The Coalition of Concerned Citizens for African American Children is trading barbs again with Wake County school board vice chairman Keith Sutton.
In the latest dispute, CCCAAC President Calla Wright accuses Sutton of "hiding" from the group for not answering its requests to meet with him. Sutton declined the invitation, citing "the tone and tenor of your last meeting that I was invited to," but agreed to answer the group's questions.
CCCAAC had a long list of questions, many involving what more will be done to help Walnut Creek Elementary School. Questions also dealt with topics such as why Sutton is supporting the use of performance pay for teachers, whether any magnet schools will lose their status and when will revisions to the student assignment policy be presented.
While it hasn't happened yet, the student assignment directive called for revisions to be made to Policy 6200.
As the District 4 rep covering Southeast Raleigh, the CCCAAC has had harsh words to say about Sutton on several issues.
Let's follow the exchange.
Here's an email that Wright sent to Sutton on Aug. 16:
TO: Keith Sutton, WCPSS School Board Member
FROM:Coalition Of Concerned Citizens For African American Children
RE: Meeting Request
On behalf of the Coalition Of Concerned Citizens For African American Chidlren, we would like to invite you to an open meeting to discuss recent changes/newly proposed changes to policies/procedures of the Wake county Public School. This dialogue will give community members, parents and concerned citizens an opportunity to hear from our leader regarding these issues.
Please check your calendar and submit 3 dates for us to choose from. We look forward to having this open dialogue with our school board representative.
Thank you in advance for this giving this urgent matter your immediate attention.
The CCCAAC resent the invitation on Aug. 20.
Here's the CCCAAC email to Sutton on Saturday:
Mr. Sutton,
The CCCAAC have submitted two email invitations requesting a meeting with you however you have ignored both request. As an elected official and public servant you are required to respond to all communications from the taxpayers and voters who elected you to the Wake County School Board. Your recent vote for new chnages are of great concern to us and we need to meet with you.
We look forward to hearing from you, our elected servant.
Thank you for giving this urgent request your immediate attention.
Here's the response that Sutton sent back to Wright later on Saturday:
Mrs. Wright,
Thank you for your invitation. Given the tone and tenor of your last meeting that I was invited to, I will pass on this opportunity.
Keith Sutton
Here's the reply from Wright to Sutton on Saturday:
Mr. Sutton,
Thank you for your email and as an elected servant we feel it is our duty to hold you accountable for your actions as it relates to the education of our children.
It appears you are intimidated and are not able to address the questions concerns from our community without prior preparation. We are simply holding "you" , Mr. Sutton, accountable for your actions.
Our community is known for being silent and when a group questions your actions or do not agree with your vote you tend to use "tone and tenor" as your excuse.
Are you not capable of answering questions without seeking help from your fellow constituents.?
Are you afraid of being held accountable for your actions?
Do you need your supporters to help answer questions because you can not answer us? Why are you hiding?
Mr. Sutton, since you cannot answer our questions because you are using "the tone of our last meeting" as an excuse, then who will answer us?
Thank you for giving this urgent matter your immediate attention!
Here's the reply Sutton sent to Wright on Sunday.
Mrs. Wright,
I am not sure what gives you the impression that I am intimidated simply by your invitation. Nor do I agree with your assertion that "our community" is silent. I regularly hear from various segments of our community and have spoken to several groups, churches, and individuals in recent weeks, with more in the coming days and weeks. During these discussions, I have not been assisted by anyone, so I am not sure what "fellow constituents you are referring to
Here's the reply from Wright to Sutton on Sunday.
Mr. Sutton
Thank you for your response however you did not answer the question/concern regarding our need to hold you accountable for your recent vote and other board actions. WE want answers from you because we voted for you and we are taxpayers who need to talk with our representative.
Do we need to request a meeting with other board members regarding our concerns for your vote and actions?
Thank you for your urgent response.
CCCAAC
Here's Sutton's reply to Wright on Sunday:
You are welcome to request a meeting with whomever you like, but they can't nor will they attempt to answer any questions regarding my votes and actions.
What recent vote is it that you have a question about? I have no problem answering any questions you may have. Feel free to submit any that you have. I will be happy to provide an answer and then we can end this communication. I do not plan to continue to go back and forth with you.
