Will Beverley Clark became the next school board member to give up her seat?
Rumors are swirling that Clark will resign her seat in August, allowing her to stay on for a little while longer to vote on the applicants for Rosa Gill's vacant seat. Clark has served the longest of any of the board members. She was first elected in 1999.
Clark was non-committal about her intentions.
"That's interesting," Clark said when asked last week about her rumored resignation.
The line proceeded to break up with static. Clark did not return follow-up calls.
Normally I don't blog about rumors. But it's based on multiple sources that are normally reliable.
The speculation is that the last straw for Clark was not being elected board chairwoman last month.
If Clark does resign, the board would likely follow the same procedure it's using now to fill Gill's seat. Applications would be requested from her District 6 Central Raleigh seat to finish out her term, which expires November 2011.
Comments
Can not wait to get rid of
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 16:38 — user1234Can not wait to get rid of those poor kids can you and the "negitive impact on your community" as you say?
Why do people respond to
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 18:42 — CaryCurmudgeonWhy do people respond to idiotic remarks like this from a lunatic troll who has nothing better to do with their day?
Charity begs the question
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 18:25 — Dadof3Charitably considered, the written thoughts of a schizophrenic aren't calumny, are they? They're just mad random nonsense. The good news is there is medication for that.
and you are just so worried
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 16:59 — AngelaWand you are just so worried that they will show up in "your" school......your bigoted paranoia is showing more loudly than usual, you seem almost as worried as Lori ..
The negative impact has
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 16:51 — shearertwThe negative impact has nothing to do with poor vs rich, its all about stability...you are a fool and a troll no doubt.
My question exactly. What
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 14:58 — shearertwMy question exactly. What makes the Diversity Policy a sacred cow? Why must it be kept in place until something else proves it can work when the Diversity Policy has been proven NOT to work?
Its the sacred cow for a number of reasons....
Reason #1 - EGO
Well...
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 18:37 — Bob_SconceI think that a decade of accolades from the education ivory tower, write-ups in the New York Times, etc... has made it difficult to go back. Which of the current board members wants to show up at a national school board convention and say "Remember that policy that all the education professors and newspapers said was the greatest thing since sliced bread? Well, turns out it wasn't." Who wants to say "Remember that year-round thing that we thought was the greatest thing since sliced bread? Well, that was a really dumb idea."
Part of the reason that changing the school board is important is that the new members won't be personally invested in old ideas. You can bet that those on the status quo side have signed their allegience to the current policies in blood.
More Moo
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 15:01 — RichardAndersonReason #2 - It appeals to the warm and fuzzy doing the right thing sensibilities of business and political leaders.
Reason #3 -
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 15:06 — shearertwReason #3 - Appearances
Reason #4 - EGO
Reason
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 15:13 — RichardAndersonReason #5 - Money. Look at the UNC students coming to help the WCPSS diversity program. Grant money involved in that. Look at people like Liz Parry at NCState who gets half a million dollars of grant money per year that depends on the program to exist.
Reason #6 - Power. Power
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 15:17 — shearertwReason #6 - Power. Power over assignments, power over parental choice.
Reason #7 - Power. Keep the constituents "snowed" into believing you're actually looking out for them when your really NOT.
Reason #8 - EGO
reasons
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 22:33 — loriacReasons 9 & 10
Find the bubba(s) who's making tons of money off this - you know they exist. I believe the EGO statements, but that is usually closely followed by the green stuff.
Lori Millberg
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 14:15 — g88ky07Yes, but she saved a bunch
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 14:26 — CaryCurmudgeonYes, but she just saved a bunch of money on her car insurance by switching to Geico !!
With her "thought capacity"
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 16:43 — g88ky07I bet they won't even insure her!
But that is funny!!
Nice article- Broughton
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 07:48 — shank56http://www.newsobserver.com/news/wake/raleigh/story/1623938.html
Thanks
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 10:57 — user1234It is wonderful that so many famous people sent their kid to public school at Broughton ... Even though my kids don't go to Broughton, I have always been proud of its accomplishments .....
