The NAACP, the Coalition of Concerned Citizens for African American Children and the Wake Voter Coalition are urging churches and "supporters of diversity" to fight the return to neighborhood schools.
In a Tuesday press release, the three groups warn that the new school board majority "will jeopardize our children's educational opportunities" and that Southeast Raleigh schools will "not have quality resources" as neighborhood schools.
The press release says that Debra Goldman's support for extending electives in Cary and Apex could eliminate magnet programs. They also blast the idea of a KIPP Academy in Southeast Raleigh, which has been favorably mentioned by John Tedesco and Chris Malone, as being "another segregated school" that won't provide equal education for students.
Wake restricts the electives that non-magnet schools can offer.
KIPP is a national charter school chain known for success with low-income and minority kids. It operates 82 schools in 19 states and the District of Columbia.
KIPP students attend school 8 1/2 hours a day and take extra sessions on Saturdays and in the summer. They and their parents pledge to do whatever it takes for them to succeed.
But not every church leader thinks neighborhood schools are bad. Charles Brooks, the pastor of Poplar Springs Christian Church, stood with other members of Greater Garner Advocates at Wednesday's press conference for Tedesco.
"We can have neighborhood schools and we can keep them diverse," said Brooks, who is African American.
Click here for the press release:
Press Release
TO: Faith Based Community
Supporters of Diversity
FROM:
NAACP Local Branches
Coalition Of Concerned Citizens for African American Children
Wake Voter Coalition
RE: Wake Board of Education Diversity Policy
WE must continue the struggle to fight for diversity in Wake County School System. As parents, community leaders and concerned citizens, we must ensure that our children receive a high quality education by providing them with the best teachers, quality resources, and technology that will prepare them to become successful and productive citizens. The newly elected school board members will jeopardize our children’s educational opportunities by allowing them to attend neighborhood schools which will not offer them the quality education they need and deserve. Many of our inner city schools located in Southeast Raleigh will not have the quality resources needed if we return to re-segregated schools. We are calling on the faith based community, sororities, fraternities, community organizations, citizens, and all who support equal educational opportunities and socioeconomic diversity to become actively involved in our children’s education. Please attend our local school board meetings, email the newly elected board members, make public comments to the board in support of diversity and equal education for all children. Next, we must closely monitor the actions of our newly elected board members. Let them know that we are holding them accountable to serving all children and all decisions and actions should be based on facts, independent judgment while refusing to surrender judgments to individuals or special interest groups.
According to Debra Goldman, she plans to extend elective courses in outlining areas of the county such as Cary and Apex, which will impact/eliminate our magnet programs here in Wake County. John Tedesco and Chris Malone want to put a stellar school in Southeast Raleigh, “KIPP Academy.” KIPP Academy is another segregated school that is not designed to provide equal education for each and every child. This school will be designed to keep our children in Southeast Raleigh and to promote segregation, which is also known as neighborhood schools. Let the newly elected officials know that we demand equal educational opportunities for each and every child and we support socio-economic diversity.
Together, we can ensure all children receive a high quality education.
Here's to equal educational opportunities for all children!!
Comments
Great!
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 13:26 — louiselee44Let the churches rally together - all of them - uniting to pray that what is best for all Wake County children will prevail.
Thought campaigning in church was illegal
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 07:02 — fiestamomOr is it only illegal when white Republicans do it?
Meaningless Rant
Thu, 10/22/2009 - 22:10 — pmGiven that the current policies of WCPSS, which result in students bused to far-flung schools,
Very few students are bussed to "far-flung" schools. All of this rhetoric is going to be interestingly resolved as the new board begins to find a solution to the fact that schools are only able to hold so many kids. After they are full, the kids "in the neighborhood" are going to have to "be bussed to far-flung schools". How are you going to decide? Tenure in WCPSS? Proximity to the schools? Age of residence in the zone?
siblings on different schedules
I have kids that are young, some not even in school. They are already "on different schedules." I am on a different schedule than my wife. We both have different schedules than either kid. We live in the 21st century; not the 50's.
magnet lotteries that favor certain nodes over others are detrimental to families
Huh?
I would buy into the diversity policy if it were actually helping the kids - but it's not.
And here I resonate with you. The administration has a horrible record of providing data. Not that there is data to suggest that the plan DOESN'T work, mind you.