Here's Wright's reply to Sutton Sunday:
Mr. Sutton:
Thank you for your response and CCCAAC wanted to inform you that our communication will not end and we will continue to monitor your actions in an effort to ensure equal education opportunities for all children and to get a response from our District 4 Representative. Please remember, we are voters and taxpayers whose voices will be heard and not ignored by any elected officials.
The CCCAAC 's Question No. 1- Why did you vote for teachers to receive pay for performance when we have a large number of segregated schools?
No. 2-What are your long term goals for improving student achievement in District 4?
No. 4-Rumor has it--Walnut Creek will be a K-8 school next year, please verify.
No. 5- Walnut Creek mission statement-Students will leave Walnut Creek Elem having been prepared to engage in the most rigorous coursework at the middle school level.
According to the recent EOG Reading scores-40% of the 5th grade students did not meet proficieny and can you tell CCCAAC as our District 4 Representative, how will you handle this urgent Matter?
No. 6 Will you consider adding any new Magnet Schools in Southeast Raleigh such as Walnut Creek or will this school remain a high poverty/ segregated school?
No. 7 Are any of our magnet schools in jeopardy of losing their magnet status?
No. 8 Are you going to add any updated technology courses at Southeast Raleigh High School? Do you have plans for making SE Raleigh a Leadership Academy?
No.9 When will we get information on the revision of Policy 6200- Student Assignment?
10. When will you bring the draft to our community for input?
Thank you for providing the CCCAAC your prompt response. Additional questions/concerns will submitted on a continuous basis.
Educationally yours,
Coalition Of Concerned Citizens For African American Children
Additional questions will be forwarded.
Comments
SattchHH makes good points and also...
Fri, 08/31/2012 - 08:25 — RKCurtrightIt is important to have boundaries in terms of: Can we handle how people choose to speak, discuss, and have dialogue with us? Calla is an advocate for many who need her voice so our BOE can understand the bigger picture for wcpss.
Although do we hear ourselves in terms of how people choose to discuss matters with our BOE, as there are high emotions in conversations that we have no control over, really. We are only responsible for ourselves and how we decide to communicate, listen, and act on the needs of others.
Calla is a good woman and does great things. I watched the last BOE meeting when I spoke about the assignmnet plan and Calla was in the front row on camera obviously in her bady language, facial expressions, was very displeased with my opinion. She has a right to her opinion. It is sad to me we cannot all be allowed a voice and be listened to respectfully. I am to blame at times as well. It is a constant work-in-progress to put our own bias aside and truly listen to others with logic, reason, and compassion.
Mr. Sutton is human and has a right to set his own bourndaries. He has a job, a family, and kids. He deserves to be respected. We(&me) can all do a better job of sharing our views in a proper, honorable, respectful way.
having volunteered in D4
Mon, 09/03/2012 - 08:18 — snordonefor 2&1/2 years I will give you my honest opinion, everyone outside of D4 needs to say out of this. It is a community that does not like outsider interference. Recognize it for what it is - a political battle for control.
While I do respect Calla, I don't consider her a voice of the majority of D4. She routinely has 20+ people at her meetings and they are the political insiders. They support the political views of the ITB political insiders. For this reason Steve Ford and the rest of his cronies gives them lots of press coverage. In contrast, Darryl Allison had 750 African American men and women show up at the N. Raleigh Hilton for a discussion about the quality of education of AA children. There were literally 5 white people in the whole meeting. The N&O chose not to cover that meeting at all - not in the paper and not in the blogs (no offense Keung, I know you are spread thin) so no one knows about it. So while CCCAAC gets tons of N&O press coverage they don't represent the majority of AA parents who are concerned about two things - the quality of education their children receive (not whether they get to sit next to a white kid in K-12 but whether they go to college) and their safety in a society that views AA males as a threat.
Maybe Keung could do a story about Darryl Allison and his efforts across NC instead of another story about the CCCAAC/Sutton political battle for control?
...
Mon, 09/03/2012 - 09:38 — SideburnsI agree. Darryl Allison is an under-the-radar kinda guy. He's very effective and respected but doesn't have time for all the noise. I wonder how many people have even heard of him and his work.