I also like the quotes from King and Helms ...
"The philosophy of segregation is directly opposed to the philosophy of Christianity and to the philosophy of democracy," King said, according to an account in The News & Observer. "It is a cancer on the body politic, and until it is removed our democratic health cannot be realized."
But not everybody thought racial integration worked. In a 1997 interview with The Charlotte Observer, then-Sen. Helms said forced busing had been "a colossal flop."
But not everybody thought
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 19:05 — RichardAndersonBut not everybody thought racial integration worked. In a 1997
interview with The Charlotte Observer, then-Sen. Helms said forced
busing had been "a colossal flop."
Based on the current academic achievement gap between black and white students, would you disagree?
Based on voluntary housing patterns often still mirroring those of segregation, would you disagree?
I don't like Helms one bit, but if you sit back and be objective, post integration school busing schemes achieved very little other than allowing some people to keep up appearances and save face. It is today that we face the real challenge as we must push aside the old rhetoric and concern for appearance in favor of a relentless focus on substance and results.
I would prefer that
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 19:45 — user1234I would prefer that assessment come from a Black person. Everything might not be scores to them. The fact that they have a Black School Board Rep might be quite an accomplishment to many. I understand that there were many good separate but equal black schools that were the pride of their community but that they were under funded by the white power brokers ... and yes, we can still migrate to a Poor Black Inner City with surrounding wealth White suburbs like many other cities ... and be like Richmond, CM, DC, Atlanta, etc.
Note, Helms did not offer a solution or alternative ... just status quo .. so it wasn't like he was out in front with innovative alternatives .... also, I don't remember Helms being celebrates in the Balck community for his progressive thoughts and contributions to that community ...
The two statements are not
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 11:18 — shearertwThe two statements are not contradictory, and not necessarily related as you portray. In my opinion, they're both correct statements, so what is your point?
Forced busing has been "a colossal flop" AND is not necessary for integration! Perhaps in 1977 it was necessary but not now, 32 years later.
Forced bussing is just the way stupid, non-innovative, lazy people address a complex issue. No one should be surprised at is failure. You mean we can't come up with a new idea in 35 years? 35 years ago, we thought the earth was suffering from "man made" global cooling.
Math rationing abounds in Wake.
Mon, 07/27/2009 - 15:37 — DrActualFactualUser1234 and Bob I am sad to note that even if your HS child loves math and wants to major in math/science the system does not emphasize the same goals. Although the school improvement plans claim to support your children they are in fact restricting the entire freshmen/sophomore students from doubling up on math courses with the exception of Algebra 1Plus to Geometry. Only one class per year for students on level or above level. I was advised that they are only obligated to provide up to Algebra 1. Although we all know 1 math per year is required to graduate HS and higher level demonstration of proficiency is what colleges are looking for--forget that. I would estimate that 1200 students could have lower GPAs and how they provide math in the future years--I'm to saddened to contemplate. What a disappointment for all our students. I'm not sure whether the current system excels better at despair or disparity. Oh, forgot to mention that AP Stats get dropped at the back end too. I guess online college courses will reap the financial benefit here.
I am going to get flack for this one
Mon, 07/27/2009 - 17:13 — user1234Is the problem supply or demand?
We know that WCPSS tracks kids (especially ED) early on in such a way that they don’t get on the advanced math track soon enough to be edible for the advanced math’s in HS. We know the schools have low expectations which they have programmed into their school scoring. We know unless you have a pushy parent (e.g. NED) your kid will fall through and get on the normal math track. We know the select schools will end up with the NED kids whose parents pushed, whose counselors got them on the right track and whose school will have sufficient “interest” to offer the advanced math in their HS. What is sad is the number of potentially strong math students that were eliminated early on by themselves, their parents, the system, their counselors, the availability of courses offered.
