Jerome Tucker has experience in all the major local business organizations and with both the local school systems. He used to be the chair of the Community Partners in Education (CPIE) that a CUEE board member had never heard of. He is the voice of experience, and here’s what he said:

You told me not to cheerlead, but I’ve got the mic in my hand.

I don’t have the right to vote, but I’m encouraging everybody to vote no. I have friends in the city. Call them; tell them to vote no.
[Applause.]
This is too important an issue in our community not to lead a cheer.

Then he established his personal credentials, stated the truth as he knows it, and issue a challenge.

First he bragged on the local school systems:

Somebody’s supposed to be about business thinks we don’t have what it takes to compete; somebody make a statement, and I’m an old country boy. My granny told me things that are said are the truth or a lie. The things I say … this afternoon are what I’ve experienced.

That’s what I call a primary source. He discussed other places that brag on our school systems, then:

I challenge anybody to have been as involved as consistently and as long as I have in business and community development in and around Valdosta and Lowndes County. I’ve served as chairman of the Industrial Authority. I’ve served as chairman of the Tourism Authority. I’ve served as chairman of the Valdosta Technical Board of Education. I’ve been on the superintendent’s council of schools. A member of CPIE since its inception. I challenge anyone….

What’s the challenge?

Folks, the truth is, I have never, never, been asked whether I’ve got one system or two. Never! I have never asked anyone whether they have one system or two.

…

Now while I served on the Industrial Authority, I can not think of one business I lost because we had two systems.

He reviewed his involvement directly with both school systems.

I will state categorically there is no improvement in consolidating school systems.

So where did it come from?

And I’ll ask the question again, where in the world did the Chamber of Commerce get on it. By the way, I served on the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce. But one thing: I didn’t give up my backbone. So I wasn’t there long.

Here’s the video:

I have never, never, been asked whether I’ve got one system or two. —Jerome Tucker
Why we oppose consolidation,
Community Forum, Lowndes County Board of Education (LCBOE),
Valdosta, Lowndes County, Georgia, 4 October 2011.
Videos by Gretchen Quarterman for LAKE, the Lowndes Area Knowledge Exchange.

Then he talked about CPIE; see next post. -jsq

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