In a moment loaded with symbolism, school board chairman Kevin Hill took the unusual step of briefly turning the gavel over today to vice chairman Horace Tart to present the CUBE award to the school board.
Hill traveled to Texas earlier this month, just days after the board election, to accept the award from the National School Boards Association’s Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE). Wake got the award for its diversity efforts.
Hill, from the speakers' podium, called the receipt of the award one of the proudest moments in his time on the school board.
Hill noted that Jefferson County Schools in Kentucky was the other school district that got the award in that same category. He said Jefferson County had taken 12 to 13 months to put together a choice plan.
Hill added that Jefferson County school officials had called Wake looking for help and to say that their plan wasn't working too well. BTW, Jefferson County and Seattle Public Schools were the two districts in the 2006 U.S. Supreme Court case that sharply cut back on the use of race in school assignment.
In presenting the plaque to the board, Hill said that Wake was commended for its efforts to level the playing field for students. He added that he hoped that commitment will continue for years to come.
There was applause although only a few people, including former Wake County PTA President Diana Bader and Coalition of Concerned Citizens for African American Children president Calla Wright, gave a standing ovation.
Hill is a supporter of the diversity policy. As noted in today's article, he's urging the likely new board majority to be not rush into making changes.
Comments
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Thu, 10/22/2009 - 06:01 — Sideburns"Hill traveled to Texas earlier this month, just days after the board election, to accept the award from the National School Boards Association’s Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE)."
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Mr. Hui,
Was that trip on the taxpayer's dime?
the end
Thu, 10/22/2009 - 00:33 — SDR256Swan song.
And a pretty pitiful one at that.
Oh boy!
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 10:29 — Dadof3Rochester, NY and Texas loves our schools! Bully for them -- we have a superintendent and a director of social engineering you might be interested in.
Don't forget the director of low expectations for low-income
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 11:48 — TrailerParkGirlalthough I wouldn't wish that on low-income students any where.
Congratulations Kevin
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 09:53 — ncmpgjrAs the elected component of the 54.6 coalition, perhaps you can frame the award with this statement from Wake Ed Partnership.
"This is true. Only 54.6 percent of Wake’s low-income students scheduled to graduate in 2008-2009 actually received a diploma. The state average was 61.8 percent."
http://www.wakeedpartnership.org/In%20Context%2009.17.09.html
You must be so proud ..... and arrogant.
bothered
Tue, 10/20/2009 - 21:17 — loriacI can't believe I am the only one bothered by this....
You are not alone. Applying
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 06:46 — woodstockYou are not alone. Applying for the CUBE award and Hill's gleeful reaction to it pretty much sums up the pitiful state of affairs and priorities of the sitting school board.
We need a school board that values substance and results that focus on academic achievement.
No, you're not. This is
Tue, 10/20/2009 - 21:32 — CaryCurmudgeonNo, you're not. This is another soccer award given to wcpss by another education bureaucracy. If Kevin Hill thinks this is the highlight of his career, then he has the bar set pretty low.
Ironic that on the same day this award was presented to the board, the school system acknowledged that the system they have been using to evaluate student performance has been designed to show misleadingly positive results for at-risk children.
another article we'll never see
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 06:02 — loriacCC - how true - another article we'll never see in the N&O. Time to write another letter to the editor, but I'm afraid how they'll 'edit' it.
Did you guys read the EVAAS
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 06:43 — KeungHui (author)Did you guys read the EVAAS article today?
yes
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 07:52 — loriacHowever, the average person reading this will not understand the impact caused by using WCPSS' own software for years. How much has it cost the taxpayers to pay for staff to develop and maintain this program? What is the human cost of the institutionalized low expectations for ED kids? Why did Del Burns sit on the report for 3 months? Why hasn't the BOE questioned this before? Why was Wake the only district to spend $$$ to develop their own program? I bet there's a dept of people just to maintain this program - how many will be let go now that it's no longer needed?
So, while this article is factually correct and balanced... it left out the whole backstory.
I'm with you Loriac. Where
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 22:45 — changewcpssI'm with you Loriac. Where is the information that the public deserves to know? Why aren't the questions regarding the cover-up being asked?
Excellent points all
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 08:15 — woodstockExcellent points all around.
Also, has Truit submitted her withdrawal letter yet? Still waiting for conformation of that.
no letter submitted
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 08:47 — CaryCurmudgeonno letter submitted yesterday.
See today's post.
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 08:53 — KeungHui (author)See today's post.
Ironic
Wed, 10/21/2009 - 00:31 — TrailerParkGirl"...the system they have been using to evaluate student performance has been designed to show misleadingly positive results for at-risk children."
I'm guessing that wasn't mentioned in the award application.
proud over a non-award?
Tue, 10/20/2009 - 15:35 — loriacFrom the 8.13.09 blogs:
'Wake learned this week it will receive a special recognition award from the National School Boards Association’s Council of Urban Boards of Education (CUBE). Wake got the recognition for its "outstanding achievements and continued progress" after being nominated for CUBE's Annual Award for Urban School Board Excellence.'
This award, by the Council of Urban Boards of Education - is kind of an honorable mention at best. WCPSS paid to enter, committed to travel to the conference when they entered, spent staff time on the application. I have traded several notes w/ Kevin Hill, asking why we are spending money to travel, how much staff time was devoted to this entry, and requested a copy of the application. I have not received a copy of the application, and the only answer I received was that they committed to travel to the conference as part of the entry. WHAT A COLOSSAL WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY.This is what our current board values - time and money spent on awards that have no applicability to Wake County.
Keung - I'd still like a copy of this application if you can get it.