The on again, off again press conference backing Wake's diversity policy has been scheduled for Monday
The "Friends of Diversity Press Conference," organized by school board member Keith Sutton, brings together several community leaders to talk about the importance of diversity in Wake's schools. Speakers will include Sutton, Knightdale Mayor Russell Killen and Capitol Broadcasting CEO Jim Goodmon.
Sutton is stressing that no school board candidate endorsements will be made. But you don't have to put two and two together to figure out who they'd like you to support.
Here's the press release:
For immediate release
Topic: Friends of Diversity Press Conference
Time: 10 am Monday, Oct. 5
Place: Raleigh Convention Center
A large cross-section of community leaders, business groups, parents and teachers will hold a press conference at 10 am Monday to speak about the importance of diversity in Wake County’s public schools. The event will be held in the lobby of the Raleigh Convention Center.
Those scheduled to speak at the event include Knightdale Mayor Russell Killen, Capitol Broadcasting Corporation President Jim Goodmon, newly-appointed Wake County school board member Keith Sutton, St. Matthew AME Pastor Marion Robinson and attorney Wade Smith of Tharrington, Smith LLP.
The purpose of the event is to underscore the importance school diversity has played in the growth an d success of Wake County. The event is being held to note the importance of school diversity prior to the Oct. 6 board elections in eastern and southern Wake County as well as North Raleigh and Cary. No candidate endorsements will be made.
Comments
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Sad misrepresentation of our position
Sat, 10/03/2009 - 08:24 — JTedescoMe thinks thou dost protest too much.
Wow - negative commercials, ads, and dusting off all the old guard to help sure up the ranks?
What have we uncovered by tapping on this issue?
They create this false idea that it is either the Charlotte way of the Wake way. While the truth is they both stink at serving underprivileged children; we are just better at hiding it. There are thousands of other school districts in America to look at and maybe even some of our own innovation.
And what is this red herring? In the letter from former board members, they argue that Wake has no "bad" schools and that the "opposite of diverse schools is unequal schools." It says that '"community schools' means that 'you' can't come into 'my' community.'"
These folks are not only out of touch with our community, modern family dynamics, and the way children grow up in the new millennium (clue: this is not 1960), but they also are out of line with their own party's agenda. Our nation's first African American President has made it a cornerstone of his educational policy to shift America to "Community Schools". Is he too aligned with us to re-segregate our schools? Is he too saying, “not in my community”? NO – we are recognizing that society has changed fundamentally.
The civil rights war for our generation is not segregation, but poverty. We can not win a war on poverty with the battle plans to end segregation.
“When schools truly become the center of communities great things happen” – US Sec. of Education, Arnie Duncan. He continues, “Studies have shown that the community school concept helps decrease mobility rates, improve student attendance, decrease truancy rates and increase test scores.” http://www.communityschools.org/
Videos from community schools around the country and a presentation from Arne Duncan. http://www.youtube.com/user/communityschools
Our communities today are already more diverse than ever. The US Census (link below) notes Wake County is already naturally more diverse than the state and national average. In Wake County approximately 8% of the population is below poverty standards. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/37/37183.html
The letter also noted, “The opposite of diverse schools is unequal schools. Inequality creates isolation and barriers to success.” Is this to say our HBCUs (historic black colleges and universities) like Shaw and St. Augs, along with our female colleges like Meredith and Peace are failures?
Several of the comments in recent N&O editorials and WCPSS press releases tout the diversity policy by noting it as one of the last places in the country still using these kinds of policies. There is a reason for that. It has proven to fail cities as they experience growth and condemn greater numbers of children into poverty while driving out a more affluent base.
So these cities had to change their policies to fix the kind of mess we are heading into with our rapid growth. Why not put the brakes on now before we drive into the 20 car pile up? Why not think differently? Why do we have to be the last community to actually get it?
I just do not understand the strong opposition. Is there something in it for them to abandon thousands of our most vulnerable children to a failed system, to control the lives of every family in Wake County, or are they just that short sighted and outdated?
We can do better. But first we must free ourselves from the chains of these out-dated policies.
John Tedesco
Boy do we need you John.
Sat, 10/03/2009 - 22:08 — changewcpssBoy do we need you John. Thank you for your courage and your commitment to making a difference for those students WCPSS continues to ignore and hide.
