After posting the notes on Board Member comments from Monday's meeting, I received a message from Anne Medenblik expressing a concern that the entirety of her comments in the meeting were not fully represented.
In response, I offered to let her expand on what was posted as either an article of her own on this blog or as a clarification of the notes, which I would post myself.
Below, is the clarification Anne has asked to have posted.
Anne Medenblik -- Concerned that if HE and CE schools merge, Title 1 funds in the amount of $160K+ will no longer be available for CE students, which will result in less money to the schools, and less resources and staff for students with a low socio-economic status. After it was moved and seconded to appoint a committee to explore the merger of HES and CES, during discussion she inquired if the motion could be amended to allow the committee to have a broader focus. She did not want to limit the exploration to the merger of these two schools, but rather, expand it to focus on how to best prepare CES students for success. There was no support to amend the motion. While she did not oppose the appointment of a committee, she voted NO because she did not agree the committee’s focus should be limited to merger. Assigned to the Study Group.
The offer I made to Anne to expand on her posted comments is open to EVERY School Board Member. If you would like to clarify your position on this matter, I would be happy to post your comments as well.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
More Media Coverage
Leave it to The News of Orange County to get the story exactly right - right down to the correct statistics on Free & Reduced Lunch participation.
"The issue of demographics is an important one in the debate. Some 60 percent of CES students receive free or reduced lunches. Meanwhile, at HES, the school has struggled at times to strike a balance in demographics. It is a voluntary enrollment, year-round school with a schedule that tends not to work for disadvantaged or poor families."
http://www.aconews.com/articles/2007/03/21/noc/news/news11.txt
So, what is the first action the OCSB jumps to when looking for a solution to the challenges facing these "disadvantaged and poor families"? Well, force the parents of students at CES into a mandatory year-round schedule, of course.
It's too bad the Durham Herald Sun's article ignored those opposed to the merger.
"Part of the rationale for studying the idea, [Dennis Whitling] said, are studies indicating that students who attend schools with less than 50 percent of the student body receiving free and reduced lunches become "better learners" and are better off as a whole."
http://www.heraldsun.com/orange/10-831404.cfm
If there is such a strong connection between the two, why do significantly more Economically Disadvantaged (ED) students at CES (61.3% FRL) pass BOTH the Reading and Math End-of-Grade Tests than Economically Disadvantaged students at every elementary school other than HES and Cameron Park?
School ED Performance* FRL%**
Cameron Park ES 58.7% 30.8%
CES 47.4% 61.3%
Efland-Cheeks ES 36.0% 46.9%
Grady Brown ES 41.8% 31.1%
HES 60.0% 14.0%
New Hope ES 33.9% 34.2%
Pathways ES 44.3% 34.2%
The District Average 40.9% 33.7%
The State Average 45.1% #
Data sources:
* Education First North Carolina School Report Cards: Link
** Internal OCS Data provided to the OCSB on February 28, 2007
Rather than destroy HES in some attempt to "paper over" the problems at CES, maybe the first step should be to find out what CES and Cameron Park are doing right. Even with large percentages of ED students they generate performance well above the District average and even higher than the State average.
"The issue of demographics is an important one in the debate. Some 60 percent of CES students receive free or reduced lunches. Meanwhile, at HES, the school has struggled at times to strike a balance in demographics. It is a voluntary enrollment, year-round school with a schedule that tends not to work for disadvantaged or poor families."
http://www.aconews.com/articles/2007/03/21/noc/news/news11.txt
So, what is the first action the OCSB jumps to when looking for a solution to the challenges facing these "disadvantaged and poor families"? Well, force the parents of students at CES into a mandatory year-round schedule, of course.
It's too bad the Durham Herald Sun's article ignored those opposed to the merger.
"Part of the rationale for studying the idea, [Dennis Whitling] said, are studies indicating that students who attend schools with less than 50 percent of the student body receiving free and reduced lunches become "better learners" and are better off as a whole."
http://www.heraldsun.com/orange/10-831404.cfm
If there is such a strong connection between the two, why do significantly more Economically Disadvantaged (ED) students at CES (61.3% FRL) pass BOTH the Reading and Math End-of-Grade Tests than Economically Disadvantaged students at every elementary school other than HES and Cameron Park?
School ED Performance* FRL%**
Cameron Park ES 58.7% 30.8%
CES 47.4% 61.3%
Efland-Cheeks ES 36.0% 46.9%
Grady Brown ES 41.8% 31.1%
HES 60.0% 14.0%
New Hope ES 33.9% 34.2%
Pathways ES 44.3% 34.2%
The District Average 40.9% 33.7%
The State Average 45.1% #
Data sources:
* Education First North Carolina School Report Cards: Link
** Internal OCS Data provided to the OCSB on February 28, 2007
Rather than destroy HES in some attempt to "paper over" the problems at CES, maybe the first step should be to find out what CES and Cameron Park are doing right. Even with large percentages of ED students they generate performance well above the District average and even higher than the State average.