Personally, I think the problem is educators in decision making positions. Some are good but too many may be detrimental (e.g. read diversity). Educators think everyone should be like them. They think everyone should go to college and study liberal arts like they did. They develop schools and course that lead to a single end – college which many kids can not afford today. I think that is one reason we don’t have a push for vocational schools because the decision makers are not vocational school graduates and probably look down on that track. I think we are preparing a whole generation of liberal arts high school graduates who will get a liberal arts college degree and than go manage a Starbucks which they could have done with a HS degree. I think since so many decision makers are liberal arts-centric that we end up with more emphasis on language arts and less emphasis on math and science. A real liberal arts education should include math are difficult as that taken by engineers but it has gravitated to English and social science it seems.
Some of the problem is due to the private sector grabbing those math / science candidates first at higher salaries. Note you can go to the other extreme like in the former Soviet Union which was laser focused on math and science but had not heart or emotion. While it is a balance, I think the math / science area has been watered down to reflect the experiences and inadequacies of the non-math decision makers. That is my theory why our schools don't offer as strong a math program as we need.
Hmm...
Tue, 07/28/2009 - 07:22 — Bob_Sconce"Personally, I think the problem is educators in decision making positions."
I agree that this is part of the problem -- another part is *politicians* in decision-making positions. Curricula and textbook decisions are often made by politicians or political appointees.
Flack incoming - actually clarification
Mon, 07/27/2009 - 23:53 — FalcI agree with the general gist at which I think you were getting, but -
I think you may be confusing non-math/science-based majors at non-liberal arts educational institutions and "liberal arts" education, although you did get it right when you said a real liberal arts education should include some higher level math.
In regard to math I have
Mon, 07/27/2009 - 17:57 — DrActualFactualIn regard to math I have seen MS staff move the kids on the border of performing upper level 2 or lower level three into the more strenuous classes in order to create a smaller class size for the level 1/2 students. Neither group receives the same level or number of homework problems. IMO the math tracking issue needs to be addressed as early as MS and perhaps even 5th grade.
betcha not in Wake...
Mon, 07/27/2009 - 13:45 — AngelaWSchool systems look to cut spending in bus routes
http://www.news14.com/content/local_news/triangle/612415/school-systems-look-to-cut-spending-in-bus-routes/Default.aspx
get rid of teachers and staff, no books to learn with but dammit, they are gonna bus 'em no matter what in WCPSS....
from CNNMoney.com:
Mon, 07/27/2009 - 12:38 — user1234Math majors don't always get much respect on college campuses, but fat post-grad wallets should be enough to give them a boost. The top 15 highest-earning college degrees all have one thing in common -- math skills. That's according to a recent survey from the National Association of Colleges and Employers, which tracks college graduates' job offers. "Math is at the crux of who gets paid," said Ed Koc, director of research at NACE. "If you have those skills, you are an extremely valuable asset. We don't generate enough people like that in this country." This year Rochester Institute of Technology hosted recruiters from defense-industry firms like Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, as well as other big companies like Microsoft and Johnson & Johnson. "The tech fields are what's driving salaries and offers, and the top students are faring quite well," said Emanuel Contomanolis, who runs RIT's career center. Specifically, engineering diplomas account for 12 of the 15 the top-paying majors. NACE collects its data by surveying 200 college career centers. What happened to well-rounded? There are far fewer people graduating with math-based majors, compared to their liberal-arts counterparts, which is why they are paid at such a premium. The fields of engineering and computer science each make up about 4% of all college graduates, while social science and history each comprise 16%, Koc noted. As a result, salaries for graduates who studied fields like social work command tiny paychecks, somewhere in the vicinity of $29,000. English, foreign language and communications majors make about $35,000, Koc said. "It's a supply and demand issue," he added. "So few grads offer math skills, and those who can are rewarded."
Agree fully...
Mon, 07/27/2009 - 13:17 — Bob_SconceUnfortunately, math is not particularly well-taught in K-12. There's a circular problem here -- math grads are in relatively high demand, so few of them going into teaching. As a result, a lot of children learn to despise math as they're taught by people who grew up disliking it. Lather rinse repeat.
