The Lacy Elementary reassignments could still be reversed.
School board member Beverley Clark has asked the board to revisit the Lacy votes during Wednesday evening's reassignment work session. She's pointing to new data presented by parents with warranting another look.
In a nutshell, the Lacy parents say that the board's decision to not make Stough the traditional-caledar option for Brier Creek leaves a small difference in the LI percentages between the two schools.
They're also questioning the capacity figures used to say that Lacy is overcrowded.
Comments
Wakeweary and
Tue, 01/27/2009 - 10:20 — jenmanWakeweary and oldparent--other nodes and areas have fought just as hard for what they want for their children and have been ignored. I don't fault Lacy parents for organizing to fight for their children. But I do think that parents in certain areas have more pull than others. ITB is one of them. Doesn't mean that I think those parents are bad, just that the school system values them more. Also, I think there are more families in those areas who have been long-time Raleigh residents and they have connections with many WCPSS administrators and staffers. Newcomers in the outer reaches of Raleigh don't have those same connections to get a 'foot in the door' to be heard in the same way.
Wakeweary--I don't think you saw my response on a previous Lacy blog entry. You mentioned frustration that people seem to think everyone ITB is loaded. I agree that not everybody there is wealthy and like you said, many are just hard working, middle class families. But that's what we are too, out here in the 'fancy' new subdivisions. I think that we both suffer from misconceptions at times.
I also asked if you have been in Raleigh a long time. I think that many of the families have been and perhaps don't realize how expensive it is to buy a house ITB now. We tried to when we first moved here 10 years ago and absolutely could not afford it. We looked again 4 1/2 years ago so we could be in the base area of our magnet school and couldn't believe the prices. Small one story homes that needed repairs or major updating that cost as much as a new home in North Raleigh. When we would mention to people that we were looking for a house ITB the general response was "Yeah, good luck with that". There are lots of people who just can't afford to spend $225+/sq ft. If we worked downtown it would make much more sense and we might be willing to pay that premium for convenience.
I think there are more and more families getting priced out of ITB. I know 2 families who 10 years ago moved to Falls River from Oakwood and Mordecai. Although they both loved their older homes and neighborhoods, when they had kids and needed more than 1500 sq ft, they couldn't afford to buy down there again.
Could it be that some BoE
Tue, 01/27/2009 - 00:08 — Big_PictureCould it be that some BoE reps actually listen to parents and go to bat for their own schools? I know that the Leesville folks would love to have someone like Bev Clark listening to the parents, paying attention to their situation, looking at new facts when brought to light; am I right?
Whoa there. Bev Clark has
Tue, 01/27/2009 - 08:52 — CaryCurmudgeonWhoa there. Bev Clark has enthusiastically supported busing THOUSANDS of kids for economic diversity, and she voted consistently in support of jamming the MYR experiment down the throats of Western Wake families. Getting religion over a couple of nodes doesn't impress.
Remember, Bev Clark.... "These people need to go where they're supposed to go."
Ouch. Is that a Bev Clark
Tue, 01/27/2009 - 09:24 — Big_PictureOuch. Is that a Bev Clark quote? I still like seeing a BoE rep doing battle for her district. Leesville's BoE rep does battle against hers which is much worse.
That is a direct quote, I'm
Tue, 01/27/2009 - 10:56 — CaryCurmudgeonThat is a direct quote, I'm sure others on this blog recall her saying that. Ms. Clark also voted against doing a diversity study. She has consistently voted for MYR and diversity busing which has screwed the whole county. Glad to see her make a positive gesture, but gotta keep it in perspective.
I get it. Thank you for
Tue, 01/27/2009 - 11:21 — Big_PictureI get it. Thank you for the confirmation.
If the WCPSS stopped letting
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 20:51 — enoughIf the WCPSS stopped letting everyone in the Stough nodes go to magnet schools, then the school would get better.
