Sending a child off to school can be difficult for a parent. There’s a separation there and perhaps a feeling that some control over their children’s lives has been lost.

Superintendent Teresa McNeece believes parents need a forum; a specific place to express their concerns about what happens in the county’s schools and give voice to those concerns. In other words, give back a little control.

That’s where the recently-formed parent advisory group comes into play. Formed this past February and consisting of at least one parental representative from each county school, the parent advisory group gives parents a chance to express their opinions on everything from school policy to budget expenditure.

Group members include Wes Pitts and Jenny Barnes representing Mantachie; Vicki Crider, Katy Hardin, Sherry Gray and Kevin Nolan representing Itawamba Attendance Center and Itawamba Agricultural High School; Patty Chumblee representing Tremont School; Shelia Summerford representing Fairview Attendance Center; and Tonya Williams representing Dorsey Attendance Center.

This group of nine parents meets with McNeece on a monthly basis to discuss recent changes in policy, upcoming events and larger issues, such as the county dropout rate.

“It gives us an opportunity to voice our opinions and express our concerns,” said Wes Pitts, a parent from Mantachie and member of the advisory board. “Plus it gives us a chance to be informed on what’s going on within the school district.”

Members of the group were selected by the principals of their respective schools and were asked to fill out a questionnaire based on their most pressing concerns, as well as likes and dislikes with the current school system. According to McNeece, this allowed her to get a better understanding of what parents wanted out of Itawamba County’s school system.

“The best thing you can admit is that you don’t know everything,” McNeece said, explaining that it’s impossible for her to be informed about or address the concerns of each and every parent in the county, but the group allows her to take one step in that direction. “Other people see things from a different perspective than yourself. It helps me see things on a different level, whether from that of a parent or just a community supporter. You can look at that and decide if the solution is workable or not.”

McNeece expounded on the idea of the group as a bridge between the county school district administration and the parents themselves.

“The members of the group come in here with concerns and not necessarily personal concerns,” she explained. “It may be something they’ve heard within the community that they’d like to address. They’re kind of my ears out in the community.”

She said these “ears” — this bridge to the communities of Itawamba County — help narrow her focus on the kids themselves. Still, she said the group is more about generating ideas for guidance, a way of knowing which way parents want to go.

“I have to look at things at how they will benefit every child in Itawamba County,” she said. “I take their information and chew it and see what can be done about it. Then, I’ll take their information to the principals’ meeting and pass it on to them.”

According to Pitts, this arrangement is satisfying as it allows parents to feel like they have an impact, or a voice, in influencing a major part of their children’s lives.

“I understand a lot of things I may want to be done may not be feasible [at a given moment]. But, at least we have an opportunity to speak our minds,” he said.

As an example, during a recent meeting, Pitts brought to McNeece’s attention potential ideas for recognizing students with dyslexia and helping adapt to the way they need to learn. It’s a problem of which administration may have been aware but not necessarily known about the demand for action.

Ideas like Pitts’ are why group had to be formed in the first place, McNeece said. The purpose is to introduce new ways of thinking and ideas that can be implemented in the future.

“There are things that are fantastic ideas, that we want to do, but will take planning and funding,” she said. “We hope we can take those ideas and make a plan to get them funded.”

She added, “They’re always brutally honest, and that’s what I want.”

Adam Armour can be reached at 862-3141, by e-mailing adam.armour@itawamba360.com or by visiting his blog at itawamba360.com.