George,

While I do not have kids in C-Ville Schools (they are too young), how do we not come to the conclusion that City schools are in an absolute state of crisis? If you were moving to Charlottesville what would your conclusion be? Two attacks at Buford? The Scottie Griffin fiasco? Accusations of racism? Solution: The City Council wants an Advisory Board? That is their freaking solution … a board! More useless government. Council’s decisions have been oh so helpful in the past, so let’s have more of the same. That’s injecting a real level of accountability. Give me a break! Watch the mass exodus of kids from city schools because it is about to happen. I can not think of a parent that wants their child in a school where stabbings are commonplace. And, we are the number one place to live in America? I know of two students who likely disagree.

To be fair I realize that we have great teachers and a school system that benefits many, many children…it’s just that I know that if I am cringing about sending my kids to City schools others are too. The City has done a miserable job. It’s time the parents got a higher level of accountability and elected a school board to represent them. You need to be able to go to the person you voted for, look them in the eye and tell them you want it fixed. Merely going to an advisory board, while likely appointed with well-intentioned folks, accomplishes nothing. It is just another extension of City government, a government that has failed its students. We need a fresh approach with fresh ideas, not a repackaged, reshuffled meeting room filled with folks, who because they are appointed by Council, feel uncomfortable turning a real eye towards the people that created this fiasco … City Council.

I know my whining will be seen as right wing skullduggery, and I guess I should be part of the solution by running for School board…but I can’t, I’m moving to the County.

Tyler W. Sewell (electronic mail, May 11, 2005)

PS. I guess the silver lining is with parents ripping their kids out of City schools class sizes will be smaller.