Pfft...
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 06:03 — Bob_Sconce1. Define "far-flung." The earliest bus pickup is at 5:30. Why should any student have to endure that?
2. There's a huge difference between pre-schoolers and older kids. If you want to take a family vacation while your oldest is on spring break, you can always pull your youngest out of pre-school for a week. You can't do that with a 7th grader. In the 21st century, practically every school district is on a traditional calendar.
3. Magnet schools discussed by other replies
4. Actually, there's lots of data out there -- go to the ncreportcards.org site for EOG data. Graduation rates are available also. There's lots of evidence that poor students are being ill-served by the policies of the current board.
not meaningless
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 05:31 — loriacIt's not meaningless if your kid were on the bus > 3 hours per day. How can you say no kids are bused to far flung schools? Our neighborhood is bused past 3 closer elementary schools - the one a mile from our neighborhood has 400 empty seats.
Our neighborhood bought in and has embraced the elementary school, volunteered, etc - then WCPSS bused swapped out the low income nodes for some different ones - no rhyme or reason, except maybe to move some low scores around. All those relationships are gone. With that move, most of our neighborhood has now opted out. (to homeschooling, private schools, etc - not easy decisions)
Again - if the current policies were truly helping anyone, I would buy in. THere's too many examples where the current policies just are not working.
It's not meaningless if
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 07:37 — pmIt's not meaningless if your kid were on the bus > 3 hours per day.
Words
have meanings. Far-flung has a meaning. How many kids do you think
are beinng bussed >3 hours a day? I'm gonna go out on alimb here
and say less than one half of one percent. 0.05%. And THOSE kids are
almost, ALMOST, certainly being bussed that long because a parent made
a choice to go to that school.
How can you say no kids are bused to far flung schools?
I didn't say "none"
I said:
Further, my larger point is that words like "far-flung" are being
thrown out there without context. For example, the fact that you are
being bussed past 3 schools while a closer school has seats could be an
example of poor scheduling; it has nothing to do with "far-flung".
The earliest bus pickup is at 5:30.
How many students are picked up at 05.30? Are any of those students in a charter or magnet school that the parent has opted in?
If you want to take a family vacation
Your are motivated by vacations? Really? See, I thought it had to
do with the daily bump and grind of multiple schedules, and
transportation and arranging separate day care and things like that.
But if its about vacations, by all means....
There's lots of evidence that poor students are being ill-served by the policies of the current board.
None of it is able to be used to demonstarte that rither year
roound or diversity is hurting. But, to your point, the data is not
there to suggest that it's helping.
So...
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 08:35 — Bob_SconceSo, first of all, my family vacations was an example. No need to get all sarcastic.
Except for weekends, any day kids aren't in school is a vacation. The question then becomes: What does that kid do during the vacation? Does he get to spend it with his siblings? Does he get to spend it with his neighborhood friends? does he get to spend it at some sort of summer camp or other summer program?
If you're in year round school, the answer to these last three questions is all "NO." The world is organized around the traditional school year calendar, making odd-ball calendars (like the year-round one) unfriendly.
(Examples of how the world is organized around the traditional calendar: summer jobs, summer camp, summer-at-sea, summer abroad, summer volunteer opportunities, the schedules of every other school system in the country and the students who go there, back-to-school sales tax holiday, the General Assembly school budget schedule, etc....)
In any case, year-round schools have failed to yield any cost benefit -- the schools that were converted two years ago have a collective 33 more students than they handled then. Surely, the cost increase from air conditioning, busing, buying mobile classrooms, etc... is not worth that increase.
As to the rest of the points, I concede that most students do not have 3 hour bus rides. But, some do while NONE should -- programs should be offered close enough that those rides aren't required.
Scheduling
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 11:31 — pmIf you're in year round school, the answer to these last three questions is all "NO."
Not true. If her sibling is in daycare, that sibling is going to remain in daycare. The tracked out student will be in some form of track-out camp. And there are many very strong ones.
the world is organized around the traditional school year calendar,
making odd-ball calendars (like the year-round one) unfriendly.
Less and less so. There are many many wonderful track-out camps and the cost is now right on par with summer programs.
I concede that most students do not have 3 hour bus rides.
