Check out @SaveFernbank on Twitter and the Save Fernbank page on Facebook for more information about the proposed closure:

http://twitter.com/SaveFernbank
http://www.facebook.com/SaveFernbank

Why is it that when school boards in the South look to cut, it's always academics and/or related programs and never sports programs?

While it is a wonderful place, $30 per visit is quite high?

The decision to close Fernbank Science Center is short-sighted, at best. Our children need science and technology education to compete in a global economy. Why sell our children short by closing this valuable educational asset?

I have started a petition on Change.org in an attempt to 'save' Fernbank. Please sign/share.

http://www.change.org/petitions/dekalb-county-board-of-education-save-fernbank-science-center

Burton, you are thinking of Fernbank Museum. This is Fernbank Science Center, which operates through the public schools.

This center could probably serve others- and offers education for horticulture, composting and recycling. It would be a shame to lose it. Wonder if the current method of funding restricts it's use and if any others are being courted to take it on- with partial use by the school system? Great location and many perks. Diana Winslow, my daughter attends the neighboring school.

I went to school at Fernbank Elementary and the science center was a large part of what got me seriously interested in science as a child, an interest that has defined my life ever since. Closing the center in an attempt to bridge a short-term budget issue would be a wasteful tradeoff and represent a huge loss not only to Fernbank, but to the entire area. An extremely short-sighted proposal... which must be stopped!

I went there a few years back, and it appeared to be exactly the same as wen I was an elementary student 30 years prior. If it is to remain feasible, it will need to do more with it's offerings (much like the other Fernbank). The planetarium is nice, but is the only big draw.

The forest is no longer going to be part of the Science Center as of June. It reverts back to Fernbank Forest.
Middle school sports are proposed to be cut in total and community coaches are gone as well, which will make eliminate many teams at the high school level. In addition, there will be a gap on bus usage, again limiting both field trips to Fernbank and the ability for teams to compete.
The reality facing DeKalb is that we have been spending far more than we have, in fact the system will end with a deficit. These are all hard choices, but I don't want 3 more children in my kids' classes next year.

As a short term "solution" this seems a poor choice. The land, the buildings, and the exhibits, without daily maintenance and stewardship, will end up being just an eye sore in an otherwise beautiful community. If the intent is to shut it down forever and do something else with that property, I'd like to see that particular plan.

It's a phenomenal asset to the school system and one that kids from multiple school systems have access to. Perhaps charging more for entry would be an alternative to shutting it down while evaluating which staff is absolutely necessary. I'm sure that there are many volunteers who would love to step in and help with the non-scientific parts of the daily operation.

Gail

It isn't short term, the school system can no longer afford this. So, what happens next? If it closes, the property reverts back to Fernbank Inc and the Trustees decide what happens next. Twice in the last 5-6 years, Fernbank has been on the chopping block and no one has stepped up to make a new plan.

DeKalb's financial woes are not temporary. The system can no longer afford the things that other systems don't have.

I think there is a perception that Fernbank Science Center is a neat place to take elementary school students to see the forest (which, for other reasons, is no longer an option), some neat science exhibits, and see the stars.That's neat stuff... but I too would question the appropriateness of the school system funding this.
Fernbank has another mission, one which is not always as apparent to the general public - direct instruction. It offers a number of advanced educational opportunities, including AP courses that are not available universally in all county schools. This is where elimination would cause an unacceptable gap.
I understand that the county faces a severe budget crisis - brought on in large part because of its reliance on declining property tax revenues. Solving that problem is going to require significant structural changes to the way schools are funded - as they say, that's a much bigger problem.
In the mean time, the board must make immediately tactical decisions on how best to serve the needs of the students. Everything they are having to do this year will negatively, and seriously affect students. As voters, we cannot simultaneously complain about that, and complain about taxes... so I'll say it... RAISE MY TAXES, STOP SHORT CHANGING OUR STUDENTS. We're moving down a path where all we'll be able to offer is the state required minimum education, and our system will become the DeKalb County Service Workers Training System.

Close Fernbank Science Center? Just one more reason the USA is way behind the rest of the developed world in math, science and engineering!
Eleanor B. Smithwick, PhD
(retired scientist and educator, who taught at Fernbank Science Center in electron microscope and entomology before moving on to biomedical research at Emory U. School of Medicine, a joint assistant professorship at Georgia State, and as adjunct professor for 5 other universities)

Hello my daughter is one of the students that went to Fernbank’s program called STT Science Tools and Techniques I think Fernbank Science Center provides great opportunities for students who are interested in Science.

STT, while benefitting only a small portion of public 9th grade students, remains one of the best programs done by the County.

Dr. Smithwick & Jhansigunda, you two are exactly the type of people the board needs to hear from. I have a story of how Fernbank affected my academic life, but it's a 30 year old story. I've contacted my board members and plan to be at Wednesday night's hearing. The board, though, needs to see the current impact Fernbank has - from recent/current students, and leaders in science and technology. Please reach out to the board in person, or by e-mail.

Recap: Live Coverage of DeKalb Schools Budget Hearing http://patch.com/A-tFDC