With the Wake school board elections two weeks away, add Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce President Harvey Schmitt to those warning about the potential dangers of abandoning the diversity policy.
In an interview this morning on WPTF, Schmitt said the academic quality of the Wake school system helps the economic health of the region. While Schmitt said he understands why people want neighborhood schools, he warned that abandoning the diversity policy would lead to pockets of economic decay and inequalities in property values.
Schmitt said that the resulting creation of high-poverty schools could lead to higher taxes to provide more assets to those schools. He said that's what happened in Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools. Does the argument sound familiar yet?
Schmitt acknowledged that the funding gap between Wake and CMS has shrunk because of the recession. But he said the $34 million cut that CMS took this year shows the "very slippery slope" of trying to provide enough resources to high-poverty schools.
Schmitt also pointed to the visits that the Chamber sponsors to other communities. He cited last year's visit to Nashville as an example of how poor schools cause people not to live in the county where they work.
"Whenever we go to other schools, the reality is we're going to outperform those districts in nearly every aspect," Schmitt said.
No specific candidates were mentioned this morning and the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce doesn't officially endorse candidates. The group is one of the sponsors, along with the Wake Education Partnership and the Morrisville Chamber of Commerce, of Tuesday's District 7 school board candidate forum.
UPDATE
Click here to listen to the interview.
Comments
Completely Failed Policy
Sun, 10/04/2009 - 09:54 — PatfromRaleighThe numbers show that bussing is a completely failed policy. About a 50% dropout rate for the economically disadvantaged is horrible. Therefore, the current school board wants to continue the same old failed policies. They will have the opportunity to look for new jobs.
It is a disgrace that the school board stated they cannot fix economically disadvantaged schools. Therefore, they have to bus kids to other schools. Lets fix the schools and be done with all the excuses. If this school board cannot fix the problems lets get a new school board.
It is like a sports team. If the results are terrible you fire the management.
amen Pat...
Sun, 10/04/2009 - 10:28 — JSBinNCPlease vote - and try your best to inform and infuence those in the key school board districts that are up for election - to vote also.
Now is the time. We have to get this done!!
Take back Wake County Schools on October 6!
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 15:00 — avg_joeIf you, like me, are upset with the poor decision-making exhibited by the Wake County School Board over the past decade, here are two places to look for alternatives:
http://www.takewakeschoolsback.com/candidates.htm
http://www.wakesca.org
Here is the list of candidates they endorse:
* Chris Malone – District 1, Northeast Wake
* John Tedesco – District 2, Southeast Wake
* Deborah Prickett – District 7 (Northwest Raleigh and Morrisville)
* Debra Goldman – District 9 (Most of Cary)
These are the candidates to vote for if you want WCPSS to be accountable to parents rather than special interests.
GET OUT THERE AND VOTE OCTOBER 6.
Tired of students passing 10 schools they could attend on the drive to their assigned schools? Teaching half days on Wednesday? Annual mass student reassingments? Take back Wake County Schools on October 6!
Wow L'user12345, I seen you
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 14:35 — shearertwWow L'user12345, I seen you lose many an arguement here, but rarely smashed by you're own data so well. Face it, you're "our schools are scoring better" arguement has been revealed for what it truly is, a shameless lie by WCPSS and the like.
I'm so glad I have only one more week to read this garbage. Either way. If the WSCA candidates win, I'm all in with helping WCPSS succeed. If they don't, I'm all out because it will be a hopeless cause and I'll need to focus my efforts on paying for private school and voting against every bond they comes along.
Neighborhood schools
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 13:23 — environut08I have lived here for five years, and I find the area totally diverse. There really is no need to transport kids across town.
What purpose does it serve anymore? Someone is still living in the 1960s.
Why are we measuring "performance" and why are we not concerned about scholarship?
The whole system is rotten to the core.
The Chamber Cares About Diversity?
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 11:20 — MissVIf the Chamber cares so much about diversity why not extend the wealth of Downtown Raleigh into Southeast Raleigh? Like, a real mall? A real entertainment experience (and NOT another amphitheater?)
Interesting how people with resources don't mind throwing money at a problem rather than finding a resolution. NIMBY (not in my back yard)
Was touting 'diversity' (in other words busing) an official position adopted by the Chamber?
http://www.venitapeyton.com
Dr. Gerald Grant hardly has
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 11:02 — JSBinNCDr. Gerald Grant hardly has the perspective needed to be making statements such as the one used to title that book.
Follow the bouncing logic.