John the fact that you are
Sun, 10/04/2009 - 10:35 — user12345John the fact that you are not lumped in with the other opposition candidates in the negitive ads , I think, means people know you know what you are talking about ... you walk the walk ...
Friends Disclosure
Sat, 10/03/2009 - 07:30 — DrActualFactualSo I know Tharrington-Smith is the law firm WCPSS has on retainer and they get paid by the district. Does Capital Broadcasting get any $$$ from the district? I see that WRAL is owned/run by Cap. Broadcasting--is that owned by Bill Fletcher or Fletcher Foundation (former board member?) Keung--could you please clarify members of this new group outlining those receiving money from or directly or indirectly benefiting by this new arrangement? Thanks in advance!
Tharrington Smith is the
Sat, 10/03/2009 - 09:01 — KeungHui (author)Tharrington Smith is the school board's attorney. Wade Smith, when he was in the General Assembly in the 1970s, fought for the merger of the school systems. Capitol Broadcasting and the Fletcher Foundation were both formed by A.J. Fletcher but WRAL is owned by the company and not the foundation. Jim Goodmon is A.J. Fletcher's grandson and the Foundation's chairman of the board and his wife, Barbara, is the foundation's president. Bill Fletcher is I believe also A.J. Fletcher's grandson but I don't think he's actively involved in the foundation. He's a real estate agent nowadays.
Bill Randall speaks out on diversity & for Debra Goldman in D9
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 23:50 — btwalshYouTube video about diversity policy and Debra Goldman in District 9.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CNiIj-EzeQ
FYI, Mr. Randall wasn't invited to the Friends of Diversity press conference.
Bill should show up
Sat, 10/03/2009 - 04:42 — g88ky07at the "press conference" with his Ty Pennington megaphone and shout his opinion loudly over them! Anyone can attend, he might not have been invited, but they can't shut the door in your face like the wcpss does to parents!
Spin the spot nodes
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 21:41 — tigger516Maybe that's the name of the game played by those embracing the status quo bussing.
Why not ask for endorsements of REAL parents that live in the spot nodes in SE Raleigh that keep getting reassigned for diversity?
Why not ask them if they enjoy getting their child to the bus stop at 5:45 AM to attend their 8th grade year in a year-round school in Apex rather than the former magnet school WITH afterschool program that their child attended for 2 years located closer to their home in the same city in which they live (Raleigh)?
Why not ADMIT that some families have NO CARS and CANNOT provide their own transportation to school, therefore applying for a TRANSFER to remain at the previous school IS NOT an option.
In fact, applying to other magnet schools IS NOT an option since there is no transportation to get to the designated EXPRESS bus stop.
In other words, we DO have mandatory assignments in WCPSS. When you assign poor children to attend far away schools, the only option for their child is the school bus sent to pick up at 5:45 AM for a school that starts @ 7:30.
Why would a parent in the spot node choose to send their child to a year round school farther away that doesn't even offer Spanish classes rather than stay at the magnet school that offers 3 foreign languages and numerous electives and an Afterschool Program?
The problem for WCPSS is that the year-round middle school in Apex needs more diversity and all the outlying schools need more diversity to look "healthy".
To achieve this "praise worthy" goal, the spot nodes from SE Raleigh keep spinning from school to school to school. School stability is dismissed by those in charge of this spinning wheel.
Remember, it's not about healthy students, just healthy schools because the mantra goes, "There are no bad schools in Wake County".
It doesn't matter that these kids were already getting a lot of academic support closer to home where their parents could actually ride the city bus to attend a teacher conference (and they rode the bus).
It doesn't matter that the younger siblings are mandated to attend school in Garner. Yes, families in this spot node get to send the younger children to Garner while the older ones get shipped to Apex!
Aren't the magnet schools supposed to be diverse too? Why was this diverse spot node forced out of the magnet school located within the same town?
Oh yeah, I forgot, the game is called, "Spin the spot nodes" so that we'll get "NO bad schools in WCPSS".
Unfortunately, this game is not working and the pitiful graduation rates are an indicator that the current system needs to change.
Let's start by insuring there is PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION to ALL schools in WCPSS for parents without the means of transportation.
