The culmination of Caroline's beautiful, film-making talent; a vision bestowed unto Lola and I; and a weekday afternoon.

301a from Caroline Clonts on Vimeo.

A short chat with AJ and Lola, two amazing individuals, who have an infectious passion for photography, inspiring music, and their small corner of the world that they are turning into a community.

South Broad Street and Cherokee Crosswalk Update

August 10, 2011. Rome, Georgia Public Works and Transit Committee with the Traffic Commission. Agenda Section VI, a – Request for Crosswalk on South Broad at Cherokee Street.

a pierce

[inaudible] 301 South Broad Street. My wife and I run a community outreach center called 301a community outreach. We do afterschool feedings, we hand out clothes and food to the people who live is these apartments here [points at map toward South Broad Apartments], there [points at yellow apartments], and also back here [points at gray house behind yellow house]. It is actually very densely populated in just that – I guess it would be a block, or less than a block. And there is not that many motorist; a lot of these people walk. [inaudible] So with all these people walking, all the services that they walk to are actually on the other side of the street. We have Super Latino Foods, which is here [points at map], a Guatemalan Restaurant, here [points at map], which is also catered towards them. Further down past McCall hospital [inaudible] is the SOW Day Shelter, laundromat, gas station, convenience store, and another restaurant. You can imagine the difficulty of – and my wife and I have seen this – of trying to cross here at Cherokee or Butler with a laundry basket on your head. It’s not small feat to get across the road. And you also have kids who are going over to get candy or whatever other assorted thing from the store running across the street – and it’s normally from [inaudible]. You see kids dodging cars and horns honking and slamming on the brakes. It is an issue. I feel like if a kid hasn’t been hit yet, it surely will happen at some point – the volume of cars, the increased volume of people in this area the possibility of getting hit [inaudible].

I do understand that you may not really be that set on putting one [a crosswalk] here because you say, “Well as part of the corridor plan, there are crosswalks in other places.” Which that is on the left of your visual aid - there is, I think I am correct in saying, one planned for Myrtle where the Mercy Housing Center will be, for those folks. But notice that is 176 yards away. So to not jay-walk or to not put their lives in danger, to cross in a city-specified area, they would have to walk all the way down and all the way back up. Or, if they choose the longer option, I think there is one planned for the fork at the end of South Broad Street. Is that correct? [affirming nods from committee] Which is an even larger 528 yards away. That is an awfully long way to walk then walk back up. It seems to me that – it seems strange that, in the plan, there was not an idea to put a crosswalk anywhere in between. Especially when you think about our community that my wife and I serve on this side of Broad Street [points toward east side] as well as all the folks here [points toward west side] who, most of them walk as well. It really is a walking community. The [new] trees, pavement, curb – that’s all great. The problem is, it is great until you have to actually have to cross the street anywhere between that half-a-mile or so space there. Either we need to put a crosswalk there at Cherokee or have a sign, so the motorist know, that says, “Citizens are allowed to break the law, and jaywalk here.” That way people know citizens are allowed to illegally cross the street here, so I should slow down.

l pierce

There is also the bus stop right across the street.

a pierce

That is true. [inaudible] The Rome Transit Department has a bus stop there [points toward bus stop by Super Latino Foods]. And then also the school – South East’s bus stop – drops off right here, at the drive way that goes up to the apartments. The bus includes those people in the apartments up there as well as kids on Cherokee. Granted there is an arm that goes out to allow kids to cross safely, but parents we’ve noticed [inaudible] like to walk across the street to meet them or walk across the street to let them get on the bus. [inaudible] Thank you very much. Or, open to questions or however you guys proceed.

committee member

Your wife’s name is?

l pierce

Lola.

a pierce

I wanted to mention one more thing: Lola and I were also passing around a petition for it. So we’ve had 29 citizens so far in the community and you guys are welcome to sign. Thank you very much.

committee member 2

I appreciate you observing this and caring about the people of your community enough to come up here and [inaudible].

committee member

[inaudible, directs toward Committee Member Milam]

committee member Milam

It is important to note that the project you mentioned on South Broad was [inaudible]. [inaudible] hasn’t escaped our observation. The project in its early stage actually had a traffic signal in that location. This was primarily planned early on because of the school [inaudible]. [inaudible] That is not to say that they’re aren’t pedestrians who cross there. [inaudible] The thing we need to recognize is people tend to cross where ever they want to. [inaudible] While we do like to have crosswalks where there is controlled intersections – a stop sign or traffic signs – we don’t recommend crosswalks in other places. That’s kind of the history [inaudible].