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 10:12 — InTheArenaOK, Mr. Schmitt warns about the "dangers of abandoning the diversity policy." Why? Because he is concerned that the "academic quality of the Wake school system helps the economic health of the region." What, pray tell, does that have to do with "diversity"? Mr. Schmitt says "he understands why people want neighborhood schools." This, of course, is the oft repeated fraudulent Straw Man argument put forth by the N&O and the liberals on the WCSB. They establish this lie, the rail against it. People are legitimately concerned about the WCSB's Social Engineering policies, and the subsequent lack of academic progress. But the N&O and the WCSB can't adaquately address this, so they perpetuate a fraudulent argument that Mr. Schmitt slavishly parrots. Mr. Schmitt warns "that abandoning the diversity policy would lead to pockets of economic decay and inequalities in property values." How's that? Race based social engineering (i.e. diversity plans) has nothing to do with academic success nor the boogie man Mr. Schmitt seeks to foist upon Wake County voters. Mr. Schmitt says the result would be the "creation of high-poverty schools." Then work to improve the academic performance of these schools. Simply redistributing the problem to create a fraudulent picture of Wake County School's academic performance might indeed help Mr. Schmitt's business model, but it does nothing for the underacheiving students, for which, frankly, Mr. Schmitt doesn't really give a damn.
Hey Raleigh Chamber.... how
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 09:50 — rr77rr99Hey Raleigh Chamber.... how about asking WCPSS to 'spread the wealth' on those ITB magnets?
Harvey Schmitt has been
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 09:46 — AngelaWHarvey Schmitt has been president of the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce since February 1, 1994.
http://www.triangletomorrow.org/about/BoD.html
He is a graduate of Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa. He is also a graduate of the U. S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management and the Academy for Advanced Management at the University of Notre Dame.
Prior to joining the Raleigh Chamber, his 34-year career included chamber leadership positions in Dubuque (IA) Chamber of Commerce, Jacksonville (FL) Chamber of Commerce, Greenville (SC) Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Tampa (FL) Chamber of Commerce.
He is a former member of the boards of the Southern Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, South Carolina Chamber of Commerce Executives, Florida Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives and Carolina Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives. In addition, he served as president of South Carolina Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives.
During his time with the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber budget and program have grown by over 200%. Mr. Schmitt has played a leadership role in coalescing support for the RBC Center, recruiting the NHL Carolina Hurricanes and launching the Sports Council and the Regional Transportation Alliance. He serves on the Boards of several regional initiatives including the Research Triangle Regional Partnership, World Trade Center of North Carolina, The United Way of the Triangle and the Regional Transportation Alliance. He is a Trustee for the Wake Education Partnership, and a board member of the 200 Club of Wake County, Carolina Hurricanes Kids N’ Community Foundation, and the Downtown Raleigh Alliance. He also serves on the International Affairs Council Advisory Council. He received the 2002 Business Leader of the Year Award for the Triangle Area from Business Leader Magazine.
Who cares?
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 10:17 — InTheArenaWho cares about Harvey Schmitt's resume? Why was this even posted ... to what purpose? Are we to accept his proposition because he is so educated and connected? Yes, parents of Wake County, Harvey knows best for your children, just look at his resume.
to show where his interests
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 11:09 — AngelaWto show where his interests (and bias) shows; He is a Trustee for the Wake Education Partnership
NOT to defend....duh!
With such an impressive
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 09:52 — woodstockWith such an impressive resume, why does Mr. Schmitt feel the need to lie about our schools and claim success that is not there? His support for status quo school policies only perpetuates the continued academic failure of too many poor and miniority students.
Where did Harvey's kids go
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 09:40 — AgentPierceWhere did Harvey's kids go to school ? Likely private like most of us who have that option.
Schmitt's support is appalling
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 09:36 — woodstockI am shocked that Raleigh's Chamber of Commerce President Harvey Schmitt supports the following.
In Wake County:
54.6% of economically disadvantaged (ED) students graduate.
64.4% of black students graduate (50% for black males).
52.2% of Hispanic students graduate.
52% of Native American students graduate.
38.6 of limited-English proficiant students graduate.
56.3% of students with disabilities graduate.
What kind of B.S. does Mr. Schmitt shovel out to businesses to rationalize his support for this?
Same as the rest of NC ...
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 11:07 — user12345Same as the rest of NC ... Wake has no silver bullet for poverty and racism ...
Two things: 1. Wrong. It
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 12:54 — woodstockTwo things:
1. Wrong. It is NOT the same in all LEAs in NC. Guildford County, for instance, has far better graduation rates in all subgroup student populations. Even poor ol' Halifax County does a better job with ED students.
2. All the reassignments, busing, conflicting schedules, MYR schools, etc. are supposed to improve the numbers for ED students and IT IS NOT WORKING!
