Tuesday's agenda for the Wake County school board is an interesting one.
The agenda includes a vote on a resolution "to establish a Board Directive for the establishment of Community Based Assignments." How that would fit in with the changes to Policy 6200 are uncertain.
Also on Tuesday’s agenda is a motion to designate the Civitas Institute, a conservative group funded by local businessman Art Pope, as a provider of annual training for school board members. Board members can currently get training from the UNC School of Government and the N.C. School Boards Association.
Tuesday will be a long meeting day for the school board.
It opens at 10 a.m. with a closed-session discussion of whether to oust Schools Superintendent Del Burns ahead of his announced June 30 resignation date. Burns had publicly criticized the board majority’s desire to end the diversity policy.
Later at noon, a work session will be held in which staff will identify which year-round schools to convert back to a traditional calendar for the 2010-11 school year. The board could approve the changes as soon as the regular meeting that begins at 3 p.m.
At the regular meeting, Burns is scheduled to present his budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year. It’s expected to include cuts and layoffs.
Later on that afteroon, the board will get to the votes on the Civitas Institute and community-based assignments.'
UPDATE
Click here to view the community-based assignment resolution.
Comments
Strach
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 20:39 — bnartistChill out people.
It's not as if Phil Strach is Legal Counsel for the NC GOP or anything ... oh ... wait ... really? ... never mind.
OK, it's not as if Phil Strach is Chairman of the NC GOP 2009 Plan of Organization Committee or anything ... oh ... wait ... really? ... never mind.
OK, it's not as if Phil Strach is an NC GOP Officer or anything ... oh ... wait ... really? ... never mind.
Ron?
Rosa Gill
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 11:41 — Duhhuh666Its not as if Rosa Gill had any Democrat Party affliation ooh wait yes she did.
Rosa Gill was non partisan and would never leave the school board to fill an empty Democrat seat..ooh wait yes she did.
No the school board is non partisan, yep as long as it is controlled by only Democrat's it is considered non partisan.
okay
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 14:36 — supportwcpssSo basically agree with the sentiment.
The old "this is how was before" card.
Oh...
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 08:38 — Bob_SconceSo, it seems to me that each of those things would probably make him a great person to teach a class on parlimentary procedure.
You're just trying to paint him as some sort of boogeyman. Why is any of that stuff relevant? Are you concerned that he may get a portion of the $50 class fee and that somehow the board is directing its resources to the Republican party? If so, that's absolutely preposterous.
Just checked out the Civitas
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 18:23 — allkidsfirstJust checked out the Civitas site again.
If you have a daughter, you should be very concerned that Civitas will be training our school board members.
Their argument that title IX legislation just discriminates against men is scary. Yes, if a publicly funded university is going to have 63 football scholarships, they ought to have the same number of athletic scholarships for women. What a hardship to have to provide equal opportunity!
Spin Spin Spin
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 19:16 — choice4allYou people are really grasping at straws. Unbelievable.
In The Trenches
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 00:36 — RandyRockettKnightdale High School is a multi-million dollar facility. It's the largest high school in North Carolina under one single roof. Many say its a modern marvel. It's a stand alone creation that past generations never knew. A recent walk through revealed signs of a school with many more years than its actual age. Graffiti in bathrooms, signs of vandalized walls, and hundreds of styrofoam lunch trays left behind on cafeteria tables by students for others to clean-up. Where's the out-cry?
Being just four or five years old, KHS continues its dismal decline with EoC "test scores" under the current swag of principal Carla Jernigan. KHS currently has the bottommost test scores for Wake County. Where's the out-cry?
The majority of the school population are minority students. Often the local Knightdalians send their high schoolers to Broughton, Enloe, Millbrook, Heritage and a few private Christian schools because they are not currently allowing their kids to go to "Fightdale" or "Frightdale". Where's the out-cry?
