The main building, though quite old, is not in bad condition. It is structurally very sound. Its mechanical systems have been updated. Of course small problems turn up from time to time but they are quickly and effectively addressed by the Charter board and the principal. The Fire Marshal has praised the present condition of the entire campus.

Perhaps most important here is the point that the entire Byrneville community got behind the charter school movement, and supported and contributed the formation of the Byrneville Elementary Charter School, Inc., because they wanted to keep THEIR school in THEIR community when the District abandoned them and closed it for economic reasons. That is why the Board turned down the county’s offer to move the school elsewhere. Byrneville has had a community grade school since the days of of the Great Depression and they should be especially proud of two things with respect to it — that they, as a community, saved it when they were abandoned by the District; and that the school, a D school the last year it was run by the district, has been an academic leader in the county from the first year it was a charter. In fact the only year it wasn’t an A school is the year a technicality in the state grading laws forced the District’s average on one class’s grades.

One other point: The county could do a lot worse than Malcom Thomas for superintendent. He is far, far better a choice than his two immediate predecessors, tha last of whom was arguably the least-qualified superintendent the system has ever had from the standpoints of personal and professional morals, ethics, humility, and knowledge. Ms. Green is right that a voting decision should not be made solely on the basis of carpet at Byrneville.