a pierce

It should be noted that – and I think a few of you guys may have been at that this Rome Board of Education meeting that was last week. The Anna K Davie situation is actually not over yet either. Which should be noted. The likely hood of it being built in another location is high but still a school of something may be put there that would still require the light and crosswalk that was initially included in the plan. And I do understand that people are just going to cross where they want to cross – however they want to go about getting across the street. We see that every day. But to not give them a place just because you suspect they’ll cross wherever they want – I don’t know if that is necessarily fair. It’s like not – I the sure the officer would not – he’s not going to not put up a speed limit sign just because he knows people may not follow it. You still put them up and then you police it. So we give them an option to walk and if they don’t walk there then they are outside the law.

committee member 2

Define crosswalk.

committee member Milam

A crosswalk is where you have lines painted on the pavement indicating where pediestrians have [inaudible]. [inaudible] The counter to that would be [inaudible] false sense of security. [inaudible]

a pierce

I do understand Broad Street being a central business area but also I have conversation with Melissa Jones of the South Broad Redevelopment Corporation. Her and a lot of other people think that South Broad could become an extension of Broad Street – that there would be businesses and lofts. [inaudible] People are talking about wanting to develop the area economically but there are actually a lot of businesses there right now that could help the community. There is a grocery store there, there’s multiple restaurants – basically what I am trying to say is that just because it is not on Broad Street doesn’t mean its not a commercial location. There’s a lot of business and public works like the park that could benefit from having a designated area. I don’t want kids to feel like, “Oh, there’s a crosswalk, I’ll just walk across it whenever I want.” But maybe if there was some sort of reflective markers, a sign like the ones on broad street, motorist driving by would know or Darlington students driving by way to fast for the road could notice that.

committee member 3

What is the cost of installing one of those push-button activated lights for people to cross?

committee member Milam

Like LEDs buried in the pavement?

committee member 3

No, I am talking about a traffic signal.

committee member Milam

Like any other traffic signal, it would be about 50,000 dollars. [inaudible] In this case [inaudible] we would need to do a study to determine what pedestrians, traffic counts there are – and how those stand up to other intersections and see if that is the best place [inaudible].

committee member 4

One thing you mentioned about crossing where there is not markings at all – I don’t think that is considered jay walking to cross the street. It’s not against the law to cross the street.

l pierce

Do they have any legal protection though if they get hit by a car.

committee member 4

If you get hit by a car you get hit by a car. It just depends. The police would have to decide whether the pedestrian had the right of way. [inaudible] I don’t think you can cite crossing the street.

rome city police officer

[inaudible]

a pierce

Sure, sure. So we have satisfied the legal issue, which is good. They are not breaking the law. But still, Rome City needs to satisfy the safety concern. We can all go out there and look one day during session. I am open to however you guys want to do that. We have a nice front porch, you guys can come hang out and [inaudible] see the necessity of having one there. In closing, I know you guys have other stuff on the agenda, it’s the South Broad Pedestrian Corridor Plan. I feel like when it was presented it seemed specifically designed for the people of South Rome. Because people in South Rome are walkers, so lets make something nice for them. But the crosswalks being spread out so far in the most densely populated area of South Rome – it makes it seem like the plan wasn’t actually designed for them. Do you understand what I am saying? And with all due respect to the plan – we love the trees in front of our house that you guys planted. But I see one crosswalk for Mercy Housing, and I get that because the city like them being there. And the other one down there where South Broad forks, I can understand the necessity of one there too because cars don’t even know what to do there. But to not have one in between when it is the South Broad Pedestrian Corridor does seems a bit odd. Maybe we can do some sort of studies or research that is more in depth to truly see how the plan is benefitting [inaudible].

[inaudible]

committee member

[toward Milum] Would you take a look at it [inaudible]. Then come back to us with a recommendation next month.

[inaudible]

committee member 4

One thing to think about: Cherokee Street is the only street that goes all the way to the school.

a pierce

[interrupting] And the park.

committee member 4

[resuming] If you are going to do something, that is the right place to do it. [inaudible] The signal at West Main and South Broad – that’s going to break up some traffic which might make crossing easier.

[inaudible]

committee member 2

So what you’re saying is: Do what is already in place, then reevaluate what Mr. Pierce has suggested. Does that seem fair? There are already things in place that might impact your request that you’re making.

[inaudible]

committee member

OK. Let’s keep it on the radar.

On August 2^nd, 2011, the Rome City Board of Education held a meeting in the boardroom of their East 2^nd Street building. Community members were given an opportunity to address the board.

