Vilma Leake: CMS Tooth Fairy
School Board member Kaye McGarry, who cast the lone vote against again postponing a decision on Bright Beginnings, said the board’s delay sent the wrong message. A decision needed to be reached to give community groups time to find alternate solutions for pre-K programming, McGarry said, if CMS is ultimately unable to avoid the recommended cuts.
“The facts are out,” she said. “We need to make a decision.”
Leake, meanwhile, made an appearance to urge the school board to delay any decision, while pushing to avoid Gorman’s recommended cuts in favor of lobbying the county board for the proposed $10 million grant.
“As I stand here I think about the three little pigs who built the three houses of straw, wood and brick,” Leake, herself a former school board member, said. “We’re trying to make sure that we provide a strong foundation for every child in education and hoping that through that they will be viable citizens within our community.”
The benefits of Bright Beginnings, however, is subject to debate. Advocates for the program argue that it’s key in early childhood development for at-risk students and delivers long-term benefit. Critics contend that existing data shows any academic gains attributed to the program largely disappear after the third grade.
School Board member Richard McElrath dismissed that reasoning Tuesday night.
“I’ve heard the arguments against it that [students] may learn a lot of stuff but they don’t retain it,” he said. “Well, we’re going to guarantee that nobody retains anything if we take the program away.”
In the end, Merchant said, it likely doesn’t matter what data shows for Bright Beginnings – pro or con.
“This is now one of those issues where data is not going to change anyone’s mind,” he said. “We’re beyond a logical argument. We’re to the point of an emotional argument, and that’s the realm of judgment. That’s our job. Our job is not to make a decision on an artificial timeline.”
In that vein, Merchant said a decision to delay was appropriate in the hopes that a solution to avoid cuts was found.
“One thing I know we don’t have is money. But we do have time,” he said. “So let’s spend that currency as long as we have it.”
At the same time, Merchant offered a parting warning for the fate of Bright Beginnings.
“We’re not seeing any magic tricks that are going to show up and save it,” he said.
Aside, of course, from maybe a tooth-fairy tax hike.
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