In many successful cities, the city government – particularly the mayor – takes an active role in education, working closely with the city school system. Florence has never had that kind of relationship in a real way. Just go to the Florence government website and look for a link to the city school system; you won’t find it. That’s emblematic of the problem.
Florence is a major stakeholder in that school system, contributing a large portion of the overall budget. The city must become more accountable to the people for how their tax money is spent.
It’s not just “our” children at stake, either. Education is a crucial part of economic development; industry and business look at our quality of life before deciding to locate here, and education quality is a big factor. In fact, investment in pre-k programs has greater return than any other economic development project!
As mayor, I will work with the superintendent, the school board, and others to ensure that education is a top priority. The mayor should meet regularly with the school board and superintendent to build a strong working relationship.
This is by no means a criticism of the Florence school system. They do a great job under difficult circumstances, including unstable state funding. Education must become a priority for the whole city, and city government must complement the efforts of teachers and administrators to serve our students.
Tags: Education, Florence Alabama, Scott Carrier