301a is not a lobbying organization; therefore, if the community members’ address could not be transcribed verbatim for whatever environmental or technical reason, I chose to notate such events as “inaudible,” even if the idea or thesis of the argument could be paraphrased. That way, there was no room for even a subconscious bias to be expressed. Faithfulness to the words spoken that August 2^nd was my ultimate goal, regardless of diction, grammatical error, or political/philosophical disagreement.

first community member to speak [Pastor Ingram]

Superintendent Cooper, city board members: I come tonight with hopes of resolve that we all want. Doctor Cooper and Ms. Sims have said that they too would like to see Anna K Davie back in its original location. The special purpose local option sales tax was voted upon by all the citizens of Rome. The wording of the Anna K Davie portion was clear. Therefore, our concern is why do we keep having these meetings. We are aware of the two main concerns for feasibility; I want to address those. Number one: the state requires a certain amount of acreage for building the new school. We understand that that has changed. And the original location is not that suited for merging Anna K Davie and Southeast elementary school. Please note that the merging of the two schools at this point still does not bring the attendance number to the required four hundred and fifty students; however, we can and we must get past these issues. Any plans we make all most always have some issues or some problems that we must overcome. If we work together I am confident that Anna K Davie can be placed back in its original location.

Take a look at the first problem – the land problem. I’m sure you know that between Anna K Davie and Bethlehem Temple Church there are several lots: five of them are vacant, one has a small house, and the other laundromat that is no longer in operation. I don’t know, but I would not be surprised if the city did not already own most of this property or could get access to it since it is unkept. There are vacant lots on either side of the school, there on Nixon and Hardy Avenue. One particularly where the teachers have already been parking. During the school hours, Cherokee Street has always been gated and locked at the school. It would not be ridiculous to close that street off since it is a dead end on the other side of Nixon Avenue anyway. That way you could connect the new school to the new classrooms that are already present at this location. I do not think anyone would object to a portion of [Parks] Hoke park being used [to help meet the states land requirement]. My point being, if the school system and the city work together we probably will have enough acreage needed for the new school. As for merging the two schools, we all know that busing is a part of everyday life. If you put it anywhere else, you will have to bus kids from one side of town to the other. I still cannot believe that they are allowing kids to come across that railroad track in East Rome, now, to go to the Rome Boys and Girls Club, but that’s another issue. With the work of the South Rome Redevelopment Program roads, sidewalks, lights, lighting along the corridor for better.

What about this idea, I thought of this the other day: On Cherokee Street twelve out of twenty homes are either boarded up or are for rent of sale. Imagine with me that Cherokee Street became the inner corridor or a main street; that it could have some neighborhood friendly services on this street. If we get a grant through the Some Rome Redevelopment Corporation, they could work with us to make that happen. So if the streets could be maybe widened the sidewalks paved proper lighting could accommodate something like a health clinic or doctors office, cultural center, fine arts program where kids can come and observe paintings, [unintelligible], and music, and even learn about that. Now what about a police precinct. All of this on Cherokee Street, leading down to center piece of the Hillsboro community, Anna K Davie School. Children coming from Mercy Housing Center and children being bused to school get to see these positive things on their way to school. That is just an idea.

My point is, that as the school system will work together with the city, South Rome Redevelopment Corporation, and the Hillsboro community work together we can get this done. Where else in South Rome does the same school system have any property? How can we ignore the SPLOST vote? What would you say to people about trusting future SPLOST programs? How can you just ignore the will of the people, those that are here and the almost seven hundred signatures and growing we say we want to school back its original place. [5 minute timer beeps] Someone said to me, I don’t know if its true, that you can build a school any where you want to but you can’t build it with the SPLOST money. I understand that the economy is unstable. What that my signal?

board member

Take a breath. [laughter]

second community member to speak

[unintelligible] chairman and to the rest of the board members I have to put this disclaimer out there: I am not the best of speakers, and certainly people who will come behind me [inaudible].

I grew up in a school in Rome. Some people in the school system, particularly in the South Rome area were [inaudible] to East Rome High School, to West Rome High School, and also to Pepperell High School which in and of itself [unintelligible] excessive. And we want to be fair. We have to look at the possibility of redistricting the area. Now if we do that, there will be no student that will make or require to live as far as South Rome to Pepperell. We could incorporate an area, from South Rome to Southeast Rome and possibly an area between - an area that is northeast of Martha Berry Boulevard [inaudible] forth ward. Which is a even shorter commute than those kids going from forth ward to central. Then I’m sure that you could get if not the baseline area that you need, the base size school you need, 450, I think that’s the number that’s been thrown out there. You could certainly get very close to it. And I challenge you that Elm Street got a new school.

[inaudible]

The code says, I looked at some of the code today: No school will be allowed to have a travel in excess in what is considered a long transport to get to school back and forth. If you incorporate those areas into a new district for Anna K Davie, no one would exceed an excess of travel to get back and forth to school.

