Forum crowd of about 300 generally supportive of Macon Miracle plan

The audience at Thursday’s public forum about a plan aimed at improving Bibb County schools was more vocally supportive of it than in previous meetings.

The forum at Central High School drew about 300 people, nearly the same crowd size as last week’s forum at Southwest High.

Most of the people who addressed the school board Thursday spoke in favor of the plan and Superintendent Romain Dallemand, drawing loud applause from the crowd. Others criticized the media for negative coverage of Dallemand.

The proposed strategic plan, which is known as the Macon Miracle, has been touted as a way to boost student achievement in the system and calls for bold changes such as Mandarin Chinese for all students, eventual year-round school and school choice based on academic interests.

The school board has not scheduled a date for additional forums or a vote on the plan, board President Tommy Barnes said.

Resident Sarah Hunt said the strategic plan is like a blueprint for a home and is not the final product.

She also criticized board members who have asked for the costs of the plan, because, she said, the board has been “spending money to fail” for years.

“Now take (the) dollars and do some successful work,” she said.

Several system employees were among those addressing the board, including Barbara Stoffer, listed on the school system’s website as a cluster leader in the department for special needs students.

“Our school system is a cancer. It’s definitely a cancer,” she said. “It’s been growing for a long time.”

A cancer patient would not ask a doctor what tools he would use to treat it or what ingredients are included in chemotherapy treatments, she said. Likewise, board members should not fixate on details of the plan’s implementation.

Parent advocate Rhoda Batieste said the plan is aimed at helping all students, not just a select group.

Thursday’s forum also drew local political leaders like Macon City Councilwoman Elaine Lucas, who is a retired educator.

“It is time for us to make a change,” Lucas said. “I support the Macon Miracle, and you are a fool if you don’t, too.”

Andy Wilson, a parent who participated in a Wednesday demonstration of parents, students and others at Bibb’s central offices, said he doesn’t know of anyone who’s against the plan, but that many want more specific answers about it.

“We just wanted to ask some questions,” Wilson said. “What grieves my heart is the racial divide this has become, I hate it. I hate it.”

Some walked out of the meeting early after hearing some of the remarks of those in the audience. Angel Caldwell, a former Bibb County teacher, said the plan’s supporters were speaking without backing up their statements with facts.

“People aren’t addressing the issues, basically,” Caldwell said.

William Boswell, a Bibb County parent, addressed the board about recent school system spending, holding copies of Dallemand’s meal receipts over the past year while he spoke Thursday.

“We need answers for taxpayers for runaway spending no one seems to account for,” he said.

Erica Eaton, a parent of a kindergartner at Rice Elementary School, said her son will be affected by the ramifications of the plan for years to come, and she is ready to see it go into action. She praised Dallemand’s efforts to improve the lives of students. “I am tired. Let’s vote. Let’s move on,” Eaton said.

This story was originally published March 2, 2012 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Forum crowd of about 300 generally supportive of Macon Miracle plan."