Passionate Opposition, Support for Dr. Dallemand’s Trip to Belgium; Some Parents Call for His Resignation

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – At Thursday’s Bibb County School board meeting, there was both passionate opposition, and support for Superintendent Dr. Romain Dallemand’s planned trip to Belgium. There, the leader plans to share the Macon miracle internationally. While some say the trip is necessary for the betterment of the district, others tell 41NBC it’s a pointless waste of $9,000 in taxpayer money.

“I’m a parent and I pay taxes here, and if I’m not going to Belgium, you don’t need to go to Belgium.” one parent said to Dr. Dallemand.

The 2012 World Appreciative Inquiry Conference in Ghent, Belgium invited Bibb county leaders to share how they organized a districtwide summit to promote the “Macon Miracle,” but some Bibb County parents say it’s a waste.

“How can you go on a trip touting the successes of the Macon miracle when nothing in reality has been implemented?,” says parent Darren Latch.

Supporters of the trip told me the trip is necessary to show the world the potential of the Bibb County school district, and to compete internationally.

“This conference only comes once every three years, and you have people from all over the country, all over the world that are at this conference in Belgium, and we have developed a beautiful program, and with them going into the conference, it’s a lot of information they can gather,” says former teacher Sarah Hunt, who supports Dr. Dallemand and the “Macon Miracle.”

Those in opposition say the trip is the last straw in a string of what they call irresponsible mistakes by the superintendent.

One parent said “Make a miracle happen today by resigning.” “We’re tired of everybody just running loose with the money,” says parent Angel Hopper.

Those in support say “not so fast.” “Give Dr. Dallemand the same opportunity to do something, at least three years,” says Hunt.

Board member Susan Middleton, in a passionate plea, called for the divisiveness on the “Macon Miracle” to stop.

“Coming here to this board meeting and beating up on the superintendent or beating up on board members, is not going to improve our graduation rates!,” she yelled.

Now, just days before the conference overseas, where Dallemand is supposed to focus on the positive, here at home, more division over the controversial “Macon Miracle.”

Dr. Dallemand wrote in his blog “Compass Points today “…people from 40 countries actually want to hear positive things our district is doing. Bibb County also has the opportunity to learn from educators and business leaders from 40 countries…things that we can bring back in order to improve our current condition.” The conference will begin on April 25th in Belgium.