One last point before I go. If we do put the school back in the Anna K Davie area as Pastor Ingram said, due to the clean it or lien it laws they imposed in South Rome, there are a lot of vacant lands that the city still owns right now [that the Board of Education could use]. So in that sense, we’ve saved a lot of money versus going out and buying some more property or acquiring more property from a private owner. And if we do acquire property, if we decide to go contrary to what we’re talking about today, I would like to know who this property owner is that we are going to buy – that the Rome City School System is going to buy the property from. That is relevant.

I do want you to consider if a school is put into that area again, the impact on revenue we talked about is very important because, South Rome is one of those areas that needs economic development and this would be considered by many to be a catalyst for economic development. Cause now that land prices are so cheap, people will come in and buy homes and settle there so their kids can walk to school, everybody wants that opportunity. So I think the school being put back in Anna K Davie, I think that it would be a catalyst for more economic development for more growth in the South Rome area. [inaudible] So with that I would like to thank you. [timer reset]

third community member to speak

My name is Tiffany [inaudible], and I am a South Rome resident. I just want to say that I was truly saddened by the closing of Anna K Davie. Anna K Davie was considered my family. My mother went there, myself and all of my two brothers, and all of our children. I always envisioned my son walking across the street home, to my grandmother’s house; and of course that’s not happening now. But the main thing that I am really concerned about is the quality of education that our children are receiving. When the school closed, my sons went to east central. And one of the things I learned about the education they were receiving – it is not equal. [inaudible] My major concern is about the education that the children are receving. And I say that because if you are going to build a new school then – a million dollar school – then these children should have million dollar educations. And another thing that I am really concerned about is the recent article in the newspaper about [graduation rates in] our high schools. Children are not graduating. And I see that as a means of the education that they receive in elementary. If your not educating them at young age then they get to middle school how are they supposed to cope with the other elementary schools who received a higher education? The next option that they have would be to give up. And that is why they are not graduating. [inaudible] Make sure that all the elementary schools are given the same things, they’re being taught the same thing. Because if we are going to have a school, a major million dollar school, in South Rome – Anna K Davie – please give them a major education. [inaudible] How can the city school system have different things going on in different schools and nobody knows about that? [inaudible] So that is my major concern. Thank you. [timer resets]

fourth community member to speak

[inaudible] . . .my daughter is also a student at Tuskegee University studying medicine, which is a testament to that community [South Rome]. [inaudible] . . .the proposal to demolish Anna K Davie and to reconstruct it in the same location. The SPLOST vote was accepted and the demolition occurred; however, the current proposal from the Rome City Schools to utilize those collected SPLOST funds to redistrict and there by combine both Anna K and Southeast to an undetermined location. It appears what is put before us are those discussions seen and those discussions not seen. At the time of voting for the SPLOST tax, it was not seen that there might possibly be a subproject proposal. It was also not seen that the subproject would be funded by the SPLOST tax earmarked for the reconstruction of Anna K Davie [inaudible]. Are not the SPLOST taxes to be used for purposes intended? And if the project [inaudible] taxes that were collected cannot be met, then the SPLOST taxes would return to a funding pool [inaudible] to vote. [inaudible] When the proposal for the SPLOST tax was determined for Elm Steet School to be demolished and rebuilt in the same location, it occurred. And based on that example of fulfilling expectations by the Rome City School Board, the SPLOST tax was put before the public again and voted for in favor of the same occurring for Anna K Davie, with just a little structural repair to Southeast Elementary. Is it not just a matter of equal – It is not just a matter of equal protection for a structural building but equal protection as it related to education [inaudible]. Anna K Davie students have not fallen behind even with very limited resources. [inaudible] The people of South Rome are not blind [inaudible]. They’re feeling they are not included [inaudible]. And what is happening to the community is being dictated to the point where they have to accept it whether they like it or not. [timer resets]

fifth community member to speak

Good evening.

board member

Good evening.

