Dr. Romain Dallemand, Superintendent of Schools, told NewsCentral, "The name of the plan is the Macon Miracle and tonight I feel like there is a real miracle in place in Macon."

“The Macon Miracle”, is a strategic plan that has six focuses: students, staff, parents & community, teaching & learning, technology, and structure of schools.

A plan that a community spiritual leader says is a good one.

Rev. Ronald Terry, Pastor of New Fellowship Baptist Church, believes "Dr. Dallemand, tonight, hit a homerun. He has addressed the full comprehensive scope of our learning in Bibb County."

The sixth “focus” is on school structure, launching portfolio schools that would focus on the students interest.

"And we know when students go to a school where they have options that they are interested in, it increases their motivation level." said Dallemand

Dr. Dallemand has mentioned closing 12 elementary schools saving three million dollars.

"Hopefully master the English language, but will also begin to learn other languages as we move children to a more global market." said West.

Dr. Dallemand presented at 25 page plan to Board of Education members, allowing each of the to ask questions and voice concern about each focus after the goals, strategies and action steps were presented.

"We are talking about a plan that has a major emphasis on literacy and normalcy at the lower grades." explains Dallemand.

Board members questions were related to ideas that are not commonly used in our educational system like student self evaluation and free internet access to all students.

Dr. Wanda West, Board of Education member, said "This plan is not your traditional plan is not your traditional plan. It includes taking a comprehensive look at teaching at learning."

The plan was called bold by some board members, and a bold change is what Reverend Terry believes need.

"We have a broken system and we need to fix it, and it just didn't happen yesterday. It's been broken for a while." said Rev. Terry.

The plan proposed is believed to create efficiency in the school system, efficiency in learning, and efficiency in taxpayer’s dollars.


"And I think the most important component of this plan is that we are talking about in five to seven years, a plan that will give our taxpayers, our stake holders, our parents, and our community members 20 to 27 million back.”said Dallemand.

Dr. Dallemand has mentioned closing 12 elementary schools saving three million dollars.

"We are not recommending to lay off a single person because of this plan." said Dallemand.