Druid Hills Leaders: Fernbank Science Center is Not a ‘Luxury Center'

The following letter was sent on May 29, 2012, to the board of education at DeKalb County Schools by the Druid Hills Civic Association:

To the members of the Board of Education of the DeKalb County School District:

The Druid Hills Civic Association (DHCA) opposes the closure of the Fernbank Science Center (FSC).

The DHCA is committed to promoting and protecting the unique heritage of the Druid Hills area. In pursuing its mission, DHCA strongly advocates excellence in educational opportunities for the residents of the neighborhoods in our area, and for all children in DeKalb County. FSC has been a part of DeKalb County’s science curriculum for 45 years; there is no other resource like it in the state of Georgia. Eliminating this resource removes the only science museum in the Atlanta metro area. While proposing to cut funding to FSC may present the opportunity for a small short-term cost savings, it does so at the expense of significant long-term financial and educational gains.

The DHCA is committed to helping secure continued and additional funding for FSC and to its long-term survival. To that end, the DHCA proposes that it, along with other civic and neighborhood associations from across DeKalb County, form a task force in partnership with the DeKalb County School District (DCSD) with the purpose of examining the long-term funding possibilities for FSC and ensuring its survival as a revenue-generating entity operating to benefit DCSD. Through this task force, we would work to create a foundation with the purpose of pursuing funding, from a range of sources not limited to DCSD operating funds, with the goal of decreased dependence on DCSD operating funds. By creating a strategy that targets granting agencies, state funds, and private foundations — in addition to exploring partnerships with institutions such as Emory University, Morehouse College, the Georgia Institute of Technology, Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville and other metro-area and state public school systems and private schools — this foundation would aggressively pursue funding for FSC to offset the FSC cost to DCSD.

We understand that the budget requires cuts and cost savings in the 2012-2013 school year before it can be balanced; however, eliminating a program that both generates revenue today and has the potential for significant future community, governmental, and private funding will remove a resource that cannot be replaced. If the goal is to bring FSC closer to a revenue-neutral point, then we should do so, and the DHCA is committed to efforts toward this end. Unlike other year in/year out program cuts, the closing of FSC is irreversible. Closure of FSC would eliminate an irreplaceable, highly accessible institution and would continue to erode the perceived and actual quality of education provided by DCSD. Such a move would significantly hamper the county’s effort to encourage positive economic growth.

Specifically, we believe the proposed savings from the closure would not be realized for these reasons:

1. The purported line item savings of $4.7 million is misleading, at best:

Since most of the costs of the Center are for personnel, and much of those wages are for teachers, personnel will have the right to contracts, and therefore those salaries will not be saved. In other words, expenses will merely shift from this line item to another, and no actual cost savings will result. Further, FSC has entered into contractual agreements with other organizations that will incur financial penalties that will reduce savings. Additionally, FSC generates revenue on its own through admission fees to the planetarium and other shows, through donations at the door from its visitors, through providing services to non- DCSD students and teachers using its services, and through the rental of its facilities.

2. The real costs associated with the closure of this facility are extensive:

FSC provides high quality Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education — a national priority — to all DCSD schools in addition to PAYING students from other districts. These programs particularly benefit at-risk populations, who would otherwise have no access to STEM educational opportunities that are necessary for future success in the job world. FSC has a track record of developing and sharing best practices. The decision has real costs substantially greater than the cost savings that would be realized in the short-term. FSC is not a “boutique” or “luxury” center; t is essential to DCSD’s educational goals.

3. Closure of FSC would eliminate existing revenue sources and preclude the potential for significant future sources:

Closure of FSC at this juncture would be a permanent decision. Due to the conditions of the deed granting the FSC property and facilities to DCSD, the property must be used for educational purposes. By closing the center, the property will revert to Fernbank, Inc., a private organization which has indicated it does not have the resources to keep the FSC open. Closure of the center would preclude most current users from accessing the programs. There will be no opportunities to seek additional grants, partnerships, and other external funding sources if this center is closed.

The DHCA is committed to ensuring world-class educational opportunities for all students in DeKalb County Schools. We realize that these opportunities are made available through the tax base of DeKalb County, and with the erosion of this tax base, resources to fund opportunities are increasingly limited. We are committed to the long-term success of FSC as a going concern with the purpose of providing STEM educational resources to the county students, training and certification for science teachers in the county, and rich summer programming for all. We urge the DCSD Board of Education to remove FSC from its cuts. Furthermore, we urge DCSD to enter into a partnership with a special county-wide task force, which would include representation from the DHCA and other community leaders, to develop a long-term strategy to ensure the future success and growth of FSC as a DCSD resource.

Thank you for your consideration,

R. Bruce MacGregor

President

Writing on behalf of the board of directors of the Druid Hills Civic Association