The talented teachers are dedicated, devoted, and distended. Many staffers will openly tell you of the climate and culture that lends itself only to the " inmates-running-the-asylum" syndrome. There were easily 200 kids roaming the halls (10% of the total population I believe) while the fourth block classes moved on. Basically socializing was what I saw. There was a group of seven teens in the stairwell just hanging out (aka skipping class) and had their caps turned sideways with the stickers still on the flattened bill, pants stylishly worn between the crotch and knees, the obligatory ipod ear buds in their ears, and texting on their cell phones. One teacher closed her classroom door to the hallway interruptions because of the constant drone of conversations with a few brave enough to lean in and call out to friends. Where's the out-cry?
The real story lies in the trenches. At this point they are only rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic! Where's the out-cry?
Sounds like time for a
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 11:27 — DrActualFactualSounds like time for a "neighborhood watch" style of parent volunteers to "hang in the halls." Nothing will make the kids want to go back into the classrooms more than finding MOM in the hallway. It's not cool to hang out with MOM. The HS should call the MOMS (we can text from the hallway too, but the kids will go back into the classroom.) Honestly, I don't think high schools in particular as for parents to come in, they'd rather keep them out IMO.
Scary?
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 18:58 — upinbooneThen are you saying it's okay if there are 20 qualified male football players to be denied a scholarship opportunity to play college football - the dream of so many young men - as long as the denial is based on the fact that there aren't also 20 women qualified for an athletic scholarship at that school. Convoluted logic.
That someone might actually believe this does qualify as 'scary.'
When certain schools have to
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 18:30 — danofncWhen certain schools have to cut men's sports because there aren't enough women's sports to add scholarships so that they can comply with Title IX, what would you call it?
If every sport except football is offered for men and women, then why shouldn't a school be allowed to have 85 (the # of Division 1 scholarships) more scholarships for men's sports?
Because tax dollars should
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 18:39 — allkidsfirstBecause tax dollars should not be spent on scholarships that are denied to a group of people just because of their gender.
Title IX
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 20:51 — Voice_of_Reason_Title IX governs the overall equity of treatment and opportunity in athletics while giving schools the flexibility to choose sports based on student body interest, geographic influence, budget restraints, and gender ratio. In other words, it is not a matter of women being able to participate in wrestling or that exactly the same amount of money is spent per women's and men's basketball player. Instead, the focus is on the necessity for women to have equal opportunities as men on a whole, not on an individual basis
Athletic scholarships are generally paid for out of the millions of dollars brought in by men's football and basketball in ticket sales, television royalties, and other royalties, not taxpayer funds.
Do you know what Title IX IS?
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 19:55 — Bob_SconceThe scholarship restrictions apply to any educational institution that receives any federal funding AT ALL. The scholarships aren't funded by the federal government. Heck, the Feds tried to assert that because some students at a school got federal SCHOLARSHIPs, that Title IX applied to that school.
In any case, opposition to title IX is a very mainstream view. Criticizing Civitas because of that is about like criticizing people who don't like liver.
Athletic scholarships are
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 19:17 — danofncAthletic scholarships are not funded by tax dollars. At least not at schools like NCSU and UNC. I'm not sure about smaller schools.
Where is the text of the
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 17:52 — allkidsfirstWhere is the text of the resolution about Community schools?
They keep saying there's a mandate, but there were never many details about what neighborhood/community schools are! The terms are so vague that they could have meant 100 different things to 100 different average voters.
At least the topic is on the agenda, but what is there to research before the meeting when we don't know what the resolution is?!?!?!?
To our new school board
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 17:31 — g88ky07We've had our survey, we've had our meetings, now unfortunately you have to act. Most who want changes aren't going to see many of them and to some degree that was to be expected, but nonetheless it is discouraging and disappointing. We under stand that you can't reverse all of the under capacity year round schools, HOWEVER, with the massive budget cuts yet to be made, more coming no doubt, many of us will beg you one more time to consider reversing a few of these wasteful schools back to traditional in EACH district. Reversing the 2 or 3 where parents banded together and were the loudest is nice, but there are several others that are wasting money that is needed elsewhere and should have NEVER been forced into MYR. As an example, District 2 has several YR schools that are no where near full capacity and are costing more money than is needed. In addition, the new schools should not be opened on a YR calendar unless every track can be filled and the school utilized to capacity. I support the change that you guys are attempting to make and appreciate how truly difficult many of these new "board haters" are making correcting the past wrongs. I pray for improvement of this out of control system and I pray for you to make the best decisions you can with what you have been dealt and are being given to work with. Chuck and Del have quit and left you holding their bags of trash and anyone else in their groups who can't help facilitate the changes needed, or support you in your efforts, need to be reminded they too can get their stuff and get out! Hang in there and keep grinding away at it. Sooner or later this ship can and will be righted thanks to you guys and gals and those who helped elect you.
