Since the announcement of the Stage 1 rezoning proposal on October 23rd, 2018, citizens across Sumner County have expressed their concerns and pledged to work with our elected officials to find better solutions.
We began this process with hope as our District 6 representative Jim Hawkins met with members of the Carellton community on November 25th, 2018.
Members of the SS1 social media group can view that video here:
https://www.facebook.com/songwritingcpa/videos/10217609933301022/
Initially, members of Stop Stage 1 requested to review the information the Sumner County School Board possessed which led to the creation of the Stage 1 proposal. We were shocked when the Board's reply was “...in Dr. Phillips' head”.
Coverage of the November 27th meeting can be found here:
Tena Lee, Gallatin News:
https://www.gallatinnews.com/community/station-camp-rezoning-vote-deferred/article_f2a866a0-f433-11e8-b793-5b17e05492d4.html?fbclid=IwAR0MLn6FLDcUK54lmNvm0LV7WtsqckMNN_W7veCXY80OhZHuh3W9PnW2hzc
CB Cotton, News 2:
https://www.wkrn.com/news/sumner-county-schools-rezoning-conflict_20181128041530/1623345951?fbclid=IwAR12QLrpoO-KDsflzefPpNetocstIscOlVBTCHCmfdn9a4XbMYGivW22VB8
Amy Nixon, The Tennessean:
https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/sumner/2018/11/27/sumner-schools-stage-1-rezoning-discussion-hold/2133388002/?fbclid=IwAR2HMNyNq4NtvQRzVxfc1KKgrjzpHNuePsk9oWfxEk7HBhcNKPmrrOtqXZg
Official School Board Record:
https://sumnerschools.org/index.php/november-27-2018-regular-scheduled-meeting?fbclid=IwAR230DxOwe6KxtKkknp-kfb7liJodaH2zk6SM7uwqSAaq3xBv-R4BNKou9k
Over the next few months, members of Stop Stage 1 (SS1) attempted to communicate with each of the eleven School Board members. While some responded to us quickly, the majority of the Board remains silent. Although we remained hopeful, the Board's silence, and thus their complacency with Dr. Phillips' rezoning plan, was made clear on the night of December 11th. After urging the Board to consider the facts and alternatives proposed by SS1, Jason lamb of News Channel 5 reported the following:
“Parents hoped the board would vote for -- or at least discuss -- a change to the plan that would allow all K-12 students to stay in their current schools, until the new schools come online -- as long as they provide their own transportation -- but without discussion, the board approved that exception just for students in Station Camp High School.”
More coverage of the December 11th meeting can be found here:
Official School Board Record:
https://sumnerschools.org/index.php/december-11-2018-regular-scheduled-meeting?fbclid=IwAR12KbMOXouphpBpNSU7n7t2j4zokboFVQe9MmcD-BvvgcY19EzYgV5S2uw
Shortly after the December School Board meeting, Tena Lee reported in the Gallatin News a story exposing potential corruption within the School Corporation. At first, SS1 members chose not to include this story in our efforts to bring about better solutions for our children. While obviously concerning, SS1 members felt that the subject of the report was a separate issue.
Tena Lee, Gallatin News:
https://www.gallatinnews.com/news/conflicting-interests/article_758c6982-ffe6-11e8-99b0-bb9358bdb6f2.html?fbclid=IwAR2GVIxBoI5ghtFHDyS0KYB02yKUYODvHGDeCmovGwN7i87I6WdHx8iiDB8
However, as we continued to investigate Tena's story, we found multiple potential connections to the rezoning plan.
One possible motivation was to utilize Station Camp Elementary (SCE) student to improve the test scores at Beech Elementary:
Compare:
SCE:
https://reportcard.tnk12.gov/districts/830/schools/101/page/SchoolOverall
Beech:
https://reportcard.tnk12.gov/districts/830/schools/5/page/SchoolOverall
Please note, that at no point has any member of SS1 ever argued that Beech is not a great school. We know all of the Beech schools are great. Which school our children attend has never been an issue with SS1. As we have clearly stated many times, our position is that temporary rezoning is unacceptable. However, SS1 parents do believe that this is the precise reason why the Carellton neighborhood was “cherry-picked” from the center of the current school zone. See map for reference.
Carellton is located directly under the text “Long Hollow” in the central portion of the map:
https://sumnerschools.org/images/transportation/HighSchoolZoneMaps/SCH.pdf
Compare to Stage 1 Map:
https://sumnerschools.org/images/board/2018-project/maps/Stage-1_Zoning.pdf
As we explored the depths of Tena's story, more information regarding the Board and the School Corporations leadership was revealed.