It's not most. It is virtually ALL. And agin, those that DO have 3+ hour bus rides are almostcertianly on that bus because a parent made that choice.
programs should be offered close enough that those rides aren't required.
That sounds just like any other entitlement argument.
On and on
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 12:50 — pmThere are a few track-out camps, but "Many Strong Ones"? I challenge you to name 10 strong year-round programs in Wake County.
This could go on and on. A simple google search landed my more than 50. We can bicker about strong or not strong, and for that matter, could challange YOU to name 10 strong "summer camps". The point is, there are options available and there are more and more of them everyday.
And, that's multiplied by the fact that very, very few other districts in the COUNTRY have year-round programs.
Except, of course, we don't look outside Wake County for track out care.
Your daycare argument is a nonsequitor -- nothing stops you from
pulling a child out of daycare to do whatever. In fact, it's a good
thing. That's not true with school.
Not the case. The point is if all of your children are in either school or daycare, all parents are working [by all, I am acknowledging that some homes are single parent]. If that's the case, it doesn't matter, from a scheduling stand point, if the breaks are all together in the summer or broken out in groups of several weeks through the year.
What are you talking about nonsequitor? The day care cases are integral to the argument.
And, yes, public education is an entitlement.
Basic education; yes. Special intensive college preparation programs at every street corner to satisfy all parents; no.
Next you'll tell me health care is an entitlement too.
what about those who count on high schoolers and/or college kids to watch younger siblings?
The amount of families that depend entirely on high school or college students to care for their children during the summer is small to the point of vanishing.
pm - Do you
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 13:23 — louiselee44have data to back up the following statement? I would love to see it. I totally disagree, but that's my opinion. I strongly believe that the number of "latchkey" children increases as the number of YR schools increases.
"The amount of families that depend entirely on high school or college students to care for their children during the summer is small to the point of vanishing."
Breaks not after school
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 13:52 — pmI strongly believe that the number of "latchkey" children increases as the number of YR schools increases.
Maybe. Maybe not. Fun to debate it.
But the subject is track out vs summer break.
I'd still like to see proof
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 22:44 — louiselee44to back up your statement. I don't believe it exists. If it's just your opinion, please don't state it as fact.
I refer to YR schools in my statement about "latchkey" children, and you contend that I am off the subject of track-out vs summer break? Track-outs are in the YR schools.
"There are many many
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 11:56 — AngelaW"There are many many wonderful track-out camps and the cost is now right on par with summer programs"
what about those who count on high schoolers and/or college kids to watch younger siblings? you are leaving out a whole bunch of folks with your "many wonderful" track-out camp crap....
Ha...
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 11:49 — Bob_SconceHow many kids do you have in year-round school? There are a few track-out camps, but "Many Strong Ones"? I challenge you to name 10 strong year-round programs in Wake County. With only 1/4-1/3 of the students at any school tracked out at any given time, you don't have the population to support the same number of track-out options as summer options. (And, that's multiplied by the fact that very, very few other districts in the COUNTRY have year-round programs.)
Your daycare argument is a nonsequitor -- nothing stops you from pulling a child out of daycare to do whatever. In fact, it's a good thing. That's not true with school.
And, yes, public education is an entitlement.
Huh
Thu, 10/22/2009 - 23:19 — TrailerParkGirlThe magnet application "lottery" is not an actual lottery. It is tiered.
Round 1 - applicants from nodes that are less than or equal to 27% F&R, base school less than or equal to 27% F&R, base school crowding factor greater than 100%, 2 average of Level I or II performance at base school must be less than or equal to 20%, and student applied for same program last year and was denied.
Round 2 - same as Round 1, but student did not apply last year.
Round 3 - applicants from nodes that are less than or equal to 27% F&R, base school less than or equal to 27% F&R, base school crowding factor greater than 85%, and 2 average of Level I or II performance at base school must be less than or equal to 20%.
Round 4 - no node F&R requirement, base school less than or equal to 40% F&R, base school crowding factor greater than 85%, and 2 average of Level I or II performance at base school must be less than or equal to 20%.
Lottery for remaining 10% of seats - every one assigned to base schools outside of Rounds 1-4. These would be the schools that Lori Millberg referred to as "not the right" schools
In other words if you live in a low-F&R% node and are assigned to a low-F&R% overcrowded base school, you have a very good chance of magnet acceptance.