Good list of questions
Fri, 08/31/2012 - 07:10 — SatchHHThis is a good list of questions. I hope Mr. Sutton and others take the time to address them. It is the responsibility of staff and all board members to address these questions though, not just Mr. Sutton. Due to some of the ugliness of the previous board, we're seeing much more segregation by race and poverty in our county, which is going down the wrong road and will create more and more problems. Hopefully Mr. Sutton is actively working to address the ills created by the old board, but I don't want to see all of the emails online.
Question 10.1 Will Mr.
Fri, 08/31/2012 - 07:50 — DrActualFactualQuestion 10.1 Will Mr. Sutton or each BOE member be bringing the "draft" version of policy 6200 (or any other policy that any special interest group deems necessary) to each and every district/community for revision? I thought it was unethical and improper for special interest groups to have this degree of input on any specific policy? Whether it be GSIW or CCCAAC or any of the countless groups, I thought board members were recently cautioned about their interactions with special interest groups.
Way to Go Mr. Sutton!
Thu, 08/30/2012 - 21:43 — VillageMentalityBTW - where is question # 3?
I think Mr. Sutton has been responsive of late and it appears he has become more of a team player looking at the big picture - not just SE Raleigh. As it should be. He makes decisions that affect ALL wcpss children.
Until we the entire wcpss community looks at the family circumstances that also contribute to the achievement rate and hold parents accountable for their child's education we are spitting in the wind.
If a teacher recives a bonus for improving achievement scores so be it. Until the measly 1.2% increase this year, staff hasn't has a raise in what 4 or 5 years? The private sector gives bonuses all the time for performance. The state spent millions giving out bonuses for ABC's and stopped, my guess because it was actually working and they couldn't continue to pay for it. Sad really....
There was no #3 in the email.
Thu, 08/30/2012 - 21:47 — KeungHui (author)There was no #3 in the email.
Good thing she's not a math
Thu, 08/30/2012 - 21:53 — ApexterGood thing she's not a math teacher.
"Dear Mr. Sutton: You are
Thu, 08/30/2012 - 21:17 — Apexter"Dear Mr. Sutton:
You are cordially invited to a command performance on my home turf, where you will be castigated for daring to make your own decisions as a duly elected representative of District 4 rather than doing my bidding.
Signed,
The Self-Appointed Queen of All She Surveys"
I can't imagine why he wouldn't want to take her up on that generous invitation.
Home turf
Fri, 08/31/2012 - 07:14 — SatchHHMs. Wright's home turf is the same as Mr. Sutton's. He should be willing to work with all of his constituents (throughout the county), not just the ones who he deems are polite enough. I've always had the impression that he was a solid guy and could face tough questions. He should get out there and work with this group - after all he's had to deal with much worse on the board. Come on Mr. Sutton - you can do it!
LOL
Thu, 08/30/2012 - 21:44 — jenmanExactly. I'm so glad to see him stand up to her. She never ceases to amaze me with her self-importance.
LOL
Fri, 08/31/2012 - 07:24 — SatchHHShe speaks for a group of community members concerned about the education of their children and you say she's self-important? This from someone who has run for school board - which basically shows that you believe your views to be quite important too! We desperately need voices like Ms. Wright's to stand up and fight for the students in SE Raleigh. You and others claim to know what's best for students in SE Raleigh - do you go to forums and listen to community members speak? Did you go to the Walnut Creek forum a few months ago and hear what staff and parents had to say? Why do you (and so many others on this blog) have the nerve to assert what's best for students in SE Raleigh and then are unwilling to respectfully hear what a member of the community asserts? Give me a break. If you had been to forums, you would NOT have heard all of the complaining about bus rides that you all claim to have been such a big problem. You WOULD have heard concerns about Walnut Creek and the fact that the needs there are so great students aren't getting the attention that they received at their previous schools where there was less concentrated poverty and need. Do you not know that many members of the community don't want to speak out about their concerns because they don't want backlash and the kind of ugly blame that goes on by outsiders? We all need to listen to people like Ms. Wright who is willing to speak up and thank her for her courage! THANK YOU Ms. Wright!
...
Fri, 08/31/2012 - 22:14 — SideburnsDo you not know that many members of the community don't want to speak out about their concerns because they don't want backlash and the kind of ugly blame that goes on by outsiders?