Kids have been getting bussed from S.E. Raleigh to the Leesville campus for over 10 years and there is STILL no CAT bus stop on Leesville Road to access 4 schools on this road located within city limits.
Neighborhood schools is not segregation. Neighborhood schools means parents have access to their child's school due to close proximity.
Why not ask the spot node parents what neighborhood schools mean to them? Their endorsements will mean more than those from old school board members.
By the way, you can find them on Evers Drive in Raleigh between the dawn hours of 5:45 AM and 6 AM.
I do know
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 18:13 — RevHiDI serve in our schools. I worked with kids before I became a WCPSS parent. I've worked with economically challenged inner city kids in three different areas of the country. I saw that proximity didn't increase parental involvement. I know many families who value discipline and education who also use the F&R lunch program.
There are many causes of the high dropout rate. Proximity will not fix it, and the money "saved" by ending bussing won't be enough to fix failing high poverty schools you create.
I'd like to see some schools created in lower income areas that are designed with the community and address their needs. But they should be magnet or choice schools with no base. The choice element of the KIPP model is essential to its success! This should be done in addition to diversity, not as a replacement.
and NO WSCA endorsed
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 18:31 — AngelaWand NO WSCA endorsed candidate has proposed doing away with diversity, but they have IDEAS like KIPP for IMPROVING WCPSS. so what is your point?
Angela, God bless you,
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 22:39 — WhalerCaneAngela,
God bless you, but that is false. In fact I have seen Chris Malone pound on the table and scream "Neighborhood Schools, Neighborhood Schools, Neighborhood Schools."
By definition if you eliminate SES as a criteria in assignment you resegregate our schools along economic lines, aka, do away with diversity.
Neighborhood schools end
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 19:32 — RevHiDNeighborhood schools end ECONOMIC diversity. In Wake County, we could have cultural diversity in some affluent schools. Neighborhood schools mean segregation by housing cost, absolutely no doubt about it. Exclusive developments routinely fight nearby affordable housing. And the "affordable" housing I mean is the kind families of teachers, police officers, and firefighters can afford even if they didn't move here at the height of a bubble in another market and can't get help from parents.
The candidates you label as "status quo" want change too. They're not going to dismantle what works in order to do it.
What status quo will not
Sat, 10/03/2009 - 22:13 — changewcpssWhat status quo will not admit is that their idea of diversity is failing the students it should be helping. They continue to nominate themselves for meaningless awards for bragging rights that mean squat.
WSCA does not want to eliminate diversity. They want to eliminate busing that shuffles poor performers from school to school, creating unhealthy students but magic *healthy schools*.
Fear and uncertainty
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 21:02 — SDR256Its clear there is a lot of fear and uncertainty out there. 'Neighborhood schools' is a lightening rod. This is why we carefully put 'neighborhood schools in a community model' on our WSCA goals, and not JUST neighborhood schools. Its clear that busing alone does not work. Its clear that neighborhood schools (as with CMS) does not work. We need DOOR #3! With as much brain power as we have in this county are you telling me that we can't have SOME neighborhood schools, LOTS of diversity, ALL kids succeeding, EVERY family with choice?
There are neighborhood schools in my community which are - if they were base schools - diverse - WIDELY diverse - culturally, racially, economically. WCPSS doesn't leave them alone when they achieve the 40% rule. They're still messing with them - breaking up connections with teachers and friends, mentors and routines - just inhumanely tyrannical! I think that logical people just want to see that there is a stable system in place that works.
Personally, I want to see any future system provide a choice for families of low income to show how their children will SHINE when they are embraced, supported and EMPOWERED. The current system robs them of hope, robs them of self worth - and puts the carrot of a better education in front of them but uses them as pawns for data normalization. I can't call the engineers of this enough bad names for it to make any difference.
Any parent worth their salt can see it.
Your candidates promises do
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 21:56 — RevHiDYour candidates promises do not add up. And saying that you aren't going to end all bussing makes the promise of not needing any extra funding even more suspect. You won't save enough money to make it happen.
All the reassignment plans I've read look like they are not random, and that they address growth, peer and program continuity, and healthy schools. Each one has an articulated rationale. I saw a long list of changes to the plan that were made in response to concerned parents. I speak as a parent whose node is reassigned from a school we hoped to attend. I know my neighborhood is in between two high schools and has been bounced back and forth between them due to growth. I fully expect to see the impact, and am not very interested in a magnet high school.