Cmon
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 22:29 — SideburnsBut how would that be better for those students being moved? Do you realize you are advocating moving other people's children on the pretense that your school "would get better"? These are children who need stability.
Confused
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 23:28 — parentHaven't Stough parents been advocating that Lacy kids be moved so their school can be better? If they stop approving magnet applications that does not mean students currently in a magnet have to stop and go to Stough, it just means that no new students will be able to leave their base school, Stough.
As a parent I cannot imagine
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 22:11 — parentAs a parent I cannot imagine ever lobbying for someone else's child to be moved from anywhere to anywhere - no matter what school it is. I would advocate fighting for your own child to stay at their school or if you want to be moved, fight for that. Doing anything to influence the disruption of a child that is not your own is just wrong. Are you going to go into there room in the middle of the night and assure them that everything will be okay? When they offer you their own money so you can move to a different house so they can stay at their school, are you going to explain why that can't happen? When they say the one thing that would be more exciting than getting snow is for the school board to leave them at the school they love are you going to explain why that makes mommy cry. Do whatever you want for your own child, but leave mine alone!
Or maybe the Lacy parents
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 20:27 — oldparentOr maybe the Lacy parents just have bigger mouths and yell louder?!?!
Thank you wakeweary. The
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 20:21 — oldparentThank you wakeweary. The truth is Chuck Dulaney and the BoE had this information on Thurs. night of last week and chose to ignore the facts and data. Churck Dulaney uses statistics and data to further his own personal agendas. Leesville ES would be wise to reexamine their own data closely and not trust Dulaney!
they've had all our facts for months and new facts WEEKLY
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 20:38 — AngelaWFYI, we have NEVER trusted Chuck (or Patti) and I can already recite stats in my sleep.....we've been over the numbers backwards and forwards and a few of the BoE members actually AGREE with us and our info on both ES and MS.....apparently it's about something ELSE....
but don't let's quibble, that's what WCPSS does BEST, pit parent against parent, school against school, NODE (god do I abhor that word) against node, instead join other dissatisfied WCPSS victims in Holly Springs on 2/5 for a meeting of the minds!
and other nodes have proof
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 20:10 — AngelaWNovember 21, 2005 FACT: The board agreed to consider to convert a school from the traditional to the year-round calendar if 60 percent of the families attending a school favor conversion. In earlier conversion votes, the board required that 80 percent of the families agree to conversion of the calendar. FACT:
The board agreed schools scheduled for a voluntary or involuntary conversion from traditional to year round should be identified at least 10 months prior to the start of a school year.” http://137.118.8.244/Calendar/_online_newsletters_school_construction_2005_nov21_index.html
and other nodes have proof that WCPSS and the BoE doesn't follow it's own procedures re MYR when converting a school with UNDER 8 months to go and NOT polling (or even TELLING) staff and principal and calls for a vote with limited to no discussion time. just saying...
OT alert
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 19:34 — AngelaWhttp://www.wral.com/news/local/politics/story/4403638/
Raleigh, N.C. — Cumberland County Schools Superintendent Bill Harrison was named Monday as the new chairman of the State Board of Education and chief executive officer of the state's public school system.
A recent consultant's report criticized the state Department of Public Instruction for a lack of leadership, and Gov. Bev Perdue said that placing Harrison is a CEO role – effectively putting him in charge of day-to-day operations in the department – would fill that void.
“We need to have a clear line of accountability and better structural support to implement new policies,” Perdue said in announcing a string of changes to the state's educational leadership. "I thought long and hard about it – did a lot of reading, talked to a lot of people – and have decided that this is about the only way I can solve the whole issue of who's in charge."
Superintendent of Public Instruction June Atkinson has no statutory authority over the DPI's operations and primarily works with education and business leaders statewide to improve schools. In addition to that role, Perdue asked her to lead a task force on career development and work force issues.
Harrison also replaces Howard Lee on the Board of Education, and Perdue said the longtime state senator would become the executive director of her Education Cabinet.