If you live in a higher-F&R% node and/or are assigned to a higher-F&R% base school, your chance of magnet acceptance is slim.
Think long and hard about that - if you are low-income and live in a low-income node and not base assigned to a magnet, your first chance to have your application considered is Round 4 and if your base school is >40% F&R, you are in the last 10% bucket. If you are not low-income and live in a diverse area you will be assigned to a diverse base school and so fall in the last 10% bucket. Last year 65 elementary schools were in the last 10% bucket.
Just speaking for myself but I'm not thrilled with magnets getting more resources then being filled with >60% higher income kids while the low income kids that live near the magnets get bussed an hour away to a non-magnet, some of which are already "not the right" schools. That doesn't make sense to me.
The full-service community school concept, like John A. Johnson, makes sense to me. The resources are at the school with the students who most need them.
I appreciate your detailed
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 07:49 — user12345I appreciate your detailed explanations of these complex processes .... for me, it says that if you live in low F&R area ... chances are you already have a top base school and I think you are saying that you also have a choice of magnets too ... that really benefit a select group of people ...
not true
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 08:25 — red_balloonYour post implies that low F&R area students have it good. Not true. These students attend schools that impart poor education. The quality of teaching and the syllabus undermine their chances of success.
It is a little more complex
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 09:50 — user12345It is a little more complex ... I think what we concluded was that ES F&R kids do poorly in low F&Rs schools while HS F&R kids do great. For example, Highcroft which only has a few F&Rs bussed in could do nothing with them even though they are a school of excellence ... on the other hand Green Hope HS F&Rs scores are beyond the non-F&Rs average so they are doing some thing right with the few that they have been given ... I do think that there is something wrong with high F&R schools ... you see my list of schools below by their recognition and I think it is similar to ten years ago ... I don't think any of the 20 from the top have ever broken above Low/priority/ no progress even though those are recent terms ... you would think that Buggs, Barnwell, Smith, Powell, etc. would at least randomly in the last 20 years get the right mix of teachers and programs and be a school of distinction or excellence at least once if everything else is equal ... right?
I don't have time to post much right now but
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 11:57 — TrailerParkGirlit all goes back to the self-fulfilling prophecy of the bigotry of low expectations and why WCPSS using its EI with that built in instead of EVAAS and all the stuff klanders has posted about them being tracked remedial is such a big deal.
That is a big part of what is so different about things like my hometown, KIPP, Capital Prep, the Johnson school - they have the same high expectations of low-income as not low-income.
Essentially, the achievement gap continues because it is expected to exist. In the places that take away that expectation of existence and provide innovative programs and resources, the low-income students excel.
Here low-income students have not been expected to achieve at the same rate as higher income and have not been given that innovation and resources, therefore they do not excel, therefore the schools that have more of them do not become schools of excellence.
Changing that pattern is what people are trying so hard to work towards, but keep getting roads blocks thrown at them. It's bizarre.
"roads blocks thrown at
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 12:02 — AngelaW"roads blocks thrown at them"
since some are trying to hard to throw these road blocks,I guess the question should be, WHO benefits from these road blocks? What could possibly be behind this ? because it surely isn't about educating and advancing children? that's the puzzler...
Not a puzzler
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 13:23 — TrailerParkGirlThose that are throwing roadblocks are the beneficiaries of maintaining the status quo.
To build something like Johnson school in SE Raleigh means Raleigh "leaders" will have to pay attention to that area instead of just the areas they benefit from.
Real estate interests want to keep the values above average where they have invested.
Calla is a teacher. On the national level the teachers unions are throwing up blocks agains the things EEP wants to do like expand charter schools. For some reason they see education reform as a threat. KIPP is a charter school, therefore, Calla and the organization she leads (CCAAC) oppose KIPP.
Mr. Barber - the more colored people actually advance and people of different races come together, the less purpose in his role and methods in the NAACP, the less powerful he seems.
True
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 13:34 — lferreriI think what you say is probably true. But it doesn't explain why some teachers, guidance counselors, and administrators don't challenge these kids as shown by the SAS report. My sister-in-law works at a school in Virginia and, when she saw the EOG gaps here, she was shocked. She said that, if they had results like the WCPSS, they would be rushing around trying to improve. (Plus she said they would be in big trouble with the education department of the state.) They have a lot of the same demographics as here. It's an area experiencing a lot of growth and there are a many real estate developers there too. So why are they different?