Thank you
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 19:13 — upinbooneThank you for being a voice of reason. We elected a new board because for year after year the leftist school board acted as if OUR public schools constituted their own fiefdom. They treated parents as if we had the plague and worse, as if we had no right to a voice in our children's education. The times they are a-changin' finally and for the betterment of all of Wake County's students.
We can count on the fact that leftist supporters of the status quo will not go quietly. Not only that, we need to question every "report", every "fact" that is offered in opposition to these changes. Like the "fact" that YR schools have less delinquency. That's the way the left operates. Those methods worked when there were few sources of information. It won't work now. And thank God for the new school board and for their courage.
I will ditto that g88ky07.
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 17:52 — changewcpssI will ditto that g88ky07. I am a fan of the Leesville Road conversions and Wakefield, but a couple in each district make sense.
Earlier this week there was controversy regarding the lies told at the Leesville Road meeting Tuesday giving credit to the year round calendar for making the school a safer place. I found that Lisa B posted the Principal response. It is buried now so Lisa B; please post it here. The lies need to be called out and put to rest.
here it is; Lisa B's post from this AM
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 18:01 — AngelaWHi Everyone: I have been away from "Blog World" for various reasons, but after receiving a few emails yesterday asking about the truth regarding LRMS' incidents and YR, I decided to take a trip back to the blogs. I see that not much has changed. Please bear with me while I relay information I received last night.
Bottom line, there is NO correlation between the drop in disciplinary incidents at LRMS and the YR calendar actually making those incidents decrease. THE YEAR ROUND CALENDAR ITSELF DOES NOT HAVE A POSITIVE EFFECT ON STUDENT BEHAVIOR.
I actually have a long-term relationship with a student who is one of the most "frequent offenders" at LRMS, so I probably ask more general questions about discipline problems at LRMS than most people do. The fact that fewer incidents have been reported at LRMS this year is certainly not "breaking news". BUT, there are reasons for that.
When I heard a few speakers on Tuesday attempt to credit the year-round calendar for positively affecting student behavior and making the school a safer place, all I could do was shake my head and think "WOW, I am amazed that someone would even TRY to connect the two". I didn't even give it another thought until I started getting e-mails from people yesterday asking me to read the blogs and to get some official clarification on this.
To be honest, the excitement and energy in our community is at a HIGH in anticipation of the conversion reversals, and I have had more important things on my plate than disproving an inaccurate claim. However, last night I had the chance to speak with our Principal, so the timing worked out.
I told her what had been said, and asked her for some clarification. (and yes, she was at the meeting but I don't think the APs were)
There are a few things going on at LRMS that explain the decrease, but the decrease is NOT because the school is operating year-round instead of traditional. First of all, having fewer students in the school at one time allows administrators to spend more time getting to know all students, including the "trouble makers". That would be the case at ANY school with fewer students, and is not something that happens "just because the school is year-round". The administrators did take time at the beginning of the year to sit down and discuss student placements, but they do this every summer before a new school year starts regardless of the calendar. (track assignments for YR, team assignments for traditional) They identified certain kids who had previously had conflicts with certain other kids, and made sure to split them up onto different tracks. BUT, previously when we were on the traditional calendar, they have just put them onto different academic teams to alleviate potential conflicts.
