The Cullman County Board of Education’s decision to close Garden City School was understandably sad for teachers, students and many residents of the town associated with the institution.

Nevertheless, the board and Superintendent of Education Dr. Craig Ross spent ample time examining the options, which included $850,000-$2 million to salvage the more than century-old building. The expense was too great for reinvesting in the school when other options were available that would  save the school system money while not impacting the quality of education afforded the students.

At the heart of the problem is Alabama’s antiquated approach to funding education and other services. While Cullman County residents approved a half-cent sales tax for education, that money first restores the system’s financial picture to the point that it can maintain a reserve and accomplish some upgrades in the educational programs. It’s not enough money to repair a lot of school buildings and expand educational programs.

The key for stronger education rests with increased property taxes and fewer schools dotted across county school systems. The demands on school systems are expensive and trying to maintain too many buildings and schools in a wide range of small communities is just not feasible anymore.

Some residents upset with the school board’s decision continue to refer to the school board’s purchase of land at Smith Lake that included an old lake home as a waste of money. However, the move was not a waste of money. The land was needed to access additional property that is intended to yield valuable dollars for the school system in the  future. The land was long a point of contention between the county school system and the state over its ownership. The local school system won that battle and is in the process of evaluating how to make this real estate yield longterm financial stability for the students of the area.

The manner in which the board went about making the recent purchase was questionable only because the needed transparency of the move was not totally in place. Nonetheless, the land purchase was necessary to make sure full access was in place for the larger tracts in the area.

The closing of Garden City School will present a challenge to the community because the presence of students and teachers in the town each day was a vital part of the character and economy. Concern for this loss cannot be ignored, but for the school system it was the only reasonable move to make.