The Tennessee Liberal

Yesterday's Chattanooga Times Free Press included two important stories that, while not related on the face, couldn't have a bigger impact on each other.

In a front-page article, we learned that Chattanooga is on the "short list" of cities vying for a major auto manufacturing plant. In a manner befitting the world of secret auto plant negotiations, the plant is referred to as "Project Pinetree." It goes without too much saying that having a full-fledged auto manufacturing plant at the new Enterprise South site would be a huge boon for Chattanooga and the entire region.

Now, we turn to the front page of the Metro section, for an article bringing to light the fact that the Chairman of the Hamilton County Commission's Education Committee, long-time Republican Curtis Adams, refuses to meet with the County Superintendent. Not only does Republican Adams refuse to meet with the person he should ostensibly be developing a good relationship with, he refers to him as "public enemy No. 1" in a letter to a member of the school board. Clearly this bit of buffoonery by Republican Commissioner Adams shows him to live on the fringes of sanity, but what does it mean?

Put yourself in the mind of someone who was searching for a location for your new giant auto manufacturing facility. The South has a number of large industrial parks that have strong ties to multimodal transportation options. Just about every area is offering big tax incentives and cheap land. They all trumpet their merits in so many categories, including the quality of life.

Ay, there's the rub. For one of the key elements of quality of life for your employees will be the level of education they and their children can receive. In addition, you want to see that not only are government systems like education stable now, but that they will stay that way. That means that you'll have all the assets to attract the best workers to your plant, and you'll be confident that they will be well-educated themselves.

That's why Adams' shenanigans are inexcusable. It's time for he and the other commissioners who harbor ill will for Jesse Register and the School Board to accept the fact that they don't pick the School Board and to move on. These public displays of ridiculous behavior impact more than just the education of our young people. As though that weren't enough, it can also impact the future of our county's workforce. In a world where economic developers go toe-to-toe for every plant opportunity, this kind of stuff is just ammunition for Athens, Ala. and Pooler, Ga. to use against us.

It's time to cut the games and get serious about making our educational system work, not just for the good of the children, but for the good of our entire county.