Interesting article here:
http://www.maa.org/devlin/LockhartsLament.pdf
Crimes against Parents/Students.....
Mon, 07/27/2009 - 11:58 — WuptdoWhat a great idea -- The Top Ten Crimes against Parents/Students by the Wake County BoE(eR).
1. Mandatory Year-Round Schools
2. Forced reassignment for "diversity" and no actually factual basis for the reassignment
3. BoE(eR) being led by employees, and not leading
4. Questionable new school locations and over-paying for land
5. Magnet programs for only the "special" few, ITB
6. ........ and on, and on....
You regulars can do this much better than I. But make this information known to the lemmings in Wake County.
I might also suggest a "5 Step" plan for cleaning up WCPSS that could be used in the upcoming election.
FYI - I spend $55,000 in private school education to "de-diversify" number three son from his two years at Enloe High School. I guess the BoE(eR) and Chuck Delaney just think it is wonderful when intelligent kids from the 'burbs decide to adopt the Raleigh "ghetto" culture.
When is Mr. H back so that
Mon, 07/27/2009 - 07:49 — g88ky07When is Mr. H back so that we can get some updated info? This is the longest run of "old news" here I've ever seen!
on vacation this week, then
Mon, 07/27/2009 - 08:55 — CaryCurmudgeonon vacation this week, then returning
Would the person spreading
Sat, 07/25/2009 - 22:53 — Big_PictureWould the person spreading the rumor about Bev Clark's children attending private schools please provide details? I have met some young adults who claim to have gone to WCPSS schools with her children. If they did go private, it is newsworthy. If not stop spreading lies.
OT - For those interested, CNN is replaying
Sat, 07/25/2009 - 17:12 — Falcthe Black in America 2 segment tonight that included the piece on Capital Prep. The segment starts at 8PM. I'm not sure what time in the segment the Capital Prep piece will run.
Ballan has chosen not to endorse either of his former opponents
Fri, 07/24/2009 - 20:30 — AngelaWhttp://wake.mync.com/site/wake/news/story/38892/ballan-drops-out-of-wake-school-board-race
OT-alert--Ballan drops out of District 7 school board race
Fri, 07/24/2009 - 16:10 — AngelaWhttp://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A398342
ot-Title I transfer options
Fri, 07/24/2009 - 16:05 — AngelaWhttp://www.wcpss.net/news/2009_july24_school_choice/
July 24, 2009 - The Wake County Public School System is providing choice options to families at 15 elementary schools in compliance with the federal No Child Left Behind law for schools that are in Title I school improvement.
Of the 156 WCPSS schools, 45 are Title I schools this year. Title I status for schools changes annually based on the number of students attending the school who participate in the federal lunch program. Title I provides federal assistance to these schools and schools receiving this assistance must comply with the requirements of the No Child Left Behind law.
When Title I schools do not meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) standards for all subgroups of students in a subject area for two consecutive years, they enter school improvement. Schools must meet Adequate Yearly Progress standards for two years in a row in that subject to be removed from school improvement.
Here are the 15 WCPSS Title I schools in school improvement:
Falc--I LOVED that news
Fri, 07/24/2009 - 11:07 — jenmanFalc--I LOVED that news story. That is all we are asking WCPSS to do--evaluate their policies to see if they are working. If the YMCA finds out that the kids aren't improving academically, does it mean that they will abandon the camp program? No, but they will figure out a way to improve that component of it. Exactly what WCPSS should be doing and what all of us at WSCA would like to see them do.
Want to help? Share your story!!
Fri, 07/24/2009 - 09:33 — me_mcadams(***NOTE: CORRECTED EMAIL ADDRESS LISTED BELOW.)
I know there are a lot of passionate parents on this website. As a member of the WSCA, I’m collecting parent testimonials about how current WCPSS policies and practices have PERSONALLY impacted you. Please send me your stories, both positive and not-so-positive – I’d like to hear them all. Please email them to me by Fri, July 24 at time4WCPSSchange@gmail.com.
