The price of school safety

It's about $5 million for starters.

That's according to Dr. Del Phillips who is asking for a one-time allocation of $5 million to improve school security in the wake of the school shooting in Sandy Hook, CT. 

Of course, supporting School Resource Officers would become a recurring budget expense.  County Executive Anthony Holt has pledged his full support for the program.

Next, will County Commissioners put up the funds to cover this cost?  And, will they later use this as an excuse for why no additional money is available to properly fund schools?

Tune in to January's County Commission and School Board meetings for more details.

PayDay Loan Company Comes to Hendersonville

Advance Financial, a payday lender, has opened a new store in Hendersonville.  According to their own press release, the company is a comprehensive financial center.

No mention of the predatory lending rates that tend to trap the most vulnerable citizens in a cycle of payday loans -- getting one to pay off the other. 

At one time, many states had laws against usury.  Now, companies like Advance Financial operate with impunity. 

Nevertheless, if you should need a last-minute loan for the Holidays, Advance opened just in time -- and right next to Starbucks.  So, take some of that high interest cash and buy a latte.

But Where Will They Go to School?

Planning Commission gives tentative green light to a 600 home development -- with kids from those houses zoned for Station Camp schools, it seems.  Schools that are already at or over capacity. 

No word yet on plans to either 1) expand Station Camp facilities (on hold because of budget issues) or 2) build new schools in or near the area to accomodate future growth or 3) rezone schools so that over-crowding is less of a challenge.

With this development and the nearly completed apartment complex behind Indian Lake Cinemas, it seems the area is poised for significant growth and in just the areas where schools are already maxed out in terms of space. 

Will these developments lead to a corresponding request by the schools for more capital funds to upgrade existing facilities or build new ones?  Will the School Board start asking cities to slow growth while the schools catch up?

Magnet School Lives up to Name

Merrol Hyde Magnet School is just that.  A magnet.  Lots of demand, a few slots.  At least that's the conclusion one draws from reading this story.

Lots and lots of people want their kids to go there.

And, there's no more room.

And with the current situation in Sumner Schools, it seems unlikely there will be a new magnet program anytime soon.

In fact, the Focus Academy proposal (essentially creating Magnet academies within existing schools) has been scaled back due to funding concerns. 

Sumner citizens clearly want the magnet school concept.  And there is interest in the program.  So far, though, there hasn't been interest in adequately funding the schools. 

Two options exist going forward.  Expand Merrol Hyde Magnet so it can accomodate more students.  Or, build another Magnet school in Gallatin to draw from that geographic area. 

The expansion of MHMS would likely be the least expensive.  But either option is costly in terms of added faculty, facilities, and supplies.  And right now, kids don't all have access to textbooks and the system lacks adequate technology to meet upcoming demands.

In fact, it is projected that the schools will need at least $7 million in technology investment next year to meet Common Core testing requirements.  That's on top of any funds to meet growth needs.  And it is worth noting that 28 teaching positions weren't filled this year as a budget-saving measure -- filling those would cost roughly $1.4 million. 

So, there's a strong, desirable Magnet school.  One.  And for now, (and for years to come, it seems) that's all Sumner will have.