Suspensions have decreased --THAT is true. One very important factor that Mrs. Hamler brought up is that they HAVE discouraged staff from reporting every incident this year. They HAVE put it on the staff members to handle situations that in the past WERE reported and required administrators to intervene. Unless it is something where intervention is absolutely necessary, staff members are now expected to handle discipline themselves. She confirmed that this was NOT done in the past, and it IS a change this year. Evidently, in the past, administrators were called to a class when a student was tardy. Kids are NOT suddenly "acting better" just because of the year-round calendar, and crediting year-round for making LRMS a "safer place" is completely misleading.
She also said that anyone who claims that test scores have improved OR the year-round calendar at LRMS has increased academic achievement is lying. They have NOT reported any test scores this year, so it is all fabricated.
In the end, we are fortunate to have very involved administrators and a wonderful resource officer who are all working together to keep behavior under control and dangerous situations to a minimum. This would be occuring traditional OR YR.
Very nice summation, Lisa
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 11:32 — jeannie84Very nice summation, Lisa (via Angela). Now, let's review the highlights:
"First of all, having fewer students in the school at one time allows administrators to spend more time getting to know all students, including the "trouble makers."
And why are there fewer kids in the school? Because LRMS is YR.
"Suspensions have decreased --THAT is true. "
And that is the only claim that has been made -- thanks for confirming it.
"claims that test scores have improved OR the year-round calendar at LRMS has increased academic achievement is lying"
No one has claimed that.
So, now that Lisa has sanctioned the fact that LRMS has less suspensions this school year (on a YR calendar), let's move on, shall we?
Oh puh leeze get over
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 16:12 — changewcpssOh puh leeze get over yourself Jeannie. Which online law school sold your degree to you? If you want to debate something at least have a reasonable argument. You come across as clueless and lack any logic whatsoever. You may want to read the post again.
The little picture 4 wake county whiners will be thanking LisaB when their kids hit middle school. I know Leesville Road is celebrating now.
Nice Summation Jeannie
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 11:58 — Duhhuh666What does YR have to do with the decrease? Say you have a speeding problem and police start giving out tickets, tickets increase. Then the police decide to stop giving tickets and you have a decrease in tickets. Does that mean the speeding problem has been solved?
Can someone explain why the suspensions have decreased?
too much paperwork and documentation involved...
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 12:12 — AngelaW"They HAVE put it on the staff members to handle situations that in the past WERE reported and required administrators to intervene. Unless it is something where intervention is absolutely necessary, staff members are now expected to handle discipline themselves"
"And why are there fewer
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 11:53 — AngelaW"And why are there fewer kids in the school? Because LRMS is YR. " and families OPTED OUT.
"Suspensions have decreased --THAT is true. "
"And that is the only claim that has been made -- thanks for confirming it. "
uh only half the school year is completed...how is that a comparision?
and they HAVE discouraged staff from reporting every incident this year. They HAVE put it on the staff members to handle situations that in the past WERE reported and required administrators to intervene. Unless it is something where intervention is absolutely necessary, staff members are now expected to handle discipline themselves. She confirmed that this was NOT done in the past, and it IS a change this year. Evidently, in the past, administrators were called to a class when a student was tardy. Kids are NOT suddenly "acting better" just because of the year-round calendar....
so, again? how is that a comparision?
Thank you Lisa for going
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 21:22 — Gr8SchoolsThank you Lisa for going straight to the source and debunking the lies that came out Tuesday. I find it deplorable that adults would expect children to tell the truth but have no problem fabricating lies in a public setting. On the other hand I find it exciting to see the new resolution wording. Leesville fits right into that recipe. This blogging could become habit forming.
Thank you for doing that
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 18:14 — changewcpssThank you for doing that Angela. I should have thought of that myself.
not a problem!
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 18:40 — AngelaWnot a problem!
Which schools in D-2 are
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 17:37 — danofncWhich schools in D-2 are nowhere near capacity? How close would they be if they were traditional?
Haven't several new schools recently opened in D-2? Wouldn't that help explain some of the available space?
Would it be better to open as traditional, only to convert to YR when space is needed?
If you open a school YR only if every track is filled, then you allow ZERO room for growth without either building another new school or changing the calendar. Is that really a better plan?
