We don't want to leave the city. We like the charming semi-urban neighborhood in which we live, with its old trees, close-to-downtown location, diverse citizenry, and shops and restaurants within walking distance from our home. Most of all, we love our neighbors and the close-knit community that thrives here.

But staying in Richmond or moving to one of the surrounding counties is a subject my wife and I struggle with because of a lack of confidence in Richmond Public Schools. Based upon countless conversations I have had with friends and acquaintances, we are not alone. Many parents face this decision every year and it seems a majority opt out of city schools by moving to the counties, as Census data indicate, or sending their children to private schools. That is a fair and reasonable decision and no one can fault them for it. I certainly don't, because we face that same decision.

The redevelopment taking place along Broad Street and in other pockets of the city and the new Downtown Master Plan are positive and inspiring. But urban revitalization will not be sustainable if the young professionals who may flock to the Richmond's new urban environment soon fly away when they start to have families and consider the costs and benefits of neighborhoods and schools. More often than not, they have and will opt to leave the city -- just when they begin to contribute meaningfully to the tax rolls.

That is why the Richmond school system is the most important facet of the economic-development equation. Without a thriving and successful public school system, from the top down and the bottom up, the city will never break free of the stagnation in which it has existed for decades, even in the midst of impressive urban revitalization.

I may be na?ve or idealistic (or both), but I don't see this as the "white flight" of the '60s and '70s, which was largely motivated by fear of racially integrated schools. The exodus of families with school-age children today is born not of racism but of frustration with a school system that has failed its students and the citizens who support it. This theme is consistent in numerous conversations I have had with parents, both black and white.

The young parents of today who live in the city do not fear racial integration; quite to the contrary, they more often than not embrace racial and social diversity. After all, that's probably one reason those who live in the city have chosen to do so. These parents value the benefits of diversity.

But, at what point are those benefits outweighed by the costs of a poor education and a poor educational environment? The answer is that we are at that point -- and we have been at that point for years. Until we move beyond that point -- until this city puts aside the petty political disputes that have hobbled its progress for decades, until this city and its school system can correct its financial challenges and improve efficiencies -- sustained success will not be achieved.

We need to encourage a sustained commitment to urban living, not merely a transient population of young, single professionals. Though young professionals are vital to the city and contribute a great deal to the quality of life and cultural scene, they cannot be relied upon to support the long-term viability of the city's population. They eventually have kids of their own and will want to send those kids to high-quality schools. As things now stand, one could hardly blame them for opting out of city schools in the best interests of their children.

Until this city and its school system can make it so a Richmond public school education is not viewed as a risky proposition and the overall benefits of urban living are therefore worth the added costs of city taxes, the city will not enjoy a stable, flourishing citizenry and the benefits of a reliable and renewable tax base.

Please don't get me wrong; there are bright spots. City schools have achieved some success with improved SOL scores and some individual schools do enjoy a good reputation -- for instance, Holton and Fox Elementary Schools and Albert Hill Middle School, among others. But by and large, the perception is that city schools are not providing a quality educational experience for their students. And when it comes to young parents deciding whether to commit to city schools, perception is reality, and that negative perception drives their decision-making process. So often, young parents declare that they "love the city, but the schools . . . "

I realize this presents no novel revelation. Everyone knows this is one of the reasons the city's population has dwindled while the surrounding counties' have grown.

How do we respond to these challenges? Perhaps granting the School Board real authority -- i.e., the power to levy taxes (not that we need more taxes) and the power to issue debt would provide more resources. Such authority would certainly demand greater accountability. Greater accountability may result in substantive policy matters superseding the petty politics that continually stymie our progress.

Improvements, however, do not always demand more money -- and I don't believe granting the power to tax and issue debt is necessary. In the case of city schools, the financial resources are there; they spend substantially more per pupil than surrounding counties. By eliminating the fraud, waste, and abuse that have been outlined by the city auditor and more efficiently utilizing the resources they have, city schools can achieve great things.

Beyond that, I suggest all the wonderful economic development will amount to only a partial victory at best, unless Richmond Public Schools are improved, across the board, to the point where families can perceive this improvement and choose to opt in and not out.
Eric Gregory, a lawyer, lives in the City of Richmond with his wife, Allison, and son, Isaac. Contact him at egregory@richmond.com