So, its not about helping CES?
I was recently forwarded an email from OCSB Member Liz Brown written in response to an HES parent's concern about the effect a merger would have on HES. The parent listed a number of suggestions for other things the Board should consider before a merger.
I think this part of Ms. Brown's response speaks volumes:
"I believe all schools should reflect the district average of 33 percent free&reduced [lunch], instead of the 70 or 79 percent currently at CE. (And the 11 % or so at HES) If there's no other way to get HES to a more realistic reflection of our district as a whole, then combining the 2 schools might be the answer." (Color added for emphasis)
Aside from being factually wrong from both ends (CES has 61% on FRL and HES has 14%), it seems clear that Ms. Brown is less concerned about helping CES improve and more about "fixing" what she sees as wrong with HES.
If that is really the goal, it is no wonder she thinks "combining the 2 schools might be the answer."
I think this part of Ms. Brown's response speaks volumes:
"I believe all schools should reflect the district average of 33 percent free&reduced [lunch], instead of the 70 or 79 percent currently at CE. (And the 11 % or so at HES) If there's no other way to get HES to a more realistic reflection of our district as a whole, then combining the 2 schools might be the answer." (Color added for emphasis)
Aside from being factually wrong from both ends (CES has 61% on FRL and HES has 14%), it seems clear that Ms. Brown is less concerned about helping CES improve and more about "fixing" what she sees as wrong with HES.
If that is really the goal, it is no wonder she thinks "combining the 2 schools might be the answer."
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Additional Comments on the Web
It looks like at least one policy blogger has noticed the attempt by the OCSB to cover up its lack of success at CES by artificially "cooking the books." And she paints a pretty bleak picture of the long-term impact it may have.
"If Orange succeeds in papering over the problems of some of their students, don’t be surprised when the kids drop out." - Donna Martinez
From her bio: "Donna is a columnist for Carolina Journal, and editor of The Locke Letter. She assists with marketing activities and appears each week as a co-host of At Issue, the NBC 17 public affairs program airing Sundays at 11 a.m. " In addition, she is a frequent guest co-host (along with her husband Rick Martinez of the News & Observer) of a morning talk radio show on WPTF 680AM.
http://triangle.johnlocke.org/blog/?p=395
"If Orange succeeds in papering over the problems of some of their students, don’t be surprised when the kids drop out." - Donna Martinez
From her bio: "Donna is a columnist for Carolina Journal, and editor of The Locke Letter. She assists with marketing activities and appears each week as a co-host of At Issue, the NBC 17 public affairs program airing Sundays at 11 a.m. " In addition, she is a frequent guest co-host (along with her husband Rick Martinez of the News & Observer) of a morning talk radio show on WPTF 680AM.
http://triangle.johnlocke.org/blog/?p=395
Media Comments on the Meeting
Here are links to the media coverage of last night's meeting.
It looks to me like the N&O got it about right:
"The board voted 5-2 Monday to set up a three-member committee to study the merger of Central and Hillsborough elementary schools."
http://www.newsobserver.com/161/story/555444.html
The Daily Tar Heel also did a pretty good job even if the writer missed the mark on the Study Group's actual charge. Anyone there would know that Ted Triebel was adamant that the group not be expected to look at ALL options:
"The board passed a motion by a 5-2 vote to form a three-person committee that will investigate and report all available options to improve Central Elementary School's performance."
http://media.www.dailytarheel.com/media/storage/paper885/news/2007/03/20/OnlineExclusives/Concerned.Citizens.Meet.To.Discuss.Education.Proposal-2781821.shtml
It looks to me like the N&O got it about right:
"The board voted 5-2 Monday to set up a three-member committee to study the merger of Central and Hillsborough elementary schools."
http://www.newsobserver.com/161/story/555444.html
The Daily Tar Heel also did a pretty good job even if the writer missed the mark on the Study Group's actual charge. Anyone there would know that Ted Triebel was adamant that the group not be expected to look at ALL options:
"The board passed a motion by a 5-2 vote to form a three-person committee that will investigate and report all available options to improve Central Elementary School's performance."
http://media.www.dailytarheel.com/media/storage/paper885/news/2007/03/20/OnlineExclusives/Concerned.Citizens.Meet.To.Discuss.Education.Proposal-2781821.shtml
Board Comments to the Parents
In the end, "the board voted 5-2 Monday to set up a three-member committee to study the merger of Central and Hillsborough elementary schools." (the News & Observer's words, not mine).