School Board spends over 200k to fight an open records case:
http://tennesseestar.com/2017/08/07/after-spending-over-238000-sumner-county-school-board-loses-appeal-in-open-records-case/?fbclid=IwAR2S3HR23ygKFtgKeGyhpATh0iVkAb3UUsnlbLDb7lUJGNrs-u-3aDXP3Kk
We continued to explore Dr. Phillips' past in an effort to understand the motivations for his behavior. We found the following:
Comments from MS Legislator:
“Thank God” someone else was hired, Younger said, noting Phillips left the Columbus school district in debt because he “wasted good money...” -State Sen. Chuck Younger, MS:
https://columbuspacket.com/2017/05/legislators-talk-infrastructure-education-lottery-at-chamber-luncheon/
After assessing this new information, the majority of SS1 members decided to call for Dr. Phillips' resignation. Our demands to the Board are documented here:
Official School Board Record:
https://sumnerschools.org/index.php/january-15th-2019-regular-scheduled-meeting?fbclid=IwAR1-zuxesNmBHq9xigteig5stepYYPyeOa9SBU9g6y-4941DE11a86S1ylQ
More News 2 coverage:
https://www.wkrn.com/news/parents-continue-fight-against-sumner-co-schools-rezoning-plan_20190116042131/1705024211?fbclid=IwAR0oNTz_p4NoRrdetrd1KpYREmdNKk8diX72_52AvN4XRpPHTz_jxPXZRyo
Laura Baigert, The Tennessee Star:
http://tennesseestar.com/2019/01/17/parents-group-calls-for-resignation-or-termination-of-sumner-county-school-director-del-phillips-over-school-rezoning/?fbclid=IwAR2guiELAJWa_QCutL2yVhWCLaOoRT5c4HkUG1RBZyKd_oAoetqP3E3myq0
Jen Todd, The Tennessean:
https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/sumner/2019/01/16/sumner-parents-express-no-trust-school-board-director/2596425002/?fbclid=IwAR0XTqBAU_OupsMy2aNTA8VLjt4uhU975dki124pCCvPD_u4xA9260KlVOQ
As we close in on the February voting session, many Sumner County citizens remain frustrated with the sudden lack of communication and apparent disregard from the Board. Our most recent official message was sent to each of the eleven Board members as follows:
“Good Afternoon,
I am sending this message in hope of providing clarity to the events of the School Board Regular Meeting on the night of January 15th. From the comments made by various Board members during discussion, I feel that some Board members have misconceptions regarding many of the subjects covered by myself and other citizens. As Mr. Hawkins said, this is a multifaceted situation. As such, I am providing these points:
We know that Beech is a great school.
>No member of Stop Stage 1 (SS1) has expressed that Beech is anything other than a great school.
>It's not about which school we attend. Multiple rezoning is unacceptable for any student.
We never asked about Creekside or any other neighborhood. Again, multiple rezoning is unacceptable for any neighborhood.
We did express concerns that we were "targeted" or "cherry-picked". Some Board members have openly admitted this to us. The one question that we have asked, is that if temporary rezoning is ultimately necessary, then why not "cherry-pick" the apartments. Apartment dwellers are statistically more transient by nature, and are more likely to see an increase in student population versus the Carellton neighborhood.
The demand for Dr. Phillips resignation was not a temper-tantrum thrown because we are not getting our way.
>Mr. Daniels stated that Dr. Phillips has known about the need for new schools for several years, and that it was his recommendation to not pursue that goal at a time that would have likely prevented this crisis. Additionally, School Board Guidelines require the Director to look ahead 10 years, not 3 or 4. Ultimately, we see his failure to address the overcrowding of schools in a timely manner the primary cause for our call of resignation.
>We are additionally concerned that the Board has not requested a moratorium on new development or other assistance from the County Commission to enable the school system to catch up. As we have stated before, we do not wish to stop the growth in Sumner County, but we do expect it to be controlled and sustainable.
>Finally, the reports of Dr. Phillips behavior in both Sumner County and also from his previous position in Columbus, MS are concerning at the very least. I have provided a few examples here, but more are available upon request.
Conflicting Interests: https://www.gallatinnews.com/news/conflicting-interests/article_758c6982-ffe6-11e8-99b0-bb9358bdb6f2.html?fbclid=IwAR1MSfNXuwR_9CoNjve4qod9xcnKcr0I4y3nq-TjVpUSSQq_2UMJiNw3m54
Comments from MS Legislator: “Thank God” someone else was hired, Younger said, noting Phillips left the Columbus school district in debt because he “wasted good money...” -State Sen. Chuck Younger, MS: https://columbuspacket.com/2017/05/legislators-talk-infrastructure-education-lottery-at-chamber-luncheon/
In closing I believe that the majority of Board members do have the best interest of our students in mind. I choose to believe you are all doing what you think is best. However, I ask you to simply consider the evidence. In my opinion, the Director has backed the Board into a corner, and provided only one solution. I ask you vote "NO" to the Stage 1 rezoning proposal, and require a new plan to be developed that is supported by thoughtful research and carefully reviewed data.
P.S. I applaud Mr. Hawkins for encouraging discussion amongst the Board, and hope we will continue to see this type of involvement from all Board members.
P.P.S. Due to incomplete information on the School Board website, I am unable to include Mr. Duncan and Mr. Wilkerson in this email. Anyone who is able to provide updated information, please do so.”
Currently, we are encouraging all Sumner County citizens to join us by signing our petition (see below) and/or joining us on February 12th at 6pm:
SCSC Board Meeting: 6:00 Tuesday, February 12th, 695 E Main St, Gallatin, TN 37066
Petition link:
https://www.change.org/p/del-phillips-iii-ph-d-stop-stage-1-sumner-county-schools-temporary-rezoning-plan