I care, I care very much. I just disagree with you about how to address the challenges, and what has caused them.
Proximity plus outreach
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 18:28 — woodstockProximity plus outreach certainly does increase parental involvement. I question the honesty of your stated experience if you do not know this, as it is well known in the academic and research communities.
But, you are right that proximity alone will not solve the problem. There must be community-level intervention as well. But, you know that if you are as experienced as you claim.
But he money saved on busses
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 19:09 — RevHiDBut he money saved on busses and "waste" will not pay for the outreach, and smaller class sizes, and for paying teachers extra, and building new schools, and renovation for aging schools, and running schools below capacity so you can be more responsive to parents by approving more grandfathering and transfer requests.
I think the opportunities for community level intervention increase when resources at at few schools aren't stretched thin. I'd keep diversity AND increase outreach and intervention.
I also never said that some of our assignments don't need review. I believe the number of problem assignments are overstated, and that we are better off fixing what we have than throwing out the many good things I see everyday.
Charlotte has learned that putting more into failing schools does not work. What if we put more resources into what we are doing now? We might spend more than we do now, but not nearly as much as what Charlotte. And we might have dramatically increased success!
So called "Status quo" candidates support changes and evaluation based on data. They don't think we have to ruin what works in the name of change. They are honest that some of our problems are due to growth and lack of funding, not just "Diversity."
Your aguments are just a
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 20:39 — woodstockYour aguments are just a list of stawmen and make believe scenarios that do not address realities, so I do not understand your angle. And, your reference to Charlotte has nothing to do with the positive changes that are forthcoming to Wake County with the election of Malone, Goldman, Prickett, and Tedesco.
The "good things you see" are all related to the academic performance of White and Asian student subgroups and not the economically disadvantaged (ED) and minority student subgroups. Yet the assignment for diversity policy which is in question is supposed the help the ED students succeed academically. As I have mentioned repeatedly, and you seem to ignore, the graduation rate for ED students is only 54.6%. So, please tell me again how wonderful things are for these students. Nearly half are doomed to a life of hardship because nothing is being done to stem the tide of failure. Through your ignorance you are supporting policies that harm children and do not address the challenges they face.
I disagree that nearly
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 21:59 — RevHiDI disagree that nearly nothing is being done. I want more too, I disagree about how to do it.
And the good things I see ARE for economically disadvantaged students! How do you know who I see?
What do you see? Please
Sun, 10/04/2009 - 09:51 — woodstockWhat do you see? Please characterize all the "good things." Some data to back it up would be nice too.
....
Sat, 10/03/2009 - 07:56 — SideburnsMore money?
More bussing?
More reassignment?
More forced calendars?
More instability?
What do you want more of?
This is not about segregation as your Letter to the Editor suggests but it does make ears perk up when you use that word, doesn't it?
...
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 19:19 — SideburnsWhat exactly are "problem assignments"? And which ones have been overstated?
"evaluation based on
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 19:15 — AngelaW"evaluation based on data" what data? THEIR manipulated data, sure....not EVAAS which can track STUDENTS....which is used by OTHER NC school systems, which wouldn't COST any more money and which could actually HELP STUDENTS....
"They don't think we have to ruin what works in the name of change."
WHERE do you see ruin anywhere? you see CHANGE...change can be good but for some reason the "good ole boys' club" here in WCPSS fears it ....why IS that?
you want to "change harsh rhetoric" don't you? so stop spewing it yourself....no one said we want to BE Charlotte.....gosh!
Yes they did say we should
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 19:37 — RevHiDYes they did say we should be just like Charlotte. And when the data for CMS started looking bad, they tried holding up smaller districts that ALSO spend more per student than we do. And... they spend nearly the same percentage of their budget on admin!
Who Is They?
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 20:57 — MamaLynnI believe you are listening to 'I had a friend who had a friend who had a friend who said......the BOE candidate want to make us Charlotte'. I've been following this process for over and year and NO ONE in the WSCA has ever stated that. Neither have the candidates like Tedesco, Malone, Prickett and Goldman. You brought up the KIPP program. The only group that I have ever heard that from was the WSCA. Not the current board, not the Status Quo candidates NONE!
they who??? comparing
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 19:46 — AngelaWthey who??? comparing graduation rates and test scores does not equate to wanting to BE Charlotte.....nice try though
...