Please include the following information when you write:
1) Your name, 2) District, or base school, 3) Your story – the good, the bad, and/or the ugly, 4) Your satisfaction (or dissatisfaction) with the current WCPSS, 5) What, if anything, you’d like to see change and why, and 6) Whether or not you’d be willing to be quoted in writing.
Thanks in advance for taking the time to share!
OT - Camp keeps hopes high, Kids tracked to gauge benefits
Thu, 07/23/2009 - 22:39 — Falchttp://www.newsobserver.com/news/story/1617996.html
....
Many campers come from difficult home situations and long for strong relationships with caring adults, Grissett said.
"Some of these kids have been beaten down by life," said Grissett, who attended YMCA camp during his youth in South Carolina. "I tell them, 'I started out like you guys.' We listen to them; we encourage them to keep pushing through whatever's going on."
Encouragement like Grissett's can have immediate benefits for young campers. But leaders at the Alexander YMCA, the one on Hillsborough Street, decided a while back that they wanted to know more about the long-term effects of YMCA tutoring and mentoring. They wanted proof.
"There's a question of our return on investment -- what's going to help the children succeed long-term?" said Brad Davis, vice president of development at the YMCA's Triangle headquarters....
Former Teacher’s Aide Charged With Force Feeding And Assaulting
Thu, 07/23/2009 - 20:38 — AngelaWhttp://wake.mync.com/site/Wake/news/story/38825/teachers-aide-charged-with-force-feeding-special-needs-students/
This is horrific, and not
Fri, 07/24/2009 - 13:57 — rr77rr99This is horrific, and not making an excuse, TA's are not necessarily trained special ed teachers, so... well... just sayin.
Did Lori wait to Keung was on vacation to make her comments?
Thu, 07/23/2009 - 18:22 — fiestamomLori Millberg's comments on WPTF today were disgusting.
Did I hear her right? Did she say "the rich white people in Wake County don't want their kids going to school with poor kids."
Seriously, did this gal EVER have the guts to say that at a school board meeting when reassignment came up? Class warfare sickens me.
All you people who called this closed minded bigot contacting her about reassignment obviously wasted your time.
Perhaps Ms. Millberg's been
Fri, 07/24/2009 - 15:19 — sstarksPerhaps Ms. Millberg's been coached by Dr. Roz Mickelson of UNC Charlotte. She has written numerous papers and articles claiming people who moved into Charlotte in the 80's and 90's did not want their children to go to school with minorities and thus pushed for the end of busing. Last year I attended a talk she was giving in which she said that suburban white parents do not want African American children to get a good education because they might then bump white children for slots at Chapel Hill. When asked about this she said she had research to prove it, but so far none has been provided. Dr. Mickelson often does research for UNC Center for Civil Rights which has sent summer interns to Wake County to help pro-busing candidates.
I'm not surprised - and
Fri, 07/24/2009 - 12:11 — RMC10I'm not surprised - and it's not the first time this rich people/poor people has been brought up. Gives a whole new meaning to economic diversity - only rich white folks are smart, and of course we ONLY choose to live in a rich area, again folks, Apex, Fuquay, Holly Springs, Cary - all have natural diversity by race, populations, income levels - bussing in to achieve that is wrong. The F&R programs and the Federal Gov't support by hanging out the $$$ carrot is Wrong, and it makes people like the old/quitter/WCPSS do the wrong things for the wrong reasons.
I will vote for everyone who says no more PLC (and the crazy Wed. schedule), no more year round, no more extra days off, no more Sat. makeups, and reduce bussing to a bare minimum.
We need what 5 of those on our side.
Maybe Millberg will walk
Fri, 07/24/2009 - 14:04 — rr77rr99Maybe Millberg will walk now too? Sooner than later :) IF she hates all the snotty white people she has to put up with and all...what's the point of her having to stay on the board and represent "these people."
I agree, I am going to call each candidate and ask them one question... "will you vote to revoke the PLC's on Wednesdays?"
