by nature massively involved. When outside influences, such as No Child Left Behind, must be accommodated as it now apparently the case with Oakland High School because of graduation rate, the issue becomes greater than most of us can manage to hold in our minds.
Rezoning is an issue where school officials must make many sacrifice for the greater good. Those necessary sacrifices are extremely personal for each household affected.
It is a heavy price, but it must be paid to ensure our educational process functions as well, as financially responsible and as equally as is possible.
That is small compensation for those who must surrender relationships, change daily routines and other important considerations, but it is the reality.
•••
United Way: Now more than ever
United Way of Rutherford and Cannon Counties moves slowly forward toward a goal of $3 million but time is running out and many dollars must yet be given or pledged to achieve the milestone.
Economic times makes fundraising ever more difficult at a time when the needs to be met by the funds will be greater than we have likely seen in decades.
For those who have largely avoided the worst of the economic downturn, this is indeed the time to Live United and to find a way to give or give a little more in recognition of true charity and the needs of neighbors.
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