fifth community member to speak

My name is Allen Jackson. Many of you know me. I want to say thank you for having this meeting. I have served on the 2006 and 2009 SPLOST tax committee. And the thing that deeply concerns me is the passage of these SPLOST votes. [inaudible] One thing that the committee was very adamant about was public interest. Your decision making process, as I look back – I found that there’s very little transparency. There is very little opportunity for the public to put themselves into the position to comment on any part of that SPLOST tax. [inaudible] It seems as though most of the decisions were made behind closed doors. [inaudible] You need to be more transparent; you need to be more inclusive. We would not be here today if we as citizens had been educated and given an opportunity to know what this – what the SPLOST really held. To me, it’s a violation of public trust. You have a hard decision to make. If you building the school back in that location or not it is a matter of public trust. Serving on these SPLOST committees [inaudible] . . .the city SPLOST barely passed. I’d like to think that those votes that did pass the SPLOST came from South Rome. [inaudible] There is a lot at stake here. The city could do what was printed on that paper, and as I understand this was tried by the country commission and also tried by [inaudible] to make some deviations from the original package. When I looked at yours, there was no rendition , no sketches, no article, no investigation done to say that the property was not there – that the property is not big enough. Had you had a committee in place that stated that, they would have made that recommendation or they would have saw ahead some type of sketch or did some type of research to answer all these questions before you, as a board decided to go on. You must be held accountable for what you put on that SPLOST package. This has been to court before. There’s an article in the Rome News Tribune last Tuesday – I think its Tuesday [inaudible] of what’s at stake here. Although we’d like to work out some type of agreement, I find that hard. Seems as though your minds have been made up. I do not think a public forum is going to help any at all, personally. You haven’t been very transparent; you haven’t been very inclusive. Credibility is at stake and accountability is at stake. We only ask that you do what is right; [inaudible] that you do what you put on that SPLOST package. [inaudible] And that is to build that school back in the same location. Now they are deviations; there may be something we can work out. But it will not work until this entire community comes together to come up with an [inaudible] on the plan. We may build another school; hopefully it will be the best school in this city. But please, be more diverse, be more transparent, be more inclusive.

[inaudible]

From this point on there must be some questions answered. Where do we go from here? How does this jeopardize the future SPLOST vote? [inaudible] We must hold you accountable. We must hold you accountable to what you agreed to put on the SPLOST [inaudible]. There has to be some type of transparency. There has to be some type of agreement reached. [inaudible] You not going to answer any [questions] today, I don’t find that unusual. But I do think you need to communicate more in an open forum, with the public before you come to this decision. [5 minute timer beeps] Again, thank you. And hopefully we can more ahead from this point. [chatter, timer reset]

sixth community member to speak

Good evening. My name is Xaiveir Ringer. Today, the points I’m going to make are really going to push about four main things, that is: Assess needs, invest for sustainable community, engage community, and ensure buy-in.

[inaudible]

And I want to clarify that myself and my colleagues do not wish to further recommendation for the school to be built but we demand that it be built where the SPLOST tax [inaudible].

[inaudible]

In investing who owns the land [around Anna K Davie], there are two blocks that Floyd Country owns as well as another lot owned by Floyd Country in the same Anna K Davie area.

[inaudible]

. . .centralizing the new Anna K Davie would ensure safety and also lessen the commute – I disagree.

[inaudible]

And I also think there needs to be greater logic to moving Anna K Davie. [inaudible] And I think the logic of the community needs to be addressed first.

[inaudible]. . .will increase attractiveness to future families. And they will take a stake in their community and their children. And merging Anna K Davie and Southeast, in South Rome, is a solution.

[inaudible]

What are the needs of that community [east and south Rome]? How do we assess what a community needs in a proper way that allows them to buy in to their school. Buy-in ensures responsibility.

[inaudible]

The president [Barack Obama] has stressed when you look at the Freedom of Information Act that agencies should take affirmative and innovative steps in achieving transparency. [5 minute timer beeps]

[inaudible]

[chatter, timer reset]

seventh community member to speak

I want to bring just a few things to your attention. First of all, I worked in this area 27 years, 8 of those years as principle of Anna K Davie School. And my oldest daughter finished the seventh grade at Anna K Davie School; and she sailed right on through high school. [inaudible]

The old image of South Rome still prevails in some minds. But I can assure you that that old image is not there any more. We have a lot of old dilapidated buildings still standing there and all those pill [inaudible] is gone. And they are not coming back. We’re going to see to that. We believe also, that regardless of where you are, parents coming together working in harmony – it seems to have a good school situation. We were given a test at the Anna K Davie School called the Stanford-Binet test way back in the early sixties, late fifties. We did real well on that test. A man by the name of Ed Krueger – I’ll point him out to you after this thing is over – Is the man that steered that testing vote. Most of our grade [inaudible] were tested at grade level. So children can learn; I don’t care where you are.

And if I had time I would go through these [inaudible] studies. They were done in St. Louis when [inaudible] Shepherd took over that district. And it was one of those ghetto track things; parents didn’t seem to care and all that. Long story short, in ten years he had children going to Harvard, Princeton, Dartmouth, and other places.