My suspicion
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 14:38 — TrailerParkGirlMy suspicion is it goes back to the soft bigotry of low expectations. Where I'm from they never opened the bottle (gap is small), other places some people took a few sips, here those in charge drank and doled it out by the gallons. Just as corporate culture is generally set and driven by top management and board of directors and trickles down to employees, so is school system culture set by top management and board and trickles down.
If you ever listened to their justifications for the "healthy schools" assignment policy the attitude is pretty obvious.
I can go with that ... but
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 15:59 — user12345I can go with that ... but maybe the Stockholders need look at themselves and ask why they required so little from top management. I get a sense of individualism that the stockholders are working for the benefit of their division (e.g. school) but not the corporation (e.g. WCPSS) which leads to large gaps between the loud and quiet, demanding and comfortable ... so, I agree with you ...
Actually in an analogy to corporation
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 22:09 — TrailerParkGirlThe taxpayers, including parents, are stockholders. Too many take the position "I don't have kids, so I don't care." The education of children, or lack thereof, impacts society as a whole. That is another benefit if the community and school become mutually engaged. When an elderly person gets their hair done at the CTE school or a childless person buys a home built by the CTE students, they are more likely to see that broader view.
Also, I should have noted earlier that while corporate culture trickles down, obviously employees by into it to varying degrees.
The issue is that stockholders can only see the results as management presents them - think Enron. The corporation cooked the books to look good on paper, stockholders did not know and the Board never asked the tough questions to realize what was happening. Some employees (and auditors) knew, but said nothing for either their own gain or protection or because their own thinking was clouded. There's a reason one of the books on Enron was titled Conspiracy of Fools.
Why do you think WCPSS had their own evaluation model and a $5M PR budget? Also, think about Rosa Gill's constant "well if that is what the Administration says, I see no need to question it."
I do think you are correct that the majority of parents right now (those that are not involved in things like this blog) tend to be more concerned with their immediate schools. I think there are two issues at the district level 1) is the arrogance at Central Office/BoE toward parents and 2) the sheer size of the district which made getting more involved at the district level daunting. I tried at the district lelve and it quickly became obvious to me that they only wanted input from people who completely agreed with them and had zero interest in hearing about anything that even remotely brought what they were doing into question, so I gave up on that. The same does not hold true at school level. The election results indicate that many GAD parents were pretty fed up with the district level (not with school level). One tends not to engage in that situation.
Corporate culture changes when top management/Board changes - be it they themselves change and the culture with them or new people come into those roles. The same will be true with WCPSS. I think the culture can be positively changed at the district level and people will become more engaged, when John is officially elected and these election shaninigans do not prevail. If you watched the Johnson school video, it talked about how some people in the community did not believe at first, but once they gave it a chance, they felt differently.
The spirit is here, but instead of being allowed to grow and flourish has been squashed and drowned out by those who prefer to stereotype, label, divide and naysay. Now, John needs to be officially elected so community spirit can become a voice and grow.
BTW - remember how a few weeks back I said I thought the CEO's (Superintendent) days back home were numbered because the parents and teachers had joined against him and the Board was asking tough questions? Announcement came out that he will discontinue his employment with the district in a few months. Guess he realized that he wasn't meeting expectations and wasn't a good cultural fit or he took an offer to quit.
"So why are they different?
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 14:11 — user12345"So why are they different? "
Having had my kids in a number of schools from the "top" ones to the not so "top" I can see a difference in the schools ... facilities, teacher quality, principal leadership, etc. ... I think that people who have always been part of the same system (e.g. community/neighborhood) don't understand that there are other schools out there that are way better and way worse ... it is like the folks here who just came from NY or VA and realize NC is two years behind but people in NC think they are ahead ... my suggestion would be to move the teachers and principals around a little more so if one school is getting more resources or doing something better more people know and can benefit. I think communities in isolation lose perspective on the competition and outside world and fall behind.
I would like to mention one last thing. New Yorkers have been telling locals that NC is two years behind them since 1967 when RTP opened and I did not seem to make an impact since the gap still exists.