Who are the outsiders you refer to? What sort of backlash? I truly don't understand your statement.
I've been to plenty of
Fri, 08/31/2012 - 10:20 — jenmanI've been to plenty of forums and I've spoken with plenty of parents--some who don't like the long bus rides and some who feel they are worth it. Wright dismisses anybody who doesn't agree with her and isn't open to any sort of dialogue with them.
Yes, I did run for school board and yes it was because I thought I had the best ideas and interest of all of our students and families in mind. I don't, however, demand that anybody meet with me or listen to me because of it. I don't refuse to engage in dialogue with those I disagree with.
You say that there are those in the SE Raleigh/black/low income community who don't speak out because they are afraid of backlash from outsiders. There are plenty of people within that community who don't speak out of fear of backlash from people like Wright.
I thought you were a good
Fri, 08/31/2012 - 22:08 — SatchHHI thought you were a good candidate and that you were the clear preference over Heather L. I'm not criticizing your running as I admire well-informed, thoughtful people who do (though I often disagree with you and am glad Kevin Hill won the election). I was pointing out that all Ms. Wright is doing is speaking up for her community and that is a good thing. Others who speak out (like you) shouldn't criticize her for it. It is important that her voice be heard - and I have heard her dialogue with others, so disagree that she dismisses all those with different views.
I will never criticize
Mon, 09/03/2012 - 21:06 — jenmanI will never criticize somebody for speaking out, no matter how much I might disagree with them. I absolutely agree that we need to hear all voices. I do criticize some people for the way they speak out. I'm glad that you have seen Calla engage in dialogue with people she disagrees with. I have had a very different experience with her. I know several thoughtful, respectful, kind people who attempted to reach out to her in an honest and true way only to be rebuffed. I think she has her mind made up about people before she even talks to them. That has been my experience and what I base my opinion on. I respect the fact that you have a different experience.
I'm not a huge Sutton fan (I've reached out to him several times over the years and not received any sort of repsonse. The first time was in 2007--well before any of this political bs came about), but I cannot believe the way Wright 'speaks' to him in her emails. This most recent string of emails is not the first I've seen btw her and Sutton and it is not the worst. Wright isn't the only one out there who behaves like this and I just can't understand how people think they are going to get anywhere treating others that way.
No kidding
Thu, 08/30/2012 - 22:40 — FSandYOUShe's more one sided than Billy Barber!
Good for you Keith. Looking out for ALL children, not just a small select group that Calla seems to make a career from.
Come now....
Thu, 08/30/2012 - 18:26 — willynillyare you not aware of how the WCPSS does things? They dow whatever they wish, right or wrong. If they step on thier deck they gather round and circle the wagons. Then they refuse to tlak to you. After months or years they will finally answer you saying that too much time has passed for them to address the issue. They will enter into your file the very proof of which you speak. Then, when you come back to them and ask that the "letter" be removed from your file they answer you (Del Burns signature on the page) by telling you they will not remove the letter, but they will remove.......LOL get this.....your proof including emails and a letter signed by a sitting principal proven to be a lie. Of course Del based this on the advice of an ahhh hummm QUESTIONABLE Human Resources Superintendent.......who later mysteriously "retires" after chasing off an employee who he fears will let out his secret. And the WCPSS covers for him. Oooops, did I let that cat out of the bag? So, as a suggestion, do what I am doing. Gather a focused description of your complaint, with proof......and start mailing it to every senator and congressman locally and Federally. LOL I know I am starting to feel better already. It is amazing the freedom one feels when the fear of never teaching again simply leaves the brain.....so you jackwagons can call anyone you want to call now.
thank you both
Thu, 08/30/2012 - 15:06 — sam123456thank you both for the information!
wakefield lockdown??
Thu, 08/30/2012 - 13:04 — sam123456Just heard that Wakefield High/Middle schools may have gone into lockdown sometime this morning. Does anyone know anything? Were parents notified? Thanks
I received a recorded phone
Thu, 08/30/2012 - 14:48 — jenmanI received a recorded phone call from the principal of WHS.
here is the story
Thu, 08/30/2012 - 13:26 — croaswifewww.wral.com/news/local/story/11486951/