Also let me point out this: The Boys and Girls Club has made a considerable out lay of money in that general area which would indicate to me and others that they have confidence in this area. And I don’t see nothing wrong building back in that particular area. One of the things that we tried to do during the eight years I was there is try to bring rapport between parents and children. And children will learn anywhere, anyplace, anytime regardless of who’s teaching them [as long you are actually teaching them]. [recording tape flipped]

I think it would be a wise decision on your part to cut out as much of this busing as you possibly can. We’ve had our fill of that.

Let me tell you one more thing. Teachers and parents working together, as I said before, can make things happen. And even when I was oversees [inaudible]. I couldn’t speak those little Japanese kids’ language – they couldn’t speak mine. But that candy bar bridged the difference. A little pat on the back, a little hug, a little encouragement will cause children to do things. And parents can’t sit back and wait on you and wait on us to do what they should be doing. I believe if we put another good school down there with all the modern day amenities and laboratories and all that thing, you’ll see some good things coming out of South Rome – regardless of what the ethnic background or ethnic [inaudible] is. Children will learn when they are well taught, regardless of location – where it is – or who’s teaching them. If they are teaching then correctly, they’re going to learn something. If they are improperly taught – I don’t care where they are, you can take them downtown Manhattan or wherever – if you don’t have the kind of teaching that will fire that children’s imagination that will fire that children’s minds and spur that, [5 minute timer beeps] excite that child to do his or her best, you’re not going to help them much. So I would suggest to you, members of this exalted body, don’t be afraid to put a school back into that area. Because children can learn. [inaudible] [board member interupts] Thank you. [timer reset]

eighth community member to speak

Madame chairperson, Dr. Cooper, members of the board, my name is David Harvey. [inaudible] I am keening interested in the issues [inaudible]. You have the opportunity to build a brand new, six million dollar experiment in education that oculd be used as an example for all the Rome City system – to elevate other schools. [inaudible] This is the boards challenge and opportunity. I don’t know the nuances of one location versus another; I didn’t grow up there. But I do think that the school, and I believe you’ve already said this, should be name the Anna K Davie School. Somebody is going to have to be transported from somewhere. There is a railroad track and a creek. So my argument is not for the way you deal with the situation, its to refer back to a time when [inaudible] joined the Rome City Commission and said, “Working together, works.” [inaudible] I do believe there are resources [inaudible].

To elevate this school to the standards I believe could be achieved, you’re going to draw students into that community school instead of [inaudible]. You’re only going to get one shot at this.

[inaudible] Dr. Cooper I know your time is short and you may think this should be referred to your successor. But I think that time could be used to get people on the same page, and move ahead. Thank you very much. [timer reset, chatter]

ninth community member to speak

My name is Linda Smith. I am the founder and administrator of Mountain Top Experience Community Outreach on the corner of Cherokee and Branham Avenue. I love the children dearly, and not just South Rome or East Rome children. It was hard on me emotionally when the school was torn down because, like Tiffany, I had a lot of history there. [inaudible] Memories have just been flooding my mind. My concern – one of my main concerns is the safety. So there’s safety issues as for East Rome is concerned, as for South Rome is concerned. But listening to everybody – I am a person of my word. And if your word is no good, you’re no good. If you’re a biblical person, or even an atheist, you know that. Your word is supposed to be your bond; and the school needs to go right back there. Any other issues, it needs to be corrected, fixed, or handled. Any organization, any group has to have core values. There has to be a foundation; and then anything can be built above that foundation. But if that foundation is shaky, you’re shaky. And there is a thing called accountability. And our accountability, being a Christian I’m going to say it is to God, but I’m looking at our children. It’s our children. So for the love of a child, for the love of our children – I have no grandchildren there, I have no children there, but when I look at the children – they’re mine. They’re mine. And like the young man was saying about that railroad track and that creek, to me that is a big safety issue; because, contrary to what was said in other meetings, there are children who are having to walk home. From the East Rome school, cross over the creek, cross over the railroad track, and come on home. So this has been happening. They said it wouldn’t but I’m here to tell you it has been. I have a lot of concerns the busing. But the busing is needed. But the main thing, the core thing, we’re here for – we can’t deviate from that. The school. You know, your accountability. Everything else – that essential. You have to have essentials. Everything else is supposed to fit into that. Thank you, thank you, and amen. [laughter] [timer reset, chatter]

tenth community member to speak

[cough] My name is Detrick Redding, I live [inaudible] Harding Avenue – right in the heart of Hillsboro. [inaudible] I speak as a proud parent of four children. My eighteen year old son is in Japan in school right now; my seventeen year old is a senior at Rome High; my thirteen year old daughter is at Rome Middle School in the eighth grade. I, myself, attended Anna K Davie School from kindergarten to sixth grade. The only job that my father had when he lived on this earth was Anna K Davie School. He worked there for twenty plus years as a custodian. He worked there with a disability [inaudible]. So I have a lot of ties with South Rome and I love South Rome, Anna K, and I love, love the school. Respectfully Cooper, Madame Chairman, I come to you to submit to you this: The board came to Anna K over a year ago and informed us, parent and residents, that the closing of Anna K. And you gave us the why.