I believe Rand has no Track
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 19:00 — SouthEastWakeMomI believe Rand has no Track 2 and that Banks is very sparse on Track 2. I know that G88 knows what's going on with the schools in Fuquay. Hopefully he'll see this and post.
The radical right is in
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 17:17 — allkidsfirstThe radical right is in charge now. Here's how public free market schools work:
If your community has money and social influence, you will be able to make your school better and increase the value of your property! People will pay more for your house, because they are essentially getting a private school for middle class children along with your mortgage.
Unfortunately, if your community does not have money or social influence, the opposite is also true.
"Radical right." LOL You're
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 19:58 — woodstock"Radical right." LOL You're funny...and delusional. Unless, by "radical right" you mean efforts to bring about family-friendly, common sense solutions.
I hope with the newly
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 18:21 — loriacI hope with the newly elected board members, we will now be able to attend schools in our community. Since we will be closer to the school and more involved, we can work with the teachers and PTA to make the schools better. I think this applies across the county.
The previous board sent us across town because of 'our numbers' - it would help make the school 'appear healthy'. Guess what - bunches of people opted out. Everyone loses out - forced social engineering doesn't work.
!
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 17:21 — JanisTangobecause they are essentially getting a private school for middle class children along with your mortgage.
Aren't those families that win the magnet lottery? We have those today!
Magnets have low income
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 17:35 — allkidsfirstMagnets have low income bases, so you can get into a magnet without having money. I know... some magnet schools are in wealthy areas. But they would otherwise be under enrolled, and they have a low income base.
I will grant you that turing schools like Fox Road and Stough into magnets would have been better than trying to limit the families that can choose magnets, or turning them into calendar option schools. That would be a change I can believe in... not dismantling the whole system and not providing any incentives for diverse schools.
And Magnets are two schools in one
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 20:30 — Voice_of_Reason_The low income kids don't usually enjoy the extras a magnet has to offer though.
Please stop with
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 21:51 — ksinclairPlease stop with the
"two-schools-in-one." My child is in an elementary magnet school and
it's just not true. (And please don’t vilify my 7-year-old because he's in a
magnet.) He has children in his classes whose parents don't speak English and
many who probably take advantage of F&R meals. Last year, he had a child in
his class who lived in a homeless shelter. He doesn't know these things, of
course, but any involved parent does. These are his friends. He will soon learn
why someone can’t come to his birthday party, or come over for a playdate. And
that will be when he learns that everyone isn’t as fortunate as he is. But they
will be his friends first. I believe that is a powerful life lesson.
the magnet program (especially to the rim schools)? I agree that more people
should have access to them—they are wonderful.
Can we do both? Give parents who want diversity and different
curricula access to those things? And also accommodate those who want their
kids to go to school only with other kids from their neighborhoods? Why can’t
that be the starting point for our discussion (although we can’t all have everything)?
Isn’t that true choice?
I should of specified Middle and High School
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 15:50 — Voice_of_Reason_Anyway, the rest of us experience the same diversity in ES to various degrees, only the schools are somewhat ill equipped to handle it.
In any case, I think the issue is equity. If you want to expand the programs that traditional schools offer that's fine with me. You could also have a school that entry was based on merit or special need, that would be fine too. But I have a big problem with special schools that have entry criterea that heavily weigh on location or sibling enrollment. It also discriminates against people that move here with school age children.
You may be happy with what you have. It might be a great school, but is it fair to the rest of us that have to foot the bill at the expense of our children and treasure?
Absolutely
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 23:55 — SDR256Yes, ksinclair - yes, yes yes - lets expand the opportunities offered by the magnet program to ALL children. And yes, lets give parents who want diversity and different curricula access to those things. etc. etc. etc.
I don't know why that seems so scary to some. The idea that we would have a vision which shoots for the stars. We may miss, but then again - we may even overshoot! We have to have a hopeful vision.
Today the vision of Policy 6200 is so small it diminishes all.