With thanks to Lori Rogers, here is a synopsis of the Board Members' comments:
Liz Brown -- In favor of committee -- wants to move forward with a study group-- Could not understand why parents would pull out of HES if merged b/c it would stay year round. Voted for the Study Group.
Susan Hallman -- In favor of study group to look at options. Believes we need to do something to help the students at CE. Voted for the Study Group.
Ted Triebel -- It would be a disservice to not look at all the options to help all the children in OCS-- The process needs to be transparent to all to see -- In favor of study group-- Also mentioned hiring an independent group to look into this. Voted for the Study Group. Assigned to lead the Study Group.
Debbie Piscitelli -- Need to look at all the options. We need to look at solutions and not force something-- Focused on the need to look at valid data to make decisions. Voted for the Study Group. Assigned to the Study Group.
Al Hartkopf -- Made a point about the data given to the school board was not valid and he requested but was not given back up and supportive data. He disputes that by getting rid of CE as a LEA will not change the performance of the children from that school. If the objective is to help the children than you need a plan to help them and not do something like a merger to simple make the testing numbers come out right. Mentioned that the No Child Left Behind pages on the Dept. of Ed. site offer many solutions and merger is the last one offered. Voted against the Study Group.
Anne Medenblik -- Concerned that the Title One status of CE going away if it merges with a high income school like HES. This will actually give less money to the schools and you will lose resource positions which will mean less money and fewer teachers for low learning students. Voted against the Study Group. Assigned to the Study Group.
Dennis Whitling -- People need to be open minded even if at first you don't like the idea-- Suggested making a three board member committee- Decisions need to be made for all students. Voted for the Study Group.
With thanks to Lori Rogers, here is a synopsis of the Board Members' comments:
Liz Brown -- In favor of committee -- wants to move forward with a study group-- Could not understand why parents would pull out of HES if merged b/c it would stay year round. Voted for the Study Group.
Susan Hallman -- In favor of study group to look at options. Believes we need to do something to help the students at CE. Voted for the Study Group.
Ted Triebel -- It would be a disservice to not look at all the options to help all the children in OCS-- The process needs to be transparent to all to see -- In favor of study group-- Also mentioned hiring an independent group to look into this. Voted for the Study Group. Assigned to lead the Study Group.
Debbie Piscitelli -- Need to look at all the options. We need to look at solutions and not force something-- Focused on the need to look at valid data to make decisions. Voted for the Study Group. Assigned to the Study Group.
Al Hartkopf -- Made a point about the data given to the school board was not valid and he requested but was not given back up and supportive data. He disputes that by getting rid of CE as a LEA will not change the performance of the children from that school. If the objective is to help the children than you need a plan to help them and not do something like a merger to simple make the testing numbers come out right. Mentioned that the No Child Left Behind pages on the Dept. of Ed. site offer many solutions and merger is the last one offered. Voted against the Study Group.
Anne Medenblik -- Concerned that the Title One status of CE going away if it merges with a high income school like HES. This will actually give less money to the schools and you will lose resource positions which will mean less money and fewer teachers for low learning students. Voted against the Study Group. Assigned to the Study Group.
Dennis Whitling -- People need to be open minded even if at first you don't like the idea-- Suggested making a three board member committee- Decisions need to be made for all students. Voted for the Study Group.
Parent Comments to the Board
With thanks to Melissa West, here are short overviews of the parent comments made at last night's OCSB meeting.
Public Comments:
Ross Jackson: Is an HES parent and wanted to address the questioning of the leadership of the school. What is driving the issue: hidden agenda or the best interest of the school?
Marcus Morrow: Is an HES parent and wanted to address HES leadership. He wanted to see consistency, which is best for HES. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.
Kylie Snyder: Is an HES parent and addressed the merger proposal. She discussed the merger would be using the HES scores to average out CES scores. A merger would be disruptive and may create an exodus of students from HES. If that happens, the overall scores for the merger would drop. She recommends that one of the two schools need to remain a magnet school, otherwise the merger would create a need for redistricting. The Board needs to examine the root cause of CES problems. They need to create a committee to help the children succeed. Our responsibility as a community is to the children.
Steve Snyder: Is an HES parent and addressed the merger proposal. He stated that the merger is based on statistics and is not beneficial to the children and families involved. The merger would be extremely disruptive. He stated that combining the schools would bring the scores to at best barely meeting the requirements.