As a business man, I heard you. [inaudible] But I compiled the information in my head – truly I understand, financially. However, you all delivered a speech as if you were trying to obtain our support. But you had no consensus; your plan was set already. Your plan was final. It was already set. [inaudible] That is were the conflict started. It would be wonderful if you and your board would give us a formal apology to convey to us your part in this matter. That may or may not happen. But I think I forgive and I look past that because that is just how I am. I know mistakes are made; I know how sometimes boards will make mistakes and make a move and make it too fast. I understand. So I forgive. However, we are now at a trivial point. Where do we go? What do we do?

This school year presented a great decision for my wife and I. Cause I mentioned the three children, but now I have a four year old who is getting ready for school. Had to make a decision as to where she was going to go. Anna K Davie is no longer there. [inaudible] So I have to make a decision of where I wanted her to start her education. We looked to the north, we looked to the west, we looked to the east, we looked to public, we looked to private. But to me, location was not the first focal point, cause I would travel to give my child the best education possible. [inaudible] I demand over and above for Anna K Davie. Not just for my daughter, but for all the children of South Rome. Location does affect the ability of learning; however, I feel today our number one focal point should be the quality [inaudible]. Thank you very much. [timer resets]

gentleman to the right of the board

Melissa Jones is the next person on this list if she chooses to speak.

eleventh community member to speak

I would like everyone to focus on the big picture – which is education. Due to the economy and tax restraint the city just cannot precede to fund a neighborhood school. The most important thing we can do collectively is to work together to enhance educational opportunities for the kids in South Rome. Many of you may say, “How do we do that?” We do that by working with all interested parties to make sure that the new Anna K Davie Elementary School has the resources, technology, academic requirements, and leadership to prepare our kids to succeed globally, not just in the United States. The South Rome Redevelopment Corporation is committed to working with the community, the board of education, local [inaudible], and any other entity to ensure that we remember that the focus is on the children. And ensuring that we not only meet their needs, but exceed them as well. If there is anything that we, the South Rome Redevelopment Corporation, can do to help this process move forward whether it is facilitating meetings, or holding workshops – please remember that we work with everyone to ensure that the kids are not forgotten. In addition please remember, we need room for the school to grow as the population of school-aged children increases. Please keep that in mind. [timer reset]

twelfth community member to speak

Good evening chairmen, members of the schools board. I am not here to discuss all the issues that have been raised today. I’m here to take a humanistic look and also look at it from an economic development standpoint. First of all, I was at Anna K Davie when Mr. [seventh community member to speak] was principle. I graduated in the very first class out of the building that is now no longer there. But what appalls me the most is the fact that out of all of my classmates that graduated out of that building the first year that it was open – none of us are up in arms about loosing that building, because we do believe in progress. Progress allows us to move forward. Progress allows our children to move forward, also. That’s my first point.

My second point is the economic development. I also served as the chairman of the South Rome Redevelopment Agency Economic Development Committee. And in order for us to continue to get funds to come into Rome, we going to need to have our school at a centralized location where there is easy access to the school so that when business come in, business will also have easy access in and out. So that as the community grows, so does the business infrastructure of South Rome. Growing up in South Rome, I know there were many businesses in South Rome; but, when I left and came back several years later, all of those businesses are now gone. Even the businesses that were on the corridor – Enloe Drug Store is just an empty building, the supermarket that was there, McCall Hospital, Thomas Groceries that was there. We lost a lot of economic development in South Rome. My question is: What do we do to get that economic development back? Because we need something that is going to be stable to get the economic development back. And how do we do that?

