There's no word yet whether new Wake County Superintendent Tony Tata will accept the state NAACP's request to meet with him.
In an open letter Wednesday, the Rev. William Barber, president of the state NAACP, says the group desires to meet with Tata "as soon as possible." The letter alternates from talking about how the NAACP can help Wake to warning about how it will continue to fight the school district over the elimination of the diversity policy.
“We trust we can establish a strong working relationship as we address the critical problems many children in the Wake County Schools face," Barber writes.
During the letter, Barber reminds Tata that the NAACP is monitoring both the AdvancED and U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights investigations that originated from NAACP complaints.
Barber says the NAACP can help with initiatives such as improving student achievement and graduation rates and stopping the school-to-prison pipelines. But he also says they "will use every means possible to stop and reverse actions that would dismantle Wake's nationally-recognized SES diversity policy."
"We are aware that how we work together and how we struggle against each other on basic policy disagreements will be watched carefully by all, including our children," Barber writes.
The school system received the letter via fax late Wednesday afternoon. Michael Evans, Wake's chief communications officer, said Tata hasn't yet had a chance to read the letter and respond.
Comments
I am beginning to envy
Fri, 02/04/2011 - 09:05 — red_balloonI am beginning to envy Barber. For that matter, if how good a job you do is based upon how bad a mess you help create and/ or sustain, it seems like an enviable job. Imagine a performance appraisal system tied to the number of irresponsible and sensational accusations you spew forth. I guess Barber probably says a thank you every day to the voters of Wake county for helping him justify his role in life.
I like Barber's engaging, collaborative press release style. I suppose we can expect another press release soon warning and cajoling the parents in his community to do a better job.
One Word...Duke Lacross Players!
Fri, 02/04/2011 - 10:00 — JanisTangoirresponsible and sensational accusations
Did I miss the press release where Barbar and his protesters apologized to the Duke Lacrosse players?
Barber says, in his letter
Fri, 02/04/2011 - 03:44 — eddie2Barber says, in his letter "About 14 months ago, a 5-4 majority of your Board declared their intention to re-assign poor African American and Latino students in separate schools, which they euphemistically called 'neighborhood schools.' They said this is what they had promised their suburban voters, and therefore they had to carry it out, even if it were unconstitutional."
Seems to me, the BoE's lawyers should be able to get this issue before a competent judge to get a ruling on whether what he says is true, and if not, tell him to cease and desist.
If William Barbor wants to
Thu, 02/03/2011 - 18:43 — CaryCurmudgeonIf William Barbor wants to meet with Mr. Tata, why doesn't he just pick up the phone and call him to request a meeting? Why make this request a media event? Just rhetorical questions.
"Barber says the NAACP can
Thu, 02/03/2011 - 14:07 — woodstock"Barber says the NAACP can help with initiatives such as improving student achievement and graduation rates and stopping the school-to-prison pipelines."
If this is true, where the hell as Barbar and the NAACP been over the decades as grad rates slipped and the prisons filled up? Why now all of a sudden does he want to help? No one is stopping you Rev. Barbar. Start helping. Then maybe we'll listen.
What I Found Ironic Is....
Thu, 02/03/2011 - 14:18 — JanisTangoBarber has never used the 'school to prison pipeline' phrase! I first heard that phrase coined by John (not saying John originated the phrase) and it hasn't been on the radar of anyone here in Wake until he brought it up!
"Barber has never used the
Fri, 02/04/2011 - 03:26 — eddie2"Barber has never used the 'school to prison pipeline' phrase!"
He used it in his letter. See the last paragraph.
Exactly
Fri, 02/04/2011 - 08:24 — JanisTangoexactly...can you provide any other time he used is prior to contacting Tata? I' don't believe the school to prison pipeline just became an issue in the last 12 months. Where has he been on the issue before this new school board took office!
Again, the NAACP has been
Fri, 02/04/2011 - 09:12 — magnetParentAgain, the NAACP has been concerned about that for years.
As for your insistance that Rev. Barber has not used such a phrase until contacting Tata:
http://raleighfist.wordpress.com/2010/07/17/all-out-for-july-20-no-to-the-racist-re-segregation-of-wake-county-schools/
"...We know that diversity of our schools makes our schools stronger. We already know that. We have better things to talk about than where this crowd would take us. We have many challenges to educating our kids and all poor kids. We have many challenges to clog up the school to prison pipeline. We have better things to put our minds to than deal with this crowd...."
Thanks For The Information...
Fri, 02/04/2011 - 10:01 — JanisTangoThanks for clarifying that I was wrong. I guess you can also provide proof of the programs recommendations, etc Barbar and the NAACP has been implementing to help with this problem.
You know, if you are so hung
Fri, 02/04/2011 - 10:27 — magnetParentYou know, if you are so hung up on proof of Barber's concern for the children, why don't you give him a call an arrange a time to meet with him. I am sure he would be happy to sit down with you.
Don't get me wrong... I don't like his approach. But the unfounded accusations that you keep spouting is getting old.
Ditto...
