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Chamber joins push for school choice
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following letter was submitted to the Blytheville School Board from the board of the Greater Blytheville Area Chamber of Commerce.
Dear Blytheville Public School Board members:
On behalf of our board of directors, and in view of the Chamber mission to improve the business environment and enrich quality of life in the area, I encourage you to opt in to "choice" in your upcoming decision regarding Arkansas Act 1227.
As you deliberate this issue, we ask each of you to look honestly at our community and its needs, and to consider the roles we all play in building Blytheville. We understand that this is a difficult decision for you; since we are proud supporters of the Blytheville Public Schools, it is also a difficult request for us to forward. We value your commitment as a Chamber member and we value our partnership with you in the programs we create to support Blytheville. Many, in fact most, on our board have deep-seated bonds to the Blytheville schools. However, the concept of public school choice calls for all leaders to look beyond personal sentiments and independent needs and to look instead toward the impact education has on the city as a whole.
Please consider these points:
-- The economic effects of school choice are indisputable. People, particularly young people, are choice-driven in all aspects of their lives, and this is especially true with respect to their children's education. People choose where they live based on a variety of criteria, but virtually every data source substantiates that among parents choosing home sites, school options are a leading influence. Our struggle with population stability is critical; we must remove every possible barrier that might negatively affect us. The opt-out on school choice is a barrier.
-- Blytheville can prosper only if it can thrive in a competitive world. This is true of schools just as it is true of retail outlets, restaurants, service businesses, industries and churches. Economists largely define protectionist strategies as repressive and unfair to growth effort, and economic literature teaches us that the impetus for protectionism comes from the quest for coerced privilege and restraint of competition -- this at the expense of consumers. We implore you not to retain this strategy that is harming the city as a whole, and to be mindful that while losing students to other school districts has some effect on school revenue, losing families as Blytheville residents has a deleterious economic impact on the entire community, ultimately including the schools.
-- Perceptions of the Blytheville School District are important. Perception cannot be underrated, and the vote to opt out of choice will perpetuate the negative mindsets that you have worked so hard to dispel. From a marketing perspective, opting in to choice would give the school district great strength, sending the message that you are proud enough of your system to compete with other schools. For example, BPS offers numerous programs -- music, sports, technology, etc. -- not available in all area schools. These programs can be competitively positioned to attract incoming students and transfers. We urge you to allow school choice, conveying that you are not only unafraid to compete, but also that you are willing and able contenders.
We are respectful of the court order issued many years ago based on de-segregation concerns, but we are hopeful that as you deal with legal issues, you will boldly explore and pursue conditions that enable you to decide in favor of public school choice. We count on you, as publicly elected officials, to align school business and community needs, and we ask you to capitalize on this opportunity to help Blytheville.
Thank you for your service to Blytheville and for your serious consideration of our request.