"my suggestion would be to
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 19:20 — Apexter"my suggestion would be to move the teachers and principals around a
little more so if one school is getting more resources or doing
something better more people know and can benefit. "
Before the current recession and resultant layoffs, teacher retention was considered a major issue here. Though there are rewards to the profession, the pay is not the greatest.
I can't think of any profession where the staff would be enthusiastic about their employer telling them "You know, you're doing such a great job here, we've decided we're going to transfer you to the plant across town. It will add an extra 20 minutes one way to your commute, you'll be serving under a new boss, and you'll be leaving behind the support structure you've developed here. The good news is, you get to keep your job!"
I'm curious. Have you discussed this plan with your wife? As a teacher, what does she think of this?
I think we are just much
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 20:12 — user12345I see change as an opportunity to grow. Most businesses move their valued employees around to help them grow and avoid becoming too comfortable. I am guessing some teachers might get stale sitting in the same classroom for 20 years, working with the same coworkers, using the same material, etc. ... I am not saying move across town but maybe the next school over which might be miles closer to their home. Note they appear to move the principals around up from ES to MS to HS with a few staff positions along the way to round them out so it is already being done for them.
“I'm curious. Have you discussed this plan with your wife? As a teacher, what does she think of this?”
Remember she teaches in one of the toughest schools (and loves it) so any other school would seem like a cakewalk. So, I am guessing she would not want to move thinking no one else will understand and care for these kids like her (she's a projects girl) but I think it would be good for her professionally to teach more challenging courses (she teach all academic classes now but is certified to teach AP).
"Note they appear to move
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 21:15 — Apexter"Note
they appear to move the principals around up from ES to MS to HS with a
few staff positions along the way to round them out so it is already
being done for them."
You realize that they apply for those positions, don't you? It's a promotion, not an involuntary lateral move.
True but I am guessing the
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 21:26 — user12345True but I am guessing the won't get promoted or get raises unless they apply and move. So, they have the choice to sit in one spot their entire carreer but I assume they would be passed over by more experience principals.
Great question
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 13:18 — lferreriThis is really a great question. Ever since reading the SAS report, which verified some things I've believed for a long time, I've wondered who benefits from the current system. Why do some teachers and guidance counselors not want children who qualify for more rigorous classes to take those classes? Why does the WCPSS not aspire to higher standards for its children? As you said, it's a puzzler.
"Why does the WCPSS not
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 14:23 — user12345"Why does the WCPSS not aspire to higher standards for its children? As you said, it's a puzzler. "
Wake seems a little like Walmart where it is all about low prices... people here value low taxes above all else .... that leads to a very low $/student and a constant battle with the CC each year... more teachers to teach more rigorous classes will add more cost ... not a lot but people (many without kids) seem to want lower taxes more than better schools ... teachers and counselors are just employees and anyone who has worked in a large organization knows the employees are not going to challenge the system to be better ... It starts with the stockholders ... parents .. they demand more and get it ... look at Green Hope which demands higher standards and the system responds ... unfortunately, the response is spotty and does not benefit all neighborhood just the ones with the biggest bull horn.
I agree
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 14:32 — lferreriI agree that parent demands can have an impact and so can funding. But my sister-in-law's school district is not in a particularly well-educated community so they don't have a lot of parental pressure and their expenditures (and property taxes) are comparable to Wake County. To me, the difference seems to stem from two things: they are under strict scrutiny from the state and they are very self-motivated as teachers. In fact, they suffer from some problems Wake County doesn't have. For example, they lose a lot of teachers to more suburban areas where the young, single teachers can have a more active social life. Their community is a little more rural than Wake, more like Vance County. But their results beat the heck out of Vance County too.
Good question and comments
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 16:08 — user12345Good question and comments ... I guess there needs to be a "spark" - a lawsuit, movitated teachers, new company moving in, top notch management, demanding public ... something that knocks the system out of the comfort range and forces them to compare and innovate.
On the losing young teachers comment , I recently saw where one rural NC county bought an old mansion and gave the new single teachers free rent so they can build a young singles community since otherwise the teachers would all live in isolation with no social life and it has really helped retain them... I was really impressed with that innovation.
"new company moving in, top
Sat, 10/24/2009 - 17:18 — AngelaW"new company moving in, top notch management, demanding public "
uhm, you DID catch the election results, right?
looks like we got some of that going forward.....