Allan Scott: Is an HES parent and addressed the data regarding the merger as flawed. The combined numbers are on the assumption that both schools would have 100% retention of current students. He says that will not happen. Many parents may opt to go to their districted schools if merger is approved. He recommends not using numbers to decide on the merger as a whole. He suggested that the board use interventions now instead of putting us through all the disruption and heartache.
Gretchen Lanier: Is an HES parent and addressed the issues of HES as a family and community. She stated that a merger based on scores is only "cooking the books" and will not help CES. It will only disguise the problem. She suggested HES be used as a model and/or a sister school to CES. CES should have an open door policy and welcome help and volunteers from the community. Churches should adopt classes at CES. We need to work with the families of the CES students. She stated that any student in the CES district is allowed to apply to HES if they wish to attend. This merger will add to the problem, not solve it. A merger will have a disruptive effect on HES as a whole.
Jackie Mignosa: HES PTA president. Stated that the merger is putting all the pressure on HES to solve the problems of CES. It needs to be a county-wide effort. Give CES parents a choice of where they want to send their children. She compared the proposed merger to a saving a drowning victim. If you do it alone, you risk drowning yourself. You have to have the strength of the group to succeed. All schools need to work together to solve the problem. If parents pull their children out of HES, it will definitely change the dynamics of the school. If a merger is approved, we need to welcome the CES students.
Steve Bream: Is an HES parent and stated that the students are the issue, not the schools. The board needs to look at the following: What does the CES students need? What can we do to help them succeed? How can the community address the lack of support for the students at CES?
Public Comments:
Ross Jackson: Is an HES parent and wanted to address the questioning of the leadership of the school. What is driving the issue: hidden agenda or the best interest of the school?
Marcus Morrow: Is an HES parent and wanted to address HES leadership. He wanted to see consistency, which is best for HES. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.
Kylie Snyder: Is an HES parent and addressed the merger proposal. She discussed the merger would be using the HES scores to average out CES scores. A merger would be disruptive and may create an exodus of students from HES. If that happens, the overall scores for the merger would drop. She recommends that one of the two schools need to remain a magnet school, otherwise the merger would create a need for redistricting. The Board needs to examine the root cause of CES problems. They need to create a committee to help the children succeed. Our responsibility as a community is to the children.
Steve Snyder: Is an HES parent and addressed the merger proposal. He stated that the merger is based on statistics and is not beneficial to the children and families involved. The merger would be extremely disruptive. He stated that combining the schools would bring the scores to at best barely meeting the requirements.
Allan Scott: Is an HES parent and addressed the data regarding the merger as flawed. The combined numbers are on the assumption that both schools would have 100% retention of current students. He says that will not happen. Many parents may opt to go to their districted schools if merger is approved. He recommends not using numbers to decide on the merger as a whole. He suggested that the board use interventions now instead of putting us through all the disruption and heartache.
Gretchen Lanier: Is an HES parent and addressed the issues of HES as a family and community. She stated that a merger based on scores is only "cooking the books" and will not help CES. It will only disguise the problem. She suggested HES be used as a model and/or a sister school to CES. CES should have an open door policy and welcome help and volunteers from the community. Churches should adopt classes at CES. We need to work with the families of the CES students. She stated that any student in the CES district is allowed to apply to HES if they wish to attend. This merger will add to the problem, not solve it. A merger will have a disruptive effect on HES as a whole.
Jackie Mignosa: HES PTA president. Stated that the merger is putting all the pressure on HES to solve the problems of CES. It needs to be a county-wide effort. Give CES parents a choice of where they want to send their children. She compared the proposed merger to a saving a drowning victim. If you do it alone, you risk drowning yourself. You have to have the strength of the group to succeed. All schools need to work together to solve the problem. If parents pull their children out of HES, it will definitely change the dynamics of the school. If a merger is approved, we need to welcome the CES students.
Steve Bream: Is an HES parent and stated that the students are the issue, not the schools. The board needs to look at the following: What does the CES students need? What can we do to help them succeed? How can the community address the lack of support for the students at CES?
Monday, March 19, 2007
The Board meets tonight
The Orange County School Board meets tonight at 7:00 at 200 E. King Street, Hillsborough, NC.
The meeting agenda can be found here: http://www.orange.k12.nc.us/board/agenda.htm
Public comments come early in the meeting and the HES/CES merger discussion is scheduled for 8:55 pm.
The meeting agenda can be found here: http://www.orange.k12.nc.us/board/agenda.htm
Public comments come early in the meeting and the HES/CES merger discussion is scheduled for 8:55 pm.
Letter to the Board
I sent the message below to each OCSB member this morning. I received responses from four members that varied from very supportive to downright frosty.
