You can add Communities in Schools to the groups now taking shots at the diversity policy with the new school board members set to take office.
Neither the state nor local chapters of the group had publicly complained about the diversity policy before even though many of the students they help are among those directly impacted. But relations have frayed between CIS and Wake, as shown in today's op-ed column by Mike Stephens, chief operating officer of Communities In Schools of North Carolina.
"Busing our students is not the only way - or necessarily the best way - to make sure North Carolina is achieving equality in its public schools," Stephens writes. "We do not have to look farther than the Wake County school system to understand this."
Stephens goes on to to cite Wake's graduation rate for black and Hispanic students. He notes how it's lower than the rates for Guilford County schools, which works with CIS.
Stephens notes how Wake cut funding for the 13 CIS site coordinators this school year. This change saved Wake $472,466. School officials justified the cut by saying that those 13 schools could be just like the other schools who ask a staffer to coordinate the tutor-mentors in addition to his/her other duties.
Stephens urged the new board to restore the positions.
"Consequently, it really becomes a matter of choice for the Wake County school board and the county commissioners," Stephens writes. "If the idea is to stop funding policies and programs that don't work - and one can only assume that is why busing may be on the chopping block - then take freed-up revenue or create additional revenue and pay for what does. All of Wake County's students deserve nothing less."
Comments
You really should change
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 13:13 — carson79You really should change this blog headline. I called the organization and it is definitely not his position that bussing doesn't work. Here's the number, 1-800-849-8881.
definitely he wasn't "taking shots at the diversity policy" as you state.
Wake County CIS
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 10:31 — lferreriThe column indicated that the failure to fund CIS site coordinators is a recent event ("Last spring, the Wake County school board decided no longer to fund the CIS site coordinators who worked in 13 of the district's schools"). I don't know much about this program but was it working in Wake County before it was cut? The column gave statistics indicating that Guilford County has been much more successful than Wake County in raising its graduation rates for minority students. I would be interested to know what Guilford County is doing, other than working with CIS, that is creating these results. It seems likely that they have many additional programs. After all, the reduction in CIS funding is so recent that it could not have had much effect on Wake's graduation rates. I am supportive of any program that is successful and efficient, but reinstating the funding for CIS may not be nearly enough.
Communities In Schools
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 09:54 — thepromiseAs a business leader, I thought the op ed from Mike Stephens was a very well written, thoughtful commentary on what needs to be done to ensure that regardless of where students go to school that we should make sure that they are getting a quality education. Communities In Schools is touted by education leaders (including Secretary Arnie Duncan) as one of the best dropout prevention programs in the country. I think what Mr. Stephens was suggesting is that given the poor graduation rates of minority students in Wake County that it would be a wise investment to place CIS site coordinators in those schools where there is a high need. He also did not mention that Charlotte has CIS in 67 schools and the Superintendent and Board have made a commitment to reallocate resources where needed. I think rather than criticizing the diversity policy he was simply suggesting that Wake consider doing the same.
misleading headline
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 00:56 — daisydukemike stephens never criticized wake county's diversity policy. you must have him confused with clay aiken. i've never heard mike sing, but there are many differences between the two, including your presumption that he and cis are criticizing wake's diversity policy.
cis is all about building up, not tearing down. on the other hand....the new wake school board; however, seems intent on tearing down rather than building up. this, to me, is mike's supposition that we work to build up all students and not leave any behind. it's too bad the nando doesn't spend more resources on spell check and durham coverage instead of salacious blog headlines. usually reporters don't control the headlines so i'm not blaming hui, but this headline is very misleading.
So when he talks about
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 01:05 — KeungHui (author)So when he talks about busing on the chopping block as an example of stopping funding of policies and programs that don't work, you think that means he was talking about school buses in general?
Your interpretation of his remarks may be correct, but
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 07:50 — Athey01IMO he was trying to say, IF Wake County is going to spend less money on busing, THEN he is recommending that the board reallocate the funds to CIS. He is not taking a stance on busing, or any other program. He is only touting the fact the CIS is a proven successful program that has helped at risk students.
i really didn't feel he
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 01:20 — daisydukei really didn't feel he took a stand on whether busing works in wake or in greensboro. what he did write is that "investing additional and appropriately targeted resources" to the tune of $200 per kid is a wise investment.
he left out it costs $105k a year to incarcerate a juvenile. that's enough to motivate the right wing -- while the cost of a lost generation of potential and promise would likely be the raison d'etre for progressives.
i still the think the title is a red herring.
Blog headline misleading
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 12:23 — carson79Agree with both responses above mine.
"..he left out it costs
Wed, 11/25/2009 - 08:41 — woodstock"..he left out it costs $105k a year to incarcerate a juvenile. that's enough to motivate the right wing -- while the cost of a lost generation of potential and promise would likely be the raison d'etre for progressives."
You are joking, right? Is this really your world view of the gap between conservatives and the liberals regarding education? LOL
Do you live in a political cartoon?
ever raised money for
Thu, 11/26/2009 - 19:57 — daisydukeever raised money for educational nonprofits with county commissioners --- particularly in wake county?
I volunteered with
Tue, 11/24/2009 - 13:26 — carson79I volunteered with Communities in Schools in high school - I tutored a girl at Hunter Elementary school.
how are they going to change their programs in response to the elimination of all choice in our schools which will isolate poor and minority kids in downtown schools?
as you can see I am still hopeful that this doesn't happen :)