Fri, 02/04/2011 - 12:03 — JanisTangounfounded accusations that you keep spouting is getting old
I'm really sick of the unfounded accusations that the NACCP and GSIW keeps spouting. It is getting extremely old.
Yet you still continue to do
Fri, 02/04/2011 - 12:39 — magnetParentYet you still continue to do it. Since when do 2 wrongs make it right?
I would really like
Fri, 02/04/2011 - 16:23 — nancyncTo find information on anything in the past year that Mr. Barber has done that has truly helped the people he claims to care about, specificially minority children.
He talks a big game, threatens a lot of folks but what has he truly done directly to help minority students?
I've looked on the state NAACP website and see a lot of things he's been involved in but none of them that were not protests and speeches.
Like I told Janis - feel
Fri, 02/04/2011 - 16:47 — magnetParentLike I told Janis - feel free to call him and meet with him. What can it hurt?
As many times.......
Sat, 02/05/2011 - 02:19 — nancyncWe have heard Mr. Barber and if he's missed an opportunity to say what he means, then that he has said doesn't warrant a call from me.
He has more than had most to have his say, and the media follow him like a lost puppy - I've not read anything concrete from him about improving education.
Unless he is running a
Fri, 02/04/2011 - 17:04 — red_balloonUnless he is running a stealth program to better the AA community, I doubt he would have anything worthwhile to talk about.
Just because you never heard
Thu, 02/03/2011 - 14:48 — magnetParentJust because you never heard him say it does not mean he has not used it.
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund did a study on it in 2005:
http://naacpldf.org/publication/dismantling-school-prison-pipeline
He Has Never Been Concerned Until This New Board....
Thu, 02/03/2011 - 18:49 — JanisTangoBarber is trying anything he can to stay relevant. I suspect his agenda is not about helping the poor children of this county or I would have expected him to be pounding the streets years ago regarding the issue of achievement. I would have expected him to meet with the new board behind closed doors when it was offered. I respect your beliefs even though they different from mine. Regardless of what you think of this new school board there is finally a dialogue going on in Wake county in regards to the problems with our district and what we can try to do to move this county forward not backward like Barber would like you to believe! If this new board hadn't come into power so many people would have kept their heads in the sand saying everything is hunky dory in Wake. I also believe there is an election coming up and Barber has specfically been told to make him self less visible. His race baiting doesn't resonate with a majorty of the voters in this county and he will help the other side in the upcoming elections if he keeps it up!
I agree that if Barber was
Thu, 02/03/2011 - 20:53 — jenmanI agree that if Barber was really concerned about achievement or education in general, he would have been shouting about it long ago. There are so many things that were unfair and unjust in this system for years that he either turned a blind eye to or wasn't aware of.
Agreed. Barber is
Thu, 02/03/2011 - 14:39 — woodstockAgreed. Barber is desperately searching for something that will resonate. His usual race hustling tactics are simply not working. He even has to bus in folks from out of town and out of state to assemble a crowd to listen to his rhetoric. He has yet to realize that time has passed him by, his message and his tactics are from a bygone era. Plus, he has never actually done anything to help... he has never done what he demands others do. He is all talk... and fewer and fewer are listening.
The board's attorneys should advise him
Thu, 02/03/2011 - 14:59 — FSandYOUnot to speak with Barbie. IMO, he is the reason there are 2 pending legal issues against us and therefore discussing anything with him compromises those cases. If a meeting does take place it should be in public, televised or taped for others to see and be informed. While we're at it, how about every parent who has concerns about what's happening requesting a meeting? How about those who don't have kids in the system, but are concerned how their tax dollars are being wasted fighting this garbage, they want a meeting too. What about anyone, anywhere in the country who saw the Cobar slam, if they are concerned do they get a meeting too?
I agree, Tata should
Thu, 02/03/2011 - 17:06 — woodstockI agree, Tata should definitely not talk to Barbar, especially while litigation is pending. Barbar has already wasted enough of the BoE's and WCPSS's time, money and effort in dealing with his public disruptions, board room intimidation tactics, threats, arrests, and bogus race-hustling lawsuits. His time is up.
Question for the Media
Thu, 02/03/2011 - 12:20 — MissVOne of the most obvious differences between Mr. Barber and Martin Luther King, Jr. is that Dr. King listened, respected authority and wasn't a puppet of the Democratic Party.
So why won't the media ask why Mr. Barber has to bus people in from outside Wake County (and outside NC) for an issue that affects local parents? Wake County parents know how to schedule appointments on behalf of their children without a press release.
Funny...
Thu, 02/03/2011 - 11:22 — Bob_SconceLast year, the district proposed a meeting with Barber, the superintendent AND the board chair and vice-chair, but Barber wasn't interested. Now he is? Tata should reply back "Sure. I'll bring Ron and Debra too."
Give it up!
Thu, 02/03/2011 - 11:08 — nancyncBarber is nothing but a race hustler. His job requires it, for if there is nothing for him to complain about, he doesn't seem to feel he has any other responsibilities.
Someone, please show me in the last year what this man has done to actually help people, seriously. I'm looking for something positive. It surely is not on the NAACP local chapters websites!