School Board Retreat In Chattanooga

Hamilton County School Board members talk shop in a retreat to work out education issues.

"We definitely want to find out about our schools that are failing so miserably," says School Board member Rhonda Thurman.  "We want to find out about the new standards that the state of Tennessee has.  Where does that leave us?  what are we doing to get students up to where they need to be?"

And while all that's going on, they're doing it in downtown Chattanooga.

"Our expense is going to be zero for this retreat, as we made cuts, that made sense, so I'm really glad we had it here," says School Board member Kenny Smith.

That's a far cry from year's past, when these retreats had been held in the Music City.  School board members opted this year to keep it local.

Thurman says, "we've just had lots of different people in here that we've had to ask questions to, and before, all those people would have to drive 2 hours, spend about 30 minutes with us, and drive two hours home, and the taxpayers were having to pay for that.  and that's just unncessary in my opinion>"--539>

Superintendent Jim Scales says he sees a benefit in traveling out of town.  More conversation, and a chance to get ideas on education and education spending from districts.

"You're there with other board members from across the state and you have the chance to bounce your ideas off other board members," he says.

But those Nashville trips came under fire in light of the Hamilton County Schools budget shortfall.  For the school board members, it's economical. They say it's a chance to see what the schools really need.