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School Choice good for local economy
To the editor:
The Great River Economic Development board has passed a resolution calling for all school districts within Mississippi County to allow school choice in accordance with the passage of the Arkansas Legislative Act 1227, known as the Public School Choice Act of 2013.
GREDA has the responsibility of bringing new industry to the county, with the presumed benefit of also bringing people who will purchase homes, contribute to community development and spend money in local businesses. Choice of schools is essential if Blytheville is to attract its share of these people.
A non-choice policy does not change basic facts. Parents will and do make dramatic changes for the education of their children. They will pay excessive tuitions, quit jobs or move to new areas, all for the sake of bettering educational options for their children. Closed systems have not worked, and parents have demonstrated persistently that they will not be forced into particular school systems if they can possibly do otherwise. Vast demographic changes have swept the country over recent years, solely based on school choices. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the Mississippi River Delta region in which we live.
To continue a closed system in Blytheville is to make a decision without regard to the overall community. A system of choice, on the other hand, can provide great leverage for bringing not only more people to the county, but for bringing managerial level people whose expendable income and intellectual energy can be invaluable to our towns. Blytheville, as the largest city in the county, has the most to gain. The city also offers unique warmth, interesting amenities such as fine golf courses and boutique shopping, big churches and beautiful homes. A non-choice policy, however, offsets these assets.
Every city in the county offers choice but Blytheville, and while we realize that the Blytheville School System works hard, adopts new programs and stays abreast of the best in education, we implore you to also recognize our expertise: We work daily to bring people to the county, and based on our knowledge and input, our concerns about choice are valid and substantiated.
Many changes will have to occur for Mississippi County to truly prosper. We cannot progress as protectionists, and each organization or institution that plays a role in economic development must make compromises for the good of the aggregate. The Blytheville School System is one of these institutions. We hope you will take adequate time and give adequate consideration to this issue, and ultimately choose to opt in to school choice.