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What's The Hardship: Fame Or Front Line?

The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 24, 2008

Don't blame Tony Dungy for getting his son, Eric, into Plant High School. The Dungys exercised the same option entitled all parents by asking for a special assignment to a school outside their neighborhood's boundaries.

But the district shouldn't pretend that Eric Dungy got into Plant, considered one of the district's best schools, for any reason other than his last name.

The situation, which has angered parents around the county, points out the flaws and inconsistencies in the special assignment system.

It's understandable the district would want to help Tony Dungy, who has done so much to help others in our community, get his son into a school where there's really no room for him. But it's a shame that while the district appears eager to give breaks to the children of the rich and famous, it seems far less sympathetic when other families also have hardships deserving of consideration.
Tampa Tribune reporter Marilyn Brown recently relayed the story of Lissa Davenport. She requested her 9-year-old son be given special assignment to Limona Elementary, a school he had attended for three years, after her husband got his orders to ship off to Iraq. She felt her son needed the stability of a familiar school and its proximity helped the family adjust to the new logistics that come when a parent is sent off to war.

The district turned her down flat.

If having a parent sent off to the front lines doesn't classify as a hardship, then this district needs to rethink its priorities. The least we can do for a worried child who is missing his father is allow him into a familiar environment.

As things stand, there appears to be no rhyme, reason or fairness to special assignment decisions.

We don't begrudge the district wanting to meet Tony Dungy family's needs. But school officials should be as considerate of other, less-famous parents requesting extra help.

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