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 19:39 — SideburnsWho is "they"?
Many posted on this blog the
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 20:31 — RevHiDMany posted on this blog the last time we had school board elections.
Personally, I didn't follow the blog the last school elections
Sat, 10/03/2009 - 00:36 — TrailerParkGirlWhat I know is that no one has said let's be just like Charlotte or CMS is the end all, be all. I know I've said there's more to this world than here and CMS.
What people have said is that if the WCPSS way is supposed to help ED students and over the last nine years have WCPSS' EOG scores for ED declined while CMS' have increased relative to state average, then the policy does not seem to be achieving its goal. I think that was when Kevin Hill responded that the WCPSS policy is about schools, and not students (i.e. about overall school scores, not students scores - individual or group). Somehow this why question pointing out that policy is not helping close achievement gap has been twisted into "just like CMS or bust."
I think that's part of the issue here - status quo keeps focusing on the school level and those looking for change are looking at the student level.
I keep hearing CMS schools... What about CMS students?
For example, AP scores - CMS has a lower % receive 3 or above, so WCPSS might jump on that and point their higher % getting 3+ and say see WCPSS good, CMS bad. But, CMS has more tests taken because they push kids up into AP classes as part of their concerted effort to close the achievement gap. Their theory is that even if the student only scores a 2, the experience of being in an AP class will benefit them. Is that a bad thing?
Why all the CMS all bad, WCPSS good rhetoric? Why not just be upfront about ED EOGs trends instead of leaving them out of the WEP piece (honesty and intregrity are character traits taught in school right)? Why not just call a spade a spade?
Also, when people hear "neighborhood schools" - why do they automatically put the word "only" behind it. Magnets for example are not neighborhood schools and WSCA endorsed candidates support them.
The issue is that right now as Rosa Gill said, "there are NO neighborhood schools in Wake County" and the assignment policy has been taken to extremes.
I think there would be wide-support for parental choice between community school and other options, if it was a fair choice (not choice to apply with <10% chance of acceptance for some and 60% chance for others). Also, if we stopped getting so caught up in this school is only 10%, must reassign ED students from their 40% community school to 10% school 18 miles away (not as crow flies) to make that school 18%. To me, that makes no sense, especially when more ED kids pass EOGs (50%) at the 40% school than the 10% school (20%) in my area. So, what was the purpose? This is diversity? Really? I'm sorry, but if that's the idea of diversity then I don't like the status quo's vision of 'diversity' and I think we can do better. I don't think that makes me anti-diversity or makes me want to be just like CMS.
We have ED parents who WANT to be involved, but can't because their child is assigned to a school 10 miles away not on a busline (in the as the crow flies study 25% of kids at our school were >10 miles). We need to set it up so every parent that wants to be involved in their child's school has that option.
Why are they bussing ED kids out of their 40% F&R community school where a higher % of them are passing than district average? Why do they reassign ED students out of magnet schools?
What the status quo keep saying is all is wonderful, keep the policy, there's no such thing as MYR, you can go to any of 26 schools, and lots of drama about segregation and Western Wake (ignoring ITB and N Raleigh are more affluent). Good luck SE segregating my area. If you want to SE segregrate my node, you'll need all those colors on your map.
What I don't hear from the status quo is something like diversity is important, but we may need to revisit portions of the policy or how it is applied. Here are some concrete ideas for improving on what we have. I've heard let's keep what we have and improve, but what are the plans on how that would be done?
Ms. Goettee has said policy 6200 can not be met. Does that mean she is anti-diversity? Of course not. It means she's being realistic. It can't be met in all areas without the human costs outweighing the benefits. You know what I say about a policy that can't be met? Time for a revision. What is the point of the 40% brightline in the policy? Why the need to point out the F&R% of every node and school (before and after in/outs) in a reassignment plan, if it's all about growth?
You realize people get hypersensitized with all the diversity rhetoric here.
