On the road with Rick Smith: a rocky reception

Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Rick Smith is in the early stages of an 11-meeting “road trip,” hoping to gain support for increased school funding.  I attended meeting #2 in Lookout Valley Thursday night, and Smith’s reception was chilly.  Ice cold.

The auditorium was sprinkled with about 60 people, and after subtracting principals, elected officials and central office personnel, there were only 45 or so in the category of “interested citizens.”  This was a low turnout, considering the controversy over Smith’s suggestion of a 40-cent property tax increase, which would result in a sizable ($34 million) boost for the school system’s budget.

The meetings are well-publicized.  This District 6 gathering featured a sign at the Lookout Valley exit off I-24, warning motorists that Smith wanted to raise their taxes.  The sign listed the time and place of the meeting.  Plus there was the usual media support, with the entire meeting schedule being repeated on-air and online.  On top of that, Smith met with teachers from throughout that district a few days earlier, hoping to get them on board (as he intends to do in each district prior to the town meetings).

A few weeks ago, I predicted that Smith would have no trouble attracting parents, teachers, and PTA members to his meetings.  I figured they would be the proverbial choir singing along with his pro-education message.  I said his biggest challenge would be convincing critics to attend, and then winning them over.

It’s still early, so my predictions could still come true, to some degree.  The meeting at Wallace A. Smith Elementary on Tuesday night had a good turnout of parents and teachers from the Highway 58 area.  I would also expect a good crowd at a few of the other meetings.  Still, I was surprised that the level of support Smith experienced at Lookout Valley was pretty much zero.  If there were any parents or teachers currently active in schools, they did not make themselves known.  Maybe they were at the ball fields, at work, or helping with homework.  But with so much at stake, and in a district with seven schools, the low turnout was disappointing.

The folks who did attend were predominantly older, with many describing themselves as retired, or on fixed income.  One man said he was a business owner.  Those who spoke up expressed similar complaints and concerns.  No doubt Smith has heard them all before, and has answered the same questions repeatedly.

“Instead of asking us for more money, why don’t you trim the fat at central office?”  (Smith assured them he has done that.  At one point he said he cut a million dollars  by eliminating ten central office positions.  The surprised questioner fired back, “You mean ten people added up to a million dollars?” Smith said no, he should have been more specific.)

“We have to get by on no raise, or a 1-percent raise, so why should teachers get a 5-percent raise?” (Smith said teachers are having to pay higher insurance premiums these days. “So are we!” came the chorus of replies.)

“You say you have to buy a new math program, why do we change the way we teach math every year?  The numbers haven’t changed since I was in school!” (Smith said curriculum updates are mandated every seven years, and this is the year.)

After fielding a few more zingers, Smith got a little testy at times. School Board member Joe Galloway decided to step in.  Galloway, a much-beloved former coach in Lookout Valley, reminded the crowd that Smith had an 8-month-old granddaughter, “and he could be sitting at home playing with her.” But, Galloway continued, “He’s taking the time to come here and tell you the shape we’re in, and I think we should appreciate that.”  For the first time, Smith got some applause.

Galloway is one of a handful of Board members who is firmly on Smith’s side on most issues.  He told the crowd that he’s studied the numbers, and that Smith is right.  The needs are there, in everything from arts, foreign language, technology, maintenance and salaries, and that Hamilton County schools need more funding.

Smith said, “I’m not here to advocate for taxes, I’m here to advocate for kids.”  With two state legislators in the audience, Smith said, “I’m not blaming you, but we need to get our share of tax money back from the state.  We’re not getting back anywhere near what we send to Nashville.”

For 90 minutes, Smith capped off a long day by making a detailed, complicated case for increased funding.  I’m not sure he swayed anyone in attendance Thursday night, and from what County Commissioners are saying publicly and privately, he’s not likely to get much love from them either.

Near the end of his presentation, he bemoaned the fact that many of the schools’ problems these days are the result of ineffective, uninvolved parents.  There’s a lot of truth in that.  Now he must find a way to get those people to come to his meetings.

Here is the remaining schedule:

Mon.  April 20:  Signal Mtn. Middle/High  6:00 p.m.

Tues.  April 21:  East Ridge High   6:30 p.m.

Thur.  April 23:   Hixson High  6:30 p.m.

Tues.  April 28:  Brainerd High  6:00 p.m.

Thur.  April 30:  Red Bank Middle  6:00 p.m.

Mon.  May 4:    Orchard Knob Elem.  6:00 p.m.

Tues.  May 5:   Howard High  6:30 p.m.

Tues.  May 12:  Soddy- Daisy High  6:00 p.m.