User, I swear your lack of understanding and continued ignorance is beyond annoying.
WEP's response to the 54.6%
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 13:11 — Eric_BWEP's response to the 54.6% ED graduation rate in Wake County was interesting.
Basically they say we are similar to other large districts even though Guilford County has a 74.6% ED graduation rate and Forsyth County's is 61.2%. Hey, but at least we're better than Charlotte!!
I don't know why they say no school district can claim bragging rights on this. Clearly Guilford County (with their Mission Possible program) can! Their ED graduation rate of 74.6% is almost as high as Wake's overall graduation rate of 78.6%
But your heros - Guilford
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 13:36 — user12345But your heros - Guilford and Forsyth suck overall .. they consume >10% more per student than Wake, do horribly with all students and have similar ED EOG scores ... so, they get a higher % of ED kids who can not pass their EOGs across the finish line to graduation ... I don't think these are the guys you want to hold up as a beacon ...
You can cite numbers all
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 14:01 — woodstockYou can cite numbers all day long, but if the students do not graduate what is the point? That is where the rubber meets the road and what is going to matter in continuing an education and/or getting a job. If you do not graduate, your prospects are dim.
Also, once again, you do not address the central issue: an enormous amount of time, money, effort, sacrifice, transportation, etc. goes into the reassignment/busing efforts in Wake County and they DO NOT WORK to improve the success of economically disadvantaged students and they never will. There are other, better solutions. The proponents of change want to take approaches that have been proven to work. Why do you want to continue something that is a proven failure?
I'll tell you what, you vote for the status quo candidates, and the rest of us will cast a vote that matters on Oct. 6. We will be voting for Prickett, Tedesco, Malone and Goldman.
Guilford County has a
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 13:53 — Eric_BGuilford County has a higher ED graduation rate and higher ED EOG performance. The 2008-09 results show an even bigger advantage over Wake County in ED academic performance than the 2007-08 results you posted.
Guilford County has 51% F&R compared to 30% for Wake County, so of course you would prefer we look at the overall numbers.
We should be able to do better in Wake County and we can do better by abandoning failed policies.
letter to the editor?
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 09:37 — loriacWill you write a letter to the editor so more people get to see these stats? The average person not tied into the BOE race just hears the nice sound bites and drivel served up by the N&O editorial board.
Chamber part of the problem
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 09:27 — kmisegadesMost chambers read from the same playbook that Mr. Schmitt writes - repeat lies often enough and people start believing them. The biggest lies have been the purported good progress in WCPSS schools relative to others, which thinking participants to this blog have blown full of holes in recent years. This is why Chambers and liberal media have little relevance anymore; they are out-of-touch with the reality of daily life faced by most families in Wake County, and beholden to the massive industry that feeds off the government schools and wants nothing more than the continuation of the status quo. It is toppling under its own weight.
seen Del on a bus lately?
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 09:25 — AngelaWhttp://www.buffalonews.com/home/story/800989.html
Buffalo Schools Superintendent James A. Williams rode a yellow school bus earlier this month, and came away feeling sorry for the youngster who was the first to board. The child spent 45 minutes getting to school.
"The kid was asleep," Williams said. "It was ridiculous. When he gets to school, where is the energy?"
After three decades of extensive busing under enrollment patterns based on school desegregation efforts and then on citywide choice, Williams and several members of the Board of Education envision a re-emphasis on neighborhood schools.
"This is a top priority," Williams said. "The current system is not building family. It's not building community."
Ninety percent of city students in elementary and middle schools — or nearly 24,000 youngsters — took buses to and from school last year. That's an all-time high, and is 15 percentage points higher than it was during the era when "forced busing" was used to desegregate city schools.
• Busing cost the district $46.2 million last year, of which $36.3 million was reimbursed by the state.
Board of Education President Ralph Hernandez envisions some "balance" between choice and defined enrollment boundaries.
For example, he said, elementary school students might attend neighborhood schools while middle school enrollment might include limited busing. At the same time, high school students would continue to have citywide choice.
The district divided the city into three enrollment districts in 2003-04, and a similar system could emerge again, Williams said.
A return to neighborhood schools would strengthen community ties, increase parental involvement and reduce the need for students to spend time on buses or wait for rides in nasty winter weather, said Samuel L. Radford III, vice president of the District Parent Coordinating Council.
"It makes the school a neighborhood building," he said
The reduction of busing is also seen as way to spend more money on instruction and less on transportation.
Fahey said that concern will become more acute if the state, faced with severe budget concerns, considers reducing reimbursement for student busing and local districts are forced to pick up more of the cost.