Things heard back home (where ED students aren't labeled at risk) - Me to a friend that has kids in school there: I'm trying figure out how ABC school with 55% F&R got a state award given to eight best and DEF school with 80% is meeting AYP and in Raleigh they don't think a >40% F&R school can be healthy. Friend: F&R%? Me: Free and reduced lunch. Friend: Oh, I had no idea what the F&R% is for the schools here.
Of course they don't know, they don't care because F&R isn't labeled as something negative that needs to be treated differently. I find the contrast interesting.
what in the world are you
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 20:33 — AngelaWwhat in the world are you talking about?
I'm talking about how the
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 20:50 — RevHiDI'm talking about how the people on the wake ed blogs talked all the time about how we should follow Charlotte's path.
And it's not unreasonable to think that Ron Margiotta and Keith Weatherly were doing the same thing when they compared CMS and Wake. Then it was noted how much more CMS spends per student, and then the Queen's college study showed that there was an achievement gap in college preparation in CMS schools. Then people stopped talking about Charlotte so much.
WHOA DOGGIE
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 22:32 — SDR256NO! NO! The News and Observer compared our direction to Charlotte. NO ONE here to my knowledge ever held CMS up as the shining beacon.
We want Door #3!
maybe Charlotte's "ideas"
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 20:55 — AngelaWmaybe Charlotte's "ideas" because
Charlotte-Mecklenburg's EOC passing rate for low-income students is higher than Wake's rate
Since a wide majority of our
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 15:23 — RevHiDSince a wide majority of our kids go to school within five miles of their house, and a vast majority go to school within 10 miles, the problem is not proximity. I know that's "as the crow flies" but even so, hour long one way bus routes are either minimal, or have to do with other factors.
There's another misconception to clear up... if your child's bus leaves an hour before the bell, that doesn't always mean they spend an hour on the bus. My school used to open at the bell, but schools here open 20-30 minutes before the bell, and kids who arrive early are engaged in morning work while many teachers use this time for individualized instruction. At the end of the day, all kids are not all dismissed at once. For safety reasons, busses are called a few at a time. That's one reason transportation times improve after the first few weeks! The dismissal process starts going more quickly.
The other reason some kids are delayed at dismissal is that busses have to return from their secondary school runs. I wish we could pay for more busses so this didn't happen. I also wish we had more busses so we could open secondary schools later in the day.
"As the crow flies"
Sat, 10/03/2009 - 06:09 — fiestamomFor all of this as the crow flies nonsense....Take a look at Wake Forest.
The school board, I repeat, the school board CHOSE to build 2 elementary schools right.next.to.each.other, and another one less than 3 miles away (as the crow flies). Forest Pines, North Forest Pines,Wakefield. This is in an affluent area of the county. As the crow flies, Wakefield students are 2 miles away from 3 elementary schools.
Why DID the school board build these schools in an affluent area, then choose to bus kids from SE Raleigh all the way up there? Why not build a school where these kids from SE Raleigh needed one? They bus kids in to WakeForest, they bus kids out. If I lived in SE Raleigh, I would ask myself, why does this board that supposedly cares about poor people build 3 schools this close?
I see elementary kids in Wake Forest (off of Stadium Drive) waiting for the bus at 6:45 am. Why? Stadium drive is even closer to Wake Forest Elementary. What in the world is wrong with this picture?
"kids who arrive early
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 18:33 — AngelaW"kids who arrive early are engaged in morning work while many teachers use this time for individualized instruction."
REALLY?? and the ones who arrive LATE every day due to being bussed from areas far away miss CLASS time...how does that teach them?
" At the end of the day, all kids are not all dismissed at once. For safety reasons, busses are called a few at a time"
haven't experienced high school yet, have ya?
Not only do they arrive late
Sat, 10/03/2009 - 01:42 — TrailerParkGirlas in after the SECOND bell, but then the students still need to get breakfast. So now, those students have not only missed morning work time, which is where teachers give some individual time, but some class time as well. I'm sure that helps them keep up with their classmates very well.
A number of times, I've seen multiple buses sitting in bumper to bumper gridlock on I-40W between 8:45-8:55 am. I'm thinkin' they're probably not going to be making that 9:05 bell and they already missed the 8:45 bell.
I can tell you have very
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 16:48 — woodstockI can tell you have very little command of the issues and have never had the deal with Wake County schools because you are merely mimicing the same tired story the status quo tells every day. You've been trained well.