Sounds like GM or Enron a
Sun, 10/25/2009 - 08:52 — user12345Sounds like GM or Enron a few years back ... we have had many good people in the last 30 years I have been here ... this crew is not the first to spring into the BOE with new ideas ... I would be careful about over selling it ...
NACP
Thu, 10/22/2009 - 16:30 — concerned2Calla & Co. should properly call themselves members of the "NACP" because they sure aren't for the advancement of people of color!
They have stood on the sidelines tacitly supporting the same failed policies that the existing school board has pushed on minority communities.
Here in Wake county, only 72% of our students entering 9th grade will actually graduate. The dirty little secret? Little more than half of minority students will make it under the egregious policies that Calla and the local "NACP" support!
Still waiting......
Thu, 10/22/2009 - 17:46 — pmThe dirty little secret?
What is the dirty little secret? If you wanted to make a meaninful point, you would have told us why so many kids aren't graduating.
I am interested to hear why you--or anyone--thinks that neighborhood schools will make that number better.
then please see the videos John Tedesco included in his response
Thu, 10/22/2009 - 18:02 — mbgjwaltersPlease look at the videos John Tedesco included in his response. They are a video tour of just some of the community schools around the country and what they have been able to do.
Cherry anyone?
Thu, 10/22/2009 - 19:35 — pmThey are a video tour of just some of the community schools
Okay. So someone makes a video of some schools in the country and that is supposed to convince me that community schools are the way to go? Sorry. Looking for a bit more data that would back up the claim.
For several years now, the call has been on to force WCPSS to produce data that diversity "works". I have been supportive of that call. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, I full expect all anti-diversity crowd to begin to prepare the data gathering that would support your stance.
Fair?
Your premise is wrong, or
Sun, 10/25/2009 - 09:42 — woodstockYour premise is wrong, or perhaps you are just being disengenuous.
You ask for data. Considering that neighborhood / community schools are the norm nationwide, there is plenty of data that shows they can be incredibly successful. And, if you want to discuss data, Wake's systematic forced busing policy and discriminatory practices that deny low-income and minority students entry into classes that they qualify for has not produced very favaorable data for the school system, especially in regard to graduation rates and the level of services provided low-income and minority students. Unless you are a White or Asian student, you should have some very serious issues with the status quo. Who is "anti-diversity" again?
If certain communities face unique challenges, it makes a lot of sense to address those unique challenges where they reside. School can be a powerful community assest; however, in Wake County we have removed that asset from far too many communities...communities that in many cases need it the most.
Data
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 06:20 — TrailerParkGirlWhat sort of data and how much do you have in mind? I'm asking because people have put tons of information and data out there showing that policy 6200 has done nothing to close the achievement gap and yet some of the very people who should be hopping up and down upset about the achievement gap and bringing attention to it are the ones trying at all costs to keep the status quo, so it seems no amount of data or common sense will suffice for some.
People have also put out tons of information and data about community schools, KIPP, Capital Prep, among others that support that stance, so what data would satisfy you? I suspect by your use of the term anti-diversity that no amount of data will suffice. No one is anti-diversity. People are anti-policies that don't raise achievement for ALL students and the achievement gap here after all the bussing is the worst in NC, so to the logical people that says we must find another way.
fair enough
Thu, 10/22/2009 - 19:56 — mbgjwaltersI completely agree that we need appropriate measures of student achievement and growth, which is why I have worked so hard to encourage WCPSS to use an un-biased reporting system, and as good timing would have it, NCDPI had already provided EVAAS as ONE way of evaluating policy.
I have met with John Tedesco several times and he fully agrees that the school system has to be accountable. And he believes the school board members need to be accessible and responsive. Have you talked to him? If you have questions, or better yet ideas of how to improve our school system, I'd recommend contacting him.
insanity
Fri, 10/23/2009 - 05:26 — loriacThe definition of insanity is knocking yourself on the head over and over and expecting it not to hurt the next time. Given that the current policies of WCPSS which result in students bused to far-flung schools, siblings on different schedules, magnet lotteries that favor certain nodes over others, are detrimental to families yet DO NOT HELP students (as evidenced by the poor graduation rate)... WHY WOULD WE CONTINUE THIS? Why keep doing the same thing?
I would buy into the diversity policy if it were actually helping the kids - but it's not.