Charlotte/Mech which
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 10:35 — WhalerCaneCharlotte/Mech which abandoned economic diversity a decade ago still spends more per student than Wake on Busing.
I would put Wake schools up against Buffalo or Syracuse any day. Just ask Dr. Gerald Grant of Syracuse University who wrote, "Hope and Despair, Why Raleigh has No Failing Schools."
Bwha-ha-ha...
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 23:19 — Bob_SconcePfft... So, this is the recipe for turning a crappy school district into a great one:
(1) Find all the schools with a lot of poor kids.
(2) Re-assign those poor kids to schools without a lot of poor kids.
(3) Turn that original school into a "magnet" school and convince a lot of affluent kids to come.
Interestingly enough, that's also the recipe for "How to hide the fact that you do a lousy job of teaching poor kids."
I wonder why Dr. Gerald Grant didn't title his book ". . . Why Raleigh has No Failing Students"?
Perry, CMS offers far
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 13:16 — jenmanPerry,
CMS offers far more options for students and they provide transportation for all of them. WCPSS doesn't offer any transportation at all for some of my node's magnet options.
Notice how the title of Grant's book is "Why RALEIGH Has No Failing Schools?" Go outside of the beltline and that's where you'll find the troubled schools. But that doesn't matter to WEP, Harvey Schmitt or any of the other business leaders in Wake County.
You've brought up a very good point
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 13:20 — TrailerParkGirland by Raleigh, he should have specified the city center.
That's nice
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 11:10 — Dadof3If Dr. Grant is so impressed, he may move here so his kids can enjoy our lack of failing schools. However, and more importantly, is what we client-parents think. Expert opinion can be interesting but it shouldn't replace anecdotal experience.
So, you're a populist when reason fails, and you call on experts when populism fails. Which is it or does it matter as long as you're on payroll?
Here's a better tact: get to know Wake County parents, learn our discontent without comporting it to your abstract-amalgam-affliations backdrop and go forward from there. That's how WSCA became born, by the way. Not in some political think-tank lab formulation, but in the discontent and subseqent joining of politically disparate (but united in wanting better education) Wake Co. parents.
I believe Dr. Grant's children are all grown, one works in WCPSS
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 13:17 — TrailerParkGirlHis grandchild(ren) do attend WCPSS - drumroll please... in MAGNET school(s).
Wonder how Dr. Grant would feel if his family was denied magnet access because their base school had a higher F&R% and was therefore "not right" meaning his family had to attend that "not right" non-magnet that still isn't allowed to "compete" with magnets.
Syracuse City schools district - 75% F&R
Dr. Grant might try comparing WCPSS to a district that is actually comparable and the status quo might try better support for their position than repeatedly bringing up this book.
"I would put Wake schools up against Buffalo" really? howso?
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 10:54 — AngelaWPerry, have you no new
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 10:52 — shearertwPerry, have you no new nonsense to spread.....
Wake Co. has one of the wealthiest and most educated populations in the country. The F&R populations between CMS, Buffalo and Syracuse and Wake are not comparable. However, the % of failing F&R students IS comparable.
We have No Failing Schools b/c WCPSS has had plenty of "rich" kids with highly educated parents who suppliment their education at home to dilute the F&R scores with. There are just as many failing F&R kids, based on %.
Why do you think you can continue to spout this dribble?
45 min is nothing
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 09:35 — loriacIn Wake County - 45 minutes is not a bad bus ride. If you are one of the kids getting bused cross town, say from SE Raleigh to Leesville, count on 1 hour plus rides, more for bad weather. Interesting that they came to this conclusion after a 45 min bus ride, when that is the norm for a lot of our students AND the status quo supporters think this is OK for 'healthy schools'.
One of my children attends
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 09:49 — rr77rr99One of my children attends a school exactly 1.7 miles from our home. School starts 7:30 (first bell). The bus comes at 6:20 a.m. and they drive in a big circle to pick up all the other kids from whereever. Tell me why I would make my child get up and get out to get on a bus to ride around for an hour when my child could walk to school faster than that... well, except there is no safe route to walk, so we are one of those families on the car pool line..yeah, ruining the enviornment Horace.
So, you are only 1.7 miles
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 11:20 — user12345So, you are only 1.7 miles away from your school and have a 1 hour bus ride ... no wonder people don't want to use radius from the school to measure bus ride distance ..
"Whenever we go to other
Mon, 09/21/2009 - 09:18 — AngelaW"Whenever we go to other schools, the reality is we're going to outperform those districts in nearly every aspect," Schmitt said.
probably because our numbers of ED don't compare to begin with...surprised he left out "urban school systems"...we AREN'T like Nashville school system....*sigh*