Where is your data to prove what you say and that Wake County serves the low-income and minority students to same degree they do the rest of the student populutation? School policies should be data-driven and address the needs of all students.
Only 54.6% of economically disadvantaged students and 50% of black males graduate. Why do you want that to continue? Please explain why you support that.
Patti Head Jr. here
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 16:18 — g88ky07wants the "split schedule" aka: secondary schools! And wants to buy more buses so we can bus even more kids!
You picked the wrong week to stop sniffin' glue!
Tuesday change is coming, if you can't handle it pack your boxes this weekend!
No, I'm NOT advocating split
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 18:39 — RevHiDNo, I'm NOT advocating split schedules!!!! That would be awful. I was trying to comment that the current early start times of our secondary schools (middle and high) are due to the savings we receive by using fewer busses. I'd rather us pay more for busses so that our older students don't have to go to school so early in the day. They stagger bell schedules so one bus can serve more schools. If we had more busses, we wouldn't have to do that, and more schools could start between 8 and 9 am.
Secondary schools start as early as 7:25 am. Studies show High school students do better and are more alert later in the day. But that would take more busses and taxpayers haven't been up for that.
Well shazammmmmmmmmmm
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 20:55 — g88ky07why didn't you run for school board if you think you have all the answers?
The parents of children in this system, and many voters w/o kids, might surprise you at what they'll anne up for when they're being listened to, reacted to and respected! Parents who want a community to raise their children where they can get an EQUAL and QUALITY top to bottom education, will do all it takes, all they can, to give their children everything they need. Find a way and get it done wcpss! Excuses, data, surveys, mandates, arrogance, alienating and plain lack of common sense are not getting in done. Holding your own and moving around the pieces is no longer an acceptable strategy! Our children and families deserve so much more on Tuesday.
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Fri, 10/02/2009 - 15:35 — SideburnsEven so? That's it for you? I know details are hard to digest but please give it a try.
5 out of the 26 students in my daughter's class last year lived over 12 miles away. If I do my math correctly, that's about 20% of the class. And that's just one class in one school. Imagine what the real numbers are.
And, to add insult to injury, most of those kids were reassigned to a school even further away this year due to the Supreme Court ruling in favor of MYR.
But, if it helps you sleep at night, you can keep believing WCPSS's diversity policy is helping them.
Right there with ya
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 15:54 — TrailerParkGirlIn the detailed by school as the crow flies information 25% of the kids at our school were coming from more than 10 miles. I'm pretty sure these were the same nodes that were reassigned even further the year after the study data. We keep wondering how they are doing now and if the one year we had them helped them any. Their replacements who were coming 12 miles are gone already, too. It's really no wonder the kids struggle academically.
People need to understand the reality of the situation before they get their beauty rest.
Which school?
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 20:30 — RevHiDWhich school and why do you assume this is the same for most of the schools in Wake County?
I never said I assumed it happened at most schools
Sat, 10/03/2009 - 01:16 — TrailerParkGirlSo not sure where you get that comment.
You will have to judge for yourself what seems reasonable - is >4,000 ES students bussed > 5 miles reasonable? How about max distance of 19 miles as the crow flies by assignment (27 miles by choice) in ES?
One thing to keep in mind is that if WCPSS actually wants to meet the current policy, the above numbers would have to go up significantly.
The things I say are not based on assumptions, but on a combination of personal experience, research, combing through reassignment plans and reports like this one.
Here's the link to the report, so you can scan the by school tables or maps and see which ones are impacted by distance more than others for yourself.
http://www.wcpss.net/demographics/distance/index.html#AcademicYear2006-07
Found more recent report link as well: 25% of F&R students are bussed > 5 miles as the crow flies (compared to 19% non-F&R).
http://www.wcpss.net/demographics/distance/index.html#AcademicYear2008-09
Yea, sorry Rev
Fri, 10/02/2009 - 22:39 — SDR256We've all been talking so long now (others much longer than me - but even I have caught up by now) that its clear this isn't a fluke. Fortunately or unfortunately for the N&O, the WakeEd blog has been a way for us to confirm that the inequities, the broken relationships, the distances, the lack of achievement, the unnatural gyrations, the stress we are each living and observing is not an anomoly - it is the standard.