Hamilton County School officials listen to concerns in meeting with Signal Mountain Town Council

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) – Hamilton County School Officials and the Signal Mountain Town Council had an open discussion in a public meeting Thursday at Nolan Elementary School.

The conversation came as the town council has been looking at the idea of creating their own school system.

“This gave us an opportunity to engage to understand what are the needs it’s very clear that we want the schools on the mountain to remain part of Hamilton County we also want to understand what the concerns are for the community at large,” Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Dr. Bryan Johnson said.

For about a year the town council has been looking into the idea of creating a separate school system.

They put together a school system viability committee that researched the idea and concluded that creating a school system would be viable option.

There has also been public meetings.

Thursday night was the first time Hamilton County School officials and the town council openly talked about the split.

“If you’re only having to take care of five to ten thousand kids the results are better it’s easy to preform why is that because you can more specifically address the needs of those kids,” Signal Mountain Mayor Chris Howley said.

Three of Hamilton County’s top preforming schools are in Signal Mountain.

Some of the concerns raised by members on the council included turnover of principals, class sizes, and funding.

“It doesn’t matter the size you are you can be the smallest you can be the largest you always going to have things that you can’t fund that you wish you could fund you’re always going to have challenges that you’re going to have to work collaboratively to overcome,” Dr. Johnson said.

Hamilton County Schools spearheaded the meeting as a way to continue engaging the community.

There will also be upcoming listening sessions surrounding budget priorities and strategic improvements for children.

Dates for the sessions have not been released at this time.