"there is a cost for not changing"

Here we go – again. Midterm elections are over and the spin about mandates, the mood of Americans, and etc. are everywhere. Many politicians are on record saying that the politicking is over and now it is time to govern. Not to be cynical but haven’t we heard this before? The call to arms to break with tradition and the way it’s always been done mindset will give way to the power of the status quo because of one dominating factor – there is no plan.

Consider the company Montgomery Ward; do you remember the name, company, business, and the story behind their rise and fall?

Interestingly enough, Montgomery Ward closed their doors in December of 2000. They began their business in 1872 as dry goods merchants providing rural Americans merchandise via catalogue technology at a substantial cost savings. Utilizing the technology of the day – mail and rail – they built a multimillion-dollar business.

Based out of Chicago, Montgomery Ward and a new start up called Sears, Roebuck and Company both thrived. However, in the late 1910’s things began to change. The population trends in the U.S. moved from rural to urban. By 1920 for the first time in American history, more citizens lived in urban centers.

Sears open stores in cities where people could shop in person but the owners of Montgomery Ward were unwilling to shift – simply put, they were unwilling to pay the price to make change. By 1929 Sears had opened over 300 stores even during the Great Depression. After World War II another great migration began that found Americans leaving the cities to suburbs. Once again, Sears adjusted. Each time the market changed, leadership at Sears was out front where Montgomery Ward’s leadership held fast to their original success – catalog sales. After 128 years Montgomery Ward closed their doors. Sears continues today.

There is a price for change.

There is an even greater price for not changing.

We need only to look around us at businesses that have closed. We don’t have to look far to see the failure to change. The greatest obstacle in front of us is whether or not we too, will fail to change; sounds drastic!

We are in early stages of redefinition, rediscovery, and reinvention.

What do we need to become? Not what needs to change.

The state and federal governments have answered this question. However, what do the citizens of Anson County say?

What I believe to be the impetus to engage our community is the answer to this question: “What do our citizens expect and required from its’ school system?

This is not about yesterday or even today, we must get beyond Montgomery Ward and see reality as well as trends albeit shifting economic indicators, changing demographics, technology, and the like to inform our conversations.

We must resist the temptation to address today and tomorrow’s challenges with yesterday’s solutions knowing full well that they have failed to produce the results we so desperately need.

Yes, there is a price to pay.

Each of us must decide in our own heart of hearts, mind of minds, and soul of souls if this work is worth the price that must be paid. For me, there is no hesitation – to accomplish little requires little sacrifice but to accomplish much requires a greater sacrifice.

No where is it written that transformation is easy or without conflict and yet, there are many that believe that the solution is simply pushing the right buttons or following a simple formula. It isn’t is it?

Transformation is full of complexity. There are many factors some of which appear to be insurmountable. Yet, now, more than ever, we must engage in conversation, discussion, and dialogue about our expectations and requirements and not so quickly accept that those in Washington or Raleigh for that matter have it right.