Student speaks against education budget cuts

Shauna Watkins
Diversity Institute Fellow

04.01.04

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Nathaniel Mason used to be a failing student, but now he is an honor roll student who says that he owes his renewed belief in education to Renaissance High School.

Mason spoke to a standing-room-only crowd about the impact that the alternative school has had on his life and urged the Metropolitan Board of Public Education on Tuesday to keep its doors open.

He was one of about 40 students, teachers, parents and support staff who addressed the board during a public hearing to voice their disapproval of proposed budget cuts totaling $40 million that would eliminate various services and about 550 jobs, including nine of the 10 teachers at Renaissance.

"I know that if our school was to close today we would be skipped; we would be shipped back to our zoned schools and many of the students would be lost in the number of kids in the other high schools," said Mason, a junior. "The Renaissance has been a rebirth and a revival of my thirst of knowledge."

The future of Renaissance High and numerous other services throughout the district are in jeopardy because of proposed reductions in the 2004-2005 Metropolitan Public School budget. The proposed cuts are part of a plan by Metro government to tighten its belt to prepare for a possible budget crunch.

For more than two hours on Tuesday, board members heard pleas from the public to spare programs and jobs. The board's finance committee will consider the public's statements at a March 25 meeting.

The full board will revisit the issue at a later date.

Although the proposed budget cuts evoked emotional responses throughout the night, many sitting in the boardroom were particularly moved by Mason's words.

"Please do not ruin one of the last chances me and my fellow classmates have to graduate," Mason said.

In other action, the board approved naming the new elementary school in Antioch Thomas A. Edison Elementary.

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