The cabinet includes state education leaders and is supposed to develop "a strategic design for a continuum of education programs." The group met infrequently during former Gov. Mike Easley's administration, and Perdue pledged to revive it.
Perdue also named Myra Best as her special adviser on education and education innovation issues. Best is director of the Business Education Technology Alliance and the E-Learning Commission.
“Myra has been instrumental in helping me put more technology in our schools,” Perdue said. “She will help us continue to reach our goals of providing 21st-century learning options in every corner of our state.”
Also, J.B. Buxton, a former education adviser to Easley, said he would step down as deputy state superintendent, and Perdue said she has no plans to fill the position with Harrison overseeing DPI.
Harrison, whose annual salary remains at $220,835, has headed the Cumberland County school district since August 1997. He also spent 13 years, from the mid-1970s to the late 1980s, as a teacher and principal in the district.
Reporter: Bruce Mildwurf
Web Editor: Matthew Burns
more of the same
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 20:18 — AngelaWhttp://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=6625454
Governor Beverly Perdue announced a new direction for the state's education system Monday.
She named Dr. William Harrison CEO of North Carolina's public school system and chairman of the state board of education. It's a brand new position that she called the most important job in the state at this time.
"We must have a trained workforce. That's how we stay competitive globally," said Perdue. "No student in North Carolina has permission to drop out of school."
Pfft.
Tue, 01/27/2009 - 00:46 — Bob_SconceTHe most important job if you think a large government bureaucracy has the ability to actually change anything. Sure, the state distributes a lot of taxpayer money to the local districts. But, apart from that, the state seems to get in the way more than it helps.
but wait
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 19:27 — AngelaWwhat about all the DATA about how MYR isn't even necessary at Leesville Middle or the Elementary school for that matter?
and it's not NEW DATA, it's been there all along and sent and told to them REPEATEDLY even entered in Chuck's own damn program.....what's with the preferential treatment? what about equality for all? OH wait, this is Lacy she's talking about.....silly me!
Silly girl. Rosa & company
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 21:35 — CaryCurmudgeonSilly girl. Rosa & company don't need real data to tell them that MYR is working, they just "know" it.
yes, yes I forgot, just
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 21:52 — AngelaWyes, yes I forgot, just like they "know" busing for diversity is working w/out no stinkin' study!
jeez, I thought for a moment I was dealing with rational people. crap I must've hit my head!
and some
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 19:17 — AngelaWget thrown under the bus by their own reps! JUST some...
That's right but,
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 21:35 — g88ky07not MacGregor folks. Their signs looked nicer!
Some
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 19:14 — SideburnsIs this what Bev meant by the "equality of opportunity" in her Letter to the Editor yesterday?
Some nodes warrant a second look. Some nodes get their data questioned and revised. Some nodes get another opportunity at being removed from the plan.
Just some.
Some nodes don't take it lying down.
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 20:01 — wakewearySome nodes fight for what they believe is right and work really hard to give board members as much information as they can. Some nodes hold the BOE accountable to their own policies and procedures in reviewing ALL schools in the reassignment plan and applying the same standards of evaluation across the board. The fact of the matter is that students were taken out of the Stough assignment plan after LI% data was presented so they are obligated, by their own policy, to review it again. Some nodes are paying close attention and catch these things.
Oh yeah,
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 21:39 — g88ky07like the boe is going to listen to YOU, a parent, you know, the low-life scum that causes them problems every single day of their 17K a year existence, and say, "the parents gave us the correct #'s, maybe we should listen to them."
Give us a break.
Parents are the thorn in education's side. If parents would just shut up and mind their own darn business Rosa could eat dinner on time! But you do make really nice signs!
Ha!
Mon, 01/26/2009 - 20:23 — SideburnsYou make it sound like all of the nodes out in MYR-land have been twiddling their thumbs for the past 3 years. I'm sure there are some people on this blog that will tell you otherwise.
Some nodes are more important to WCPSS. It's Broughton all over again.