The BOE members have new ideas - let's give them a chance.
get a clue
Thu, 10/22/2009 - 15:50 — loriac'Let them know that we are holding them accountable to serving all children and all decisions and actions should be based on facts, independent judgment while refusing to surrender judgments to individuals or special interest groups.'
Have Calla Wright and Mr. Sutton been paying attention while the board just got a presentation on how WCPSS has institutionalized lower expectations for ED kids FOR YEARS? Where is the outcry?
I am thinking that if you keep everyone in the dark, you continue to have a job 'advocating for your people'. This just gets stinkier every day.
Before getting all cranked,
Thu, 10/22/2009 - 15:35 — user12345Before getting all cranked, people should view the potential change from another viewpoint. Blacks make up 25% of the students but the BOE is only 10% black and all of the new members are White. All of the schools of Distinction and Excellence are > 80% White and mostly located in Western Wake. And all the Title I, Low/No Progress, Priority, Schools are mostly Black. Also, the two alternate high schools are 90% black. They may be thinking that the mostly Black schools never got a good deal before and what is going to be different under the new team. So, White folks get rid of MYR and there is going to be a new SAS computer program and things will be measured by student instead of school but it the same students in the same failing schools but with new computer sign ons … so what changed ... not something that gives hope … maybe a vision to make SE HS which is 70% Black a School of Excellence would inspire hope that changes will benefit the East side. Personally, there is no reason Blacks should fear the new members but on the other hand they have not been given much reason to trust them either. Personally, I think John talks the talk and walks the walk and will be great advocate for all children.
First, have any of our high
Thu, 10/22/2009 - 16:11 — jenmanFirst, have any of our high schools been a 'school of excellence'? I seem to recall that none of our high schools were doing fantastically by state or national standards. For that matter, I don't think that Chapel Hill had any either. Personally, if it wasn't so dang far away I'd love for my son to go to SE Raleigh High because he is really into math, science & technology. I wouldn't hesitate to send him there if those remain his interests. I also know that it is a source of pride for SE Raleigh residents.
Second, I do see your point about cutting Calla and these groups some slack. I think I said before that for the 'old guard' like Malone, Webb & others it probably feels like yesterday that they weren't allowed into Broughton High. Or to sit at the lunch counter. I can't even imagine going through that. However, at some point people like Calla need to put their distrust aside for a moment and actually listen to all of us. If the new board members (or whoever she is talking to) say or do something she finds questionable by all means she should ask them about it. Too many times we all assume what somebody's intentions are and then jump to the wrong conclusion. She should save her distrust and accusations for when she has something real to base them on. Its hard to do, but that is what must be done on both sides before anything will get better.
Green Hope is the only HS
Thu, 10/22/2009 - 19:04 — user12345Green Hope is the only HS School of Excellence ... I agree and I am proud of SE and all the kids from here seem to get a good education.
It seems the first thing many want to do is belittle other - "how many members to they have?", etc. as away of silencing them. The first step should be to understand what the concern is and than try to clarify or address it. I think John will do that. The fact that the other newly elected candidates met first think with one of the AA groups was encouraging.
I did a quick sort so you can see the rest of the list ... notice all the schools of distinction and excellence are grouped at the bottom ... hopefully, the new board members would get some of the schools at the top of the list recognized during their tenure. 20% appears to be the demarcations line for top prizes..
Uhh..
Sat, 10/24/2009 - 11:03 — Bob_SconceNote that the recognition level depends on EOG passage rates, and F&R students, across the board, do not pass EOGs as often as non-F&R students. So, *of course* low-F&R schools do better on these recognitions. As a result, those high-end recognitions say a lot more about the quality of the student body than about the quality of the school.
The real quandary here is why do we see schools like West Lake, which should be a school of excellence but isn't? That school has mainly non-F&R students, but still can't teach them well.
WCPSS is more than just black & white
Sat, 10/24/2009 - 13:48 — TrailerParkGirlUser only showed % black.
At West Lake, of the 523 EOGs taken - 50 black, 73 Hispanic, 45 LEP(9%), 110 ED (21%); only 7% of LEP passed (vs district avg 23%), that's only 3 kids of the 45! Hispanic was 26% vs 35% for district, ED 27% vs 31%, black and white were on par with district avg.