Dear [Board Member],
My name is Robert Scott and my son, Carter Scott, is a kindergartner at Hillsborough Elementary School.
It has just recently come to my attention that the Orange County School Board is considering merging Hillsborough Elementary School and Central Elementary School as a way to address CES’ current No Child Left Behind status.
While I can understand the desire to consider any option to improve the opportunities and performance of the CES children, I feel that merging the two schools is the worst possible scenario, and is destined to fail the children at both schools.
HES is a school of choice. However, it is a choice that is open to any parent in the district. Putting your children in HES involves a certain commitment of time, effort, and a sacrifice of convenience. Not every parent wants to make these commitments.
My son does not go to school with most of the children in our neighborhood; he is out of school when his friends are not around; he attends school when they are on vacation; I take time off work to help his class on field trips, attend assemblies and meet regularly with his teacher; my wife volunteers to help in the classroom; and we take him back and forth to school every day because there is no bus service to our neighborhood. We didn’t choose to make these sacrifices simply because we like the year-round schedule. We do it because of the unique learning environment and high expectations HES provides for our son.
However, if that environment and those expectations were to change in any way, we would cease to make those sacrifices. At the very least, we would move our son to our neighborhood school, New Hope Elementary while we explore other options that will continue the good work done by his teachers at HES.
I will be attending this evening’s Board meeting and I hope you will voice your support for the students at HES by voting against any further consideration of merging these two schools.
Dear [Board Member],
My name is Robert Scott and my son, Carter Scott, is a kindergartner at Hillsborough Elementary School.
It has just recently come to my attention that the Orange County School Board is considering merging Hillsborough Elementary School and Central Elementary School as a way to address CES’ current No Child Left Behind status.
While I can understand the desire to consider any option to improve the opportunities and performance of the CES children, I feel that merging the two schools is the worst possible scenario, and is destined to fail the children at both schools.
HES is a school of choice. However, it is a choice that is open to any parent in the district. Putting your children in HES involves a certain commitment of time, effort, and a sacrifice of convenience. Not every parent wants to make these commitments.
My son does not go to school with most of the children in our neighborhood; he is out of school when his friends are not around; he attends school when they are on vacation; I take time off work to help his class on field trips, attend assemblies and meet regularly with his teacher; my wife volunteers to help in the classroom; and we take him back and forth to school every day because there is no bus service to our neighborhood. We didn’t choose to make these sacrifices simply because we like the year-round schedule. We do it because of the unique learning environment and high expectations HES provides for our son.
However, if that environment and those expectations were to change in any way, we would cease to make those sacrifices. At the very least, we would move our son to our neighborhood school, New Hope Elementary while we explore other options that will continue the good work done by his teachers at HES.
I will be attending this evening’s Board meeting and I hope you will voice your support for the students at HES by voting against any further consideration of merging these two schools.
Save Hillsborough Elementary School!
Until last week, the possibility that my 5 year-old might lose his school could not have been farther from my mind.
That was before I became aware of a move by the Orange County School system that may result in a merger between the district's highest performing elementary school - Hillsborough Elementary School (HES) and its lowest performing elementary school - Central Elementary School (CES).
This move appears to have come about as the school district is searching for an answer to its recent failure to avoid Title I District Improvement under the No Child Left Behind law.
For those who do not know, Hillsborough Elementary School is a district-wide magnet school built around a year-round academic calendar. This school has consistently excelled on its NC School Report Cards - earning the "Honor School of Excellence" for 5 consecutive years.
As a magnet school with a non-traditional calendar and limited bus service, HES has attracted very involved parents which feel a great deal of ownership of their children's education and of their school. Needless to say, many of these parents are worried about the impact a merger with CES will have on their children's educational opportunities.
This blog has been set up to provide HES parents a place to share information and coordinate activities aimed at saving HES.
That was before I became aware of a move by the Orange County School system that may result in a merger between the district's highest performing elementary school - Hillsborough Elementary School (HES) and its lowest performing elementary school - Central Elementary School (CES).
This move appears to have come about as the school district is searching for an answer to its recent failure to avoid Title I District Improvement under the No Child Left Behind law.
For those who do not know, Hillsborough Elementary School is a district-wide magnet school built around a year-round academic calendar. This school has consistently excelled on its NC School Report Cards - earning the "Honor School of Excellence" for 5 consecutive years.
As a magnet school with a non-traditional calendar and limited bus service, HES has attracted very involved parents which feel a great deal of ownership of their children's education and of their school. Needless to say, many of these parents are worried about the impact a merger with CES will have on their children's educational opportunities.
This blog has been set up to provide HES parents a place to share information and coordinate activities aimed at saving HES.
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