Empty Chairs and Big Decisions: Why the Final BCSD Budget Hearing Matters
On Tuesday evening, the Bibb County School District held a public hearing on its proposed budget for the upcoming school year.
When the hearing began, just one other member of the public sat in the room. I was the only speaker to step forward and offer public comment.
It was a moment that felt quiet—but not in a good way. In a year where the stakes could not be higher for our students, the silence from our community in that room was deafening.
The Most Urgent Crisis You Won’t See on the News
Budget hearings aren’t flashy. There are no protest chants or headline-grabbing soundbites. But the decisions made in that room shape everything from teacher hiring to academic intervention programs—especially for our youngest learners.
Right now, only 1 in 5 elementary students in Bibb County reads on grade level. That means 80%—four out of five—are already behind in literacy by third or fourth grade. And the consequences aren’t just academic.
Numerous studies, including those from Atlanta News First and North Carolina Health News, show that literacy rates and incarceration are deeply intertwined:
- 85% of juveniles in the court system are functionally low-literate.
- 70% of U.S. inmates read at or below a fourth-grade level.
- In Texas, 80% of incarcerated adults are functionally illiterate.
- Georgia consistently ranks among the lowest in literacy and among the highest in incarceration rates.
This isn’t hyperbole—it’s policy. If we fail our kids early, we pay the price later, and they do most of all.
Kerry Hatcher
Read more about the literacy issue
What’s Missing: An ELA Coordinator
The current proposed budget (Option A) includes a desperately needed investment: hiring a full-time elementary English Language Arts (ELA) coordinator. This role would help align teaching methods with proven reading science, support teachers, coordinate early interventions, and ensure that district-wide literacy efforts are consistent, data-driven, and equitable.
Without this role, we risk perpetuating a system where struggling readers fall through the cracks—often permanently.
Zaid Jilani
Read more about how similar approaches have worked in other states.
Why Showing Up Matters
The Macon-Bibb County Democratic Committee shared a message this week that puts it perfectly:
“While national headlines grab attention, it’s our local budget hearings, quiet and often overlooked, where the future of our children is truly decided.”
I couldn’t agree more. These hearings are where the foundation of change begins. If we want better schools, safer neighborhoods, and more opportunity for the next generation, it starts with basic literacy—and it starts with our presence.
Kerry Hatcher
Learn more about the budget
One More Chance to Be Heard
There is one final public hearing before the board votes on the budget.
📅 Tuesday, June 17th at 5:00 PM
📍 Professional Learning Center
2003 Riverside Drive, Macon, GA 31204
(Next to Red Lobster)
Please come. Even if you don’t speak, your presence sends a message that the community is paying attention—and that our children matter. And if you do speak, whether you agree with every budget detail or not, I genuinely welcome your voice.
Because we can’t afford more empty seats. Not when the cost is so high.
Kerry Hatcher
My first article on the budget process
Read my speech to the board
