The community use of school facilities discussion drags on. Public use of tennis, track and athletic fields at Cumberland County and Stone Memorial High Schools is clearly a hot button issue. The use of those facilities by the very folks who paid for them has been lately forbidden. Administrators have unilaterally and unanimously ruled. Padlocked gates greet those who want to hone their skills, get some exercise or spend some well earned, quality down time with their family. The thank you card should be sent to vandals.

Phone calls and protest petitions have poured in hand over fist. Easily recognizable names have joined the conversation; folks like L.A. Fox, Mike Krabousanos and Faye Garrison, just to name a few. They think children and families should be welcome at our schools. They'd like to have the facilities open again.

One thing is crystal clear. People will remember a little of what you did, some of what you said and everything about the way you made them feel. At a time when our school system desperately needs the support of the community, we're making enemies instead. Long time and respected business leaders who are regular, easy sell targets of our relentless fundraising efforts have been denied access. Even our own employees have been turned away. Graduates of our high schools who are now playing the sport they love in college and want to work out to prepare for the season ahead find their former fields more secure than Alcatraz.

The message sent is a silent scream. As a matter of fact, the silence is so loud, it's deafening. The unspoken words say, "I know you gave us four years of your life and sacrificed for our school. I know our school's name is included in your bio in the college sports program where you now play but you're not welcome here!" That's not exactly the way to win friends and influence people.

A compromise plan that still needs to be refined involves an individually signed facilities use agreement along with a yearly $10 fee for the key that opens the aforementioned lock. Don't ask to use the fields. They're off limits.

Don't get me wrong. The plan is a first step in the right direction. Many people worked several hours to craft the procedure. I respect anyone and everyone who wants to protect our campuses from harm. I appreciate the sincere thought and hard work that is clearly evident in the compromise.

Immediate questions arise, however. Will some be denied access to the club and never be allowed in? Will there be a sign-in/sign-out sheet? What if the key is given to someone who isn't a "member" by a "member"? What if the key is duplicated, lost or stolen? What happens when the school-issued ID card is left at home? What do we do if someone steals the lock? Who's going to enforce all these rules? How will we know which person left the gate open? Who will be blamed for that scuff mark on the courts? What about that pesky McDonald's paper cup with the Red Man juice inside that didn't make it to the trash can? Who's going to clean that up? Will all members be called in for questioning as "persons of interest" in the crime? Shall the apprehended offender be drawn and quartered at high noon on the courthouse lawn or would life without the possibility of parole be more appropriate?

We could even take it a step further. How about a competition between the two schools to see which one could catch more vandals? We could publicize the results on the sports page. A traveling trophy would seal the deal.

My shenanigans aside, let's consider additional options. School System Safety Coordinator Tim Claflin, has done a magnificent job articulating agreements between and among all emergency service providers in Cumberland County. It's my understanding that law enforcement officials have keys to our facilities in the event of an emergency as well they should.

Seventh District Board Member Mary Smith works for the Sheriff's Department. When I asked, she thought officers on regular patrol would be happy to lock up the facilities as the sun goes down.

It is my hope that we can open up these areas to the honest, hard working people of our community from dusk to dawn and that we leave the locks and keys to the folks that deal with those kind of things for a living. If that idea doesn't fly, I'm sure a community volunteer who drives by on a daily basis would be more than willing to stop in to ensure that our folks feel welcome again.

The board's May meeting began with a salute to several, outstanding achievers. Kudos go to CCHS teacher Angela Robbins, Tennessee's Outstanding Teacher of Humanities and her colleague, Anna Pickard, the Upper Cumberland April Teacher of the Month. Also recognized were Allison Gentry, Jilliane Coldwell and Lynsey Myers, participants in the recently completed SCOPE conference, an annual event sponsored by the Tennessee School Boards Association, which, by the way, has absolutely nothing to do with mouthwash. The Student Congress On Policies in Education is a one-day experience in Nashville, which features students from across the state who debate current public school issues in a school board-like setting. I'd like to hear there take on community use of school facilities. Also honored were several Cumberland County Chess Club members and coaches.

Square dancing in the Central Office lobby before the meeting were talented students from Crab Orchard and Stone Elementary Schools. Foot functions completed, we waltzed back into the board room for a full slate of action where we learned that North Cumberland Elementary School had just won a $19,000 Dollar General Grant. Are you like me? Do you wonder how many padlocks they could buy with that kind of money?

The roll call revealed that BOE members Jim Blalock and Victor Randolph were absent on this beautiful evening. If they stopped off at the courts for a quick match prior to the meeting, it only happened in their dreams.

Approval of the April minutes and the agenda soon gave way to my Tennessee Legislative Network report, with news from Nashville hot off the press at meeting time. The happy information included word that charter school legislation has been stalled for the moment and the bill which will extend the life of Class C and Class D school bus to 17 years (as long as the odometer reads less than 200,000 miles) is moving forward. A collective bargaining bill which permits the board of education to meet in private with its negotiating team was unanimously approved by the House. Local board decision making over the school calendar remains in tact as long as the BOE doesn't start school before Aug. 1, unless the board votes to adopt an alternative calendar. The final piece of legislation authorizes the Commissioner of Education to waive the 180 days of classroom instruction requirement in the event of a natural disaster or serious outbreak of illness during the school year.

Passed during the director's report were additions to our business manager's job description, the next phase of our Trane, energy savings, performance contract and the initial version of our school budget for next year. The North Cumberland Elementary sewer project flowed toward reality, with purchase of easements and right-of-way completed. This long needed improvement will connect the Patriots with the city's sewer system. We appreciate their help unclogging this mess!

The state comptrollers annual audit of the school system's finances revealed no findings or exceptions. Not one! Those of you familiar with audit procedure know just how rare that feat is. Once again, our school system has been good stewards of what money we have and have passed this most important accountability test with flying colors. You can view the entire report online on the state's Web site.

While we're talking money, try this next one on for size. Even given the ever present reminders of our "economic downturn," Cumberland County's property tax receipts now stand at 100.3 percent of that which was budgeted. A most amazing number for even the most positive person, wouldn't you agree? Some even said the assessment might be uncollectible last August. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we've spent 74.15 percent of our allocation thus far.

A plethora of grant applications, textbook adoptions and other contracted requests were summarily dispatched along with some routine budget amendments and our consent agenda. A public hearing on our budget is set for Tuesday, May 26, beginning at 5 p.m. at Martin Elementary School's Little Theater. There is no charge for the meeting. You and I both know that our budget is the key to the whole thing.