We first start off with education. Education should be all of our primary goal. Is to make sure that we first address the needs of our children. It has been said that we are getting a six million dollar school coming into the area. And if I just heard, South Rome needs a place where as the school grows, South Rome can grow too. We don’t want to confine ourselves to a particular spot which would alleviate the process of other businesses larger or small coming in to put economics back in South Rome. We need to take a very close look and a good look at the direction that we are going. At the size and at the things we are telling our children – that the old school was ok, it was for the time that it was there but now, as Mr. [inaudible] said, we need to elevate our standards of education for our children. We’re looking at some saying six million dollars coming in. We need to be able to have an edifice that will be a state-of-the-art school. That may in fact attract more qualified teachers to come into Rome to teacher in our public school system. One of the things that some of you know from years ago – one of the principles went around the state to get qualified teachers to come into Rome. There weren’t any. Why? Because there was nothing that Rome could offer them. That’s sad for me, because growing up in Rome – Rome had a lot to offer any teacher that came in. For me, I had the best teachers that could possibly be in Rome going to Anna K Davie and Main High. That’s my two alma maters: Anna K Davie and Main High. I’m proud of the education that I had. Because I was able to go even further than that by leaving Rome [inaudible] by being able to see how other cities, how other school boards operate and elevate into the stage of education. And we, too, in Rome need to be that very same way. We need to be able to have the quality kind of education for our students now as I had when I was growing up. Going to Anna K Davie, I was under two separate principles: Ms. Nixon and Mr. [inaudible]. They ran a tight ship but yet all in all – see I had Mr. [inaudible] twice, I had him at Anna K Davie and at Main High and I had Mr. CW [inaudible]. So I have had an array of principles and teachers who took time for the students. But as a collective body, not only you – I just heard someone say that the South Rome Redevelopment Agency is willing to partnership with anyone who wants to. And the same thing with the South Rome Redevelopment Agency Economic Development Committee. We need to find ways that we can work together agree yet still agree and walk up out of here being friendly to each other. No one should wear their feelings on their sleeve because the real deal, it’s really not about your feelings. It’s about our children. [5 minuted timer beeps] And until we get beyond our feelings, our children won’t have a way.

first community member [finishing]

I think I was at that point where I was telling my tremendous idea. [laughter] Imagine with me that Cherokee Street became an inner corridor or a main street that could have some neighborhood friendly services on this street – health clinic, doctor offices, cultural centers, fine arts, and police precinct. All of this on Cherokee Street leading to the centerpiece of the Hillsboro community, Anna K Davie. Children coming from Mercy Housing Center, children who are bused to school get to see positive things on their way to school. That is just an idea. My point being: If the Rome City School System would work with the city, the city of Rome, and Hillsboro, we could make this [inaudible]. Where else in South Rome does the school system have any property? How can we ignore the SPLOST vote? What would you say to people about trusting future SPLOST vote [inaudible]? How can we just ignore the will of the peoples – those here and the seven hundred signatures and growing who say we want the school back in its original location? I understand that is economy is unstable; but I am an optimist. I believe it will not always be like this. Perhaps as the school is being built so will the economy improve. And the banks and the city can work together toward more affordable housing as they did in the past. These homes are still shining examples of what people will do when given a chance to have their own. Many people in the community continue to suspect that there is a hidden agenda, and our input really doesn’t matter. [inaudible] However, I want to believe that the Rome City School System and the city of Rome is bigger than that. I believe that if we work together, we can get this done; and remembering what my friend said as well, working together works. And thank you for letting me finish my statement. [laughter]

Ms. Sims

You are more than welcome. [inaudible] I want to thank those of you who took time to come tonight. This is very important. [inaudible]

fourth community member to speak

[speaking again, from her chair] I’m still concerned about the SPLOST [inaudible]. Under the equal protection of [inaudible] vote, is it allowable for the SPLOST tax to be redirected? [inaudible] . . .then once you aquire these funds is it quote unquote legal to then redirect those funds into a different [inaudible]? I’m kinds of seeing that when the SPLOST taxes are earmarked and its building roads, putting in certain elements that the city has requested – those things are done, done in a timely manner, done [inaudible]. It just seems kind of unique to my mind. [inaudible] Does that not have to be re-voted on if you are going to put it differently that what the [inaudible] says? I’m wondering.

Ms Sims

That is a legal question [inaudible].

man seated to the right of the board

I didn’t understand that I was going to give any legal advice tonight [inaudible]. But there are some situations, depending on circumstances, where there have been [inaudible] slight modifications. [inaudible].

fourth community member to speak

Ok, so how [inaudible] will we know if this specific stipulation undergoes certain circumstances?

man seated to the right of the board

Well I think the city and the county attorneys are looking in – are looking at this and trying to see what [inaudible].

Ms. Sims

We appreciate your concern.

board member

I just want everybody to realize – if you’ve been watching the news this week you’ve seen real politicians in action [laughter]. We’re not politicians, we don’t have big election funds, and we’re not worried about, you know, running for reelection. Our job as a board is to do the right thing for the children. I’ve heard a lot of comments that there may be agendas. We don’t have an agenda as a board. Our job is to make the right decision for the community, for the children. So [inaudible] come and talk to us and don’t be afraid to let us know what you think, cause we want your input.

Ms. Sims

Thank you very much. Meeting adjourned.

301a(dvocate)

301a Community Outreach

301acommuintyoutreach@gmail.com