Bibb County School Superintendent Romain Dallemand presents his reform plan at the Macon Centreplex on Friday.
Bibb County closed schools Friday afternoon to give teachers and students the opportunity to attend the roll-out of the divisive plan, which would add programs like year-round schools and Chinese language instruction but would close under-enrolled schools.
Dallemand dismissed critics of the plan as being misinformed or opposed to change. But Jennifer Wilson, the parent of three elementary school students, says she supports many elements of the plan but thinks overall it is too vague and fiscally irresponsible.
"He didn’t address questions that people are having," she says. "He sat in a I don’t know how many hours meeting last night about concerns that people are having, and none of them have been addressed."
But Dallemand says the plan was developed with the input of thousands of community members.
"And now we brought over 5,000 individuals back to the same location where we gave everyone a copy of the plan and say, now we’re going to ask you for feedback," he says. "I think the communication is great. When you look at a plan that involves so many individuals. You will not find another school district our size where you have a strategic plan that involves so many people."
The Bibb County school board originally planned to vote on the plan Friday evening, but postponed it so they can hold an additional public hearing on the changes.
