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A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.”
That quote is from Gen. Douglas MacArthur, once the U.S. Army’s youngest general who eventually became a five-star general, chief of staff for the Army in the 1930s and supreme commander of the Allied Powers in Japan during World War II. He knew a little something about leadership; to paraphrase William Shakespeare, heavy is the head that wears the crown.
For years, Cherokee County’s school leaders have grappled with what to do about declining enrollment, aging facilities and the evolving needs of modern education. Many leaders, parents and students have expressed concern over the years that each campus has not been able to offer students the same amenities, from a gymnasium to Advanced Placement classes and online capabilities.
This is not a new issue; similar concerns have been debated since the 1970s. Only nobody has had the political willpower to address it since then, instead kicking the can down the road for future county officials to deal with, which came up often at Monday night’s meeting.
That’s in large part because “consolidation” has become a four-letter word to some local folks, who under no circumstances will support the idea of closing, merging or even rebuilding school campuses elsewhere. Stories are still shared in hushed tones of a local school board member whose home was mysteriously set ablaze in the 1970s, right after the board voted to form a committee to merely consider consolidation.
Those raw emotions are just as heated today, which is why Dr. Jeana Conley, superintendent of Cherokee County Schools, has taken one local resident to court for making what she called harassing and intimidating threats. Local history, as well as a cursory look on online message boards, shows she has good reason to be take these comments seriously.
On one hand, we can understand why many people don’t support any proposal. Community schools have long been considered one of the county’s strengths. Rivalries and traditions run deep from Bulldogs to Eagles to Wildcats. Schools like Hiwassee Dam, Martins Creek and Ranger help define those communities. This is the kind of change that leads people into a fearful unknown.
On the other hand, there’s no excuse for being that angry and hostile. Every school district in the country has faced similar tough calls, including in Cherokee and Clay counties, as over the years Marble Elementary School, Ogden School, Unaka School, White School and more have closed. Nothing stays the same forever; in fact, the high school I attended in West Palm Beach, Fla., before transferring to Murphy High School shut its doors for the last time in 1988.
There’s also no excuse for passing on things that are wildly incorrect, as the amount of misinformation online is mammoth to behold. I can’t help but notice that some of the people who are the most misinformed claim they don’t read the Cherokee Scout, when just 60 cents a week would have put them in the know.
One of the biggest complaints about the consolidation plan today is that it allegedly was shoved down everyone’s throats, but that’s simply not true. Since a 2016 study on the subject, the Scout has published 127 pages of articles and submissions about the consolidation process – many of them anchored on the front page, where you couldn’t miss it.
It’s unfortunate that the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in the midst of public hearings, but this is only the beginning of a long process that school board members didn’t want to delay any further. Regardless of which option they choose, additional tax dollars will be needed, and today the government can borrow money at incredibly low interest rates that may not be there tomorrow.
Conley spent a fair amount of time at Thursday’s school board meeting addressing other calls she received that were riddled with misinformation. Many are answered in the LS3P study, which can be read at www.cherokee.k12.nc.us and made 11 different options – all that cost money. However, the option that, by far, costs the most is keeping all 13 county school campuses as is.
Ultimately, that’s what the county commissioners’ vote Monday was about. We’re going to spend a lot more money bringing Cherokee County Schools up to date, so what kind of system do we ultimately want for our students? After all, preparing our young people for the future is far more important than any sentimental attachment we might have to our alma mater.
Whether you agree with their decisions
or not, school board members, the superintendent and county commissioners are showing the kind of leadership we have long needed in education. Real leaders are never appreciated while they serve, but one day the grandchildren of today’s students will hopefully thank them for having the courage to look out for their best interests.
David Brown is publisher & editor of the Cherokee Scout. You can reach him by
phone, 837-5122; email, dbrown@cherokeescout.com; or message him on Twitter
@daviddBstroh.