Let's discuss that
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 00:09 — ksinclairLet's discuss that vision--and yes, we should always be perfecting it. I think we have opportunities to find common ground. I'd love to meet you and discuss it. I don't believe that the political statements and grandstanding that's going on now are going to help any of us. I think we all love our children and the children of our community. Can't we unite and do this as parents...why do we need political groups involved?
We're tired
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 22:01 — MomknowsbestWe're tired of magnet parents extolling the virtues of magnet schools. It's like rubbing it in for those of us who couldn't even get a foot in. Yes, why can't we all have the same excellent education offered in magnet schools, WCPSS?
I'm sorry...
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 22:49 — ksinclairWe just go to school where and when they tell us to, like everybody else. And we're lucky and blessed to be where we are. We're happy. I'd like for everyone to be in a school like ours. You ask why can't everyone have the same excellent education offered in magnet schools? Why not ask that of the county commissioners who fund schools? Otherwise, you're just robbing Peter to pay Paul. The way it is now, everyone gives up something—proximity, calendar, diversity, curricula. I'd gladly drive my child more miles, go on a different calendar, whatever it takes to have the curriculum he has now.
...
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 22:55 — SideburnsI hate being Paul.
Agreed. I wouldn't want to
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 23:01 — ksinclairAgreed. I wouldn't want to be either. But direct this to the people who can make sure no one has to be Paul: the county commissioners.
So...
Sun, 02/28/2010 - 08:15 — Bob_SconceThere's always going to be a pot of money that comes from the commissioners, and the district has to figure out how to spend it. Right now, a disproportionate amount of that money is going into magnet schools.
The "Robbing Peter to pay Paul" point doesn't apply, because it's not Peter's money and it's not Paul's money -- it's the school district's money, and the district has to determine the best way to allocate that money.
In my view, you could drop some of the more esoteric programs at magnet schools and use the money to pay for mainstream programs at non-magnet schools. For example, drop Russian at Enloe and use the savings to fund Spanish at a middle school that don't have any foreign language. By doing that, Enloe students are only marginally "harmed" and those middle school students are greatly benefitted. (I use "harmed" in quotes, because I don't think it's a harm to not get something to which you weren't entitled to begin with.)
In the same vein, reduce the
Sun, 02/28/2010 - 08:29 — red_balloonIn the same vein, reduce the 8 to 12 electives at ES magnets and funnel some of those funds to non-magnets. In fact, any program or elective not wholly or significantly funded by MSAP needs to be reviewed.
I don't think the CC's
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 23:05 — DrActualFactualI don't think the CC's obtain the magnet school grants do they?
probably not
Sat, 02/27/2010 - 23:59 — ksinclairBut without diversity, no school gets these funds, so are we cutting off our noses to spite our faces? Why can't we be looking at how to get the best programs at all schools? It's not a zero-sum game is it?
Let's assume that the
Sun, 02/28/2010 - 08:12 — red_balloonLet's assume that the current magnet schools retain their magnet status and MSAP funding. Now let's assume that we are able to fund the "best" programs at all schools. Are we expecting those parents mesmerized by SES diversity to continue to bus their children downtown when the neighborhood schools now offer the "best" program? Unless one buys into the Enloe parade, the fact is that parents will move kids out of the ITB magnet schools and back into the neighborhood schools which now offer the "best" programs.
In other words, the success of the current magnet program is founded upon denial of equitable opportunities to all students.
Further, here is the website for the magnet program: ...http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg65.html#sec5302
Below is an excerpt:
(4) It is in the best interests of the United States —
(A) to continue the Federal Government's support of local educational agencies that are implementing court-ordered desegregation plans and local educational agencies that are voluntarily seeking ...
(B) to ensure that all students have equitable access to a high quality education ...
The purpose of MSAP is about (A). What happens to the students not served by (A)? They receive a discriminatory education and nothing along the lines of (B). Thus, by holding ourselves hostage to MSAP funding, we deny a quality education to all students.
Not everyone based into a
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 19:01 — SouthEastWakeMomNot everyone based into a magnet is low-income.
Thank you
Fri, 02/26/2010 - 17:33 — choice4alland very well said JTango!!