Aside from the Mandatory year rounds that have been crammed down our throats, that is the second stupidest idea this Board has crammed down our throats! (Oh wait... there's Trailblazers... lol)
I have heard more complaining about this Wed release from my children's teachers than anything else. They are frustrated that they can't find child care for their own children, they are not getting work done, they have double, triple the responsibilities with the budget cuts within their own classrooms, the TA's are all ready to pull their hair out because they are now "rubber band people" being pulled in so many directions. It's a mess and you know who is going to suffer in the end, our kids. And will anyone care, not really? They will just test, re test and retest again and then put put PR releases about how GREAT the system is and how many "advances" they are making here in The People's Republic of Wake County.
Interesting point...
Fri, 07/24/2009 - 15:01 — Bob_Sconce(1) I think the value of PLCs should be decided in consultation with teachers. But, I don't want to hear a bunch of administrators saying "All of our teachers love it." ('That is what you wanted us to say, isn't it Del?') Teachers should be polled anonymously.
(2) You bring up a good point about teachers with children. Normally, when they're in school, their kids are too. (except teachers work days, which are presumably easier to deal with.) The Wednesday thing really breaks that model.
(3) Don't forget: Class on Memorial Day and Saturdays, Block Scheduling, spending bond money to redo the weight room at Enloe, deciding not to allow sponsors to install sunshades with their names on them, the whole fiasco with buying land for new schools, not accepting developer donations, etc... This school board has done plenty of idiotic things.
Bob...you are so right,
Sat, 07/25/2009 - 13:30 — rr77rr99Bob...you are so right, there's a "Letterman Top 10 Most Idiotic Things The WCPSS has done to parents" list. I am just going with the most recent although all the things you mention are surely worthy. WCPSS makes and breaks and remake new rules and policies what seems like every single day and really, what is really funny is, the teachers, TA's, and even some administrators are done playing the game. They are opening their mouths. But here's the rub, the WCPSS employees want the PARENTS to now do something. See, this aggravates me a little because we need to stand united and I have always said that, but I see how they want to keep their jobs. It's fruitless not to stand together right now, unless we all can get these clowns (ER) out of office in Nov and get this school system on track. The first thing for me... no early release Wednesdays, and only year round for parents who want it! Undo the damage that's been done. Which will take years and all my kids will be out of the system and I will have had my hundreth nervous breakdown by then. LOL.
I am sure, if this continues, some new better and greater idea will come about like, oh, kids with brown hair and blue eyes have to come to school an hour earlier, while the blonde hair green eyed children can leave an hour early, but come in three hours early every third Tuesday of every other month that begins with the letter M. WCPSS will find some study that proves that children with darker hair really perform better when the glare that bounces of the heads of the blonde hair children is not distracting them during their "primary learning window."
What more should we expect
Thu, 07/23/2009 - 22:29 — g88ky07from a QUITTER!
Wow!
Thu, 07/23/2009 - 21:31 — designman"the rich white people in Wake County don't want their kids going to school with poor kids."
That does not take "guts" to say, it takes a tremendous amount of ignorance and arrogance. Unfortunately, it is not difficult to image some others on the board sharing the same sentiments.
When a child spends a couple hours a day on a bus going to and from a school three towns over to accommodate a stupid and useless reassignment policy, the last thing on the mind of a student or a parent is the family income of fellow students. She has insulted literally thousands of families in Wake County. For all Millberg's education, she sure is not very aware or open-minded. Good riddance to her.
I am soooo ready for the October elections so that we can change the dynamics and tone of the Wake BOE to one that is family-friendly and that has education as the top priority.
Let me be clear... make no mistake
Thu, 07/23/2009 - 22:21 — fiestamomDesignman, I should have put the sarcasm tag after the "guts" part.
What I meant by that is, clearly, La Millberg has felt this way all along. Remarkably (ha ha), she didn't make that kind of a statement during her re-election bid, nor did she say anything that inflammatory (that I know of) at an actual school board meeting. Nice to know what she(and other members) think of opponents of reassignment.
Yes, the interview was THAT bad. It was the morning show.