Really? The 7 of you couldn't think of a single one?
(Oh, I'm sorry, the 5 of you - since Debbie Piscitelli and Liz Brown decided to skip the last meeting. Maybe they decided the $50 just wasn't enough money to deal with these headaches.)
How about answering the questions parents have been asking for 6 months? That seems like a good starting point to me. I am sure there are plenty more that haven't been voiced.
Even though no local media bothered to report on Monday's Board meeting, I have been contacted by a few people who attended. These "citizen correspondents" tell me that the Board's brain freeze is so bad that Susan Hallman recommended that the CES/HES parent informational meetings (planned for two Thursdays in September) be pushed back to October to allow the Board time to prepare answers to the questions they may receive.
Until then, here are two questions you have likely not heard:
- If you believe in Dennis Whitling's "Big Plan" enough to force it upon the county, why do you need time to prepare answers?
- Shouldn't you be strong enough in your convictions to stand up and provide honest answers without a set of prepared talking points?
At some point you are going to have to take responsibility for your decisions. This seems as good a time as any, and better than most.
In the interest of helping our struggling Board members, I encourage parents to share their questions in every available forum.
Feel free to post your questions here. I know there are Board members who read this blog.
But, also ask your questions directly at the next Board meeting, grill them when they sneak into PTA meetings, write to the local newspapers, email them directly, call them at home, and post to local message boards. In essence, do whatever it takes to have your voice heard on this issue.
9 comments:
Question for the Board: Can you look me in the eye and say you would send your child to a school that is (a) in a H-O-R-R-I-B-L-E neighborhood, (b) has a long history of behavioral problems, (c) Doors that are locked from the inside to keep "undesirables" out, and (d) did not meet AYP? Can you honestly tell me that you would not look for other schools to send your child?
Tips for speaking at School Board meetings:
When speaking at School Board Meetings, please be aware that if Dennis Whitling does not approve of your opinion, he will use any opportunity to gavel you down. As Chair, it is his perogative to run the meeting as he wishes, however, he must apply the same rules to all public speakers. If he does not, then someone with the time and inclination could sue the School Board.
When speaking your mind, YOU have nothing to be afraid of so speak freely and name names when appropriate. Remember, the School Board members will feel intimidated by your presence. They are worried about their own re-election and their own insecurities about the subject matter. A bunch of parents complaining at a School Board meeting might turn into a news report and might create perception problems for re-election. That's what School Board members are worried about.
Don't give Dennis Whitling an opening to gavel you down. If you must say something disrespectful, wait to say it at the end of your speach. If you must criticize Shirley, wait till the end of your speach after you have made your other important points. Also try to keep your comments brief. Under two minutes if possible.
Does the school board care about Efland Cheeks? Is there a plan for Efland Cheeks. IS THE PROPOSED MERGER BECUASE HES IS THE WHITEST SCHOOL AND CES IS THE BLACKEST SCHOOL? Is the School Board implying that CES is not acheiving because it does not have the necessities to do so?
Please stop masking the problem and say it is about socio-economic status and instead be honest and talk about the truth--racial inequality. Tell us how you really feel about race.
What is the School Board going to do about New Hope and the 3 middle schools next year? These schools may be in School Improvement next year.
Does the School Board understand why HES parents are adamently against the merger? Do they have any respect for their constituents?
Does Liz Brown remember that she campaigned a vocal supporter of HES? Does she realize that her actions on the Board appears to be a total contradiction of this support?
If a merger occurs, will the Central Elementary rules, or there lack of, be in place, or will HES's higher standards be in place?
Since CES did not make AYP, doesn't it make good sense to have the CES teachers report to HES teachers on strategies within the classroom? Obviously something in the classroom is working at HES and is not working at CES.
We're not asking the right questions here.
a) HES is pretty much in the same neighborhood. So let's not get into that. Last year my own child said that he saw a lady getting pushed out of a car while they were on the playground right in front of the school. I have "heard" of some questionable items being found in the nature trail.
b)Behavioral problems? Just from my volunteering, I have seen plenty of behavior issues amongst our own. So let's stop pointing finger. The difference is in how the strong staff handles the misbehaving student and the high expectations they set for ALL students.
c)All schools (my understanding) have all exterior doors locked except one which is the one point of entry so that no one is suprised by any "undesirables" that may seek refuge. Does anyone remember the raucous caused at EC when the bounty hunter ran after someone on the school grounds, gun drawn OR when an individual who was shot ran through the building?
d) I don't have a response for this one, anonymous #1 which leads me to my first point: we're asking the wrong questions. What we should be asking is:
1) Please tell us how we got into this recent school of choice MESS: if students k-5 from CE and EC are given the option to come to HES among two other choices (albeit coming in very late and very behind our year round schedule) then how is it that one can send them (k-2 EC students who chose HES) back to the same poorly performing school that they didn't want to go to in the first place???
Dane,
I think you need to actually go to CES. The school is a dump. The neighborhood is much worse than HES.
Let's stop trying to sugarcoat CES's lack of performance. We have to empower our teachers instead of telling them to be babysitters.
How can the CES neighborhood be worse, when the school is practically right next to HES? They are in the same neighborhood! Why is CES a dump, when HES looks just as bad (if that is what you mean by dump.)
HES doors are also locked. I wouldn't care if my child went to school in a neighborhood full of million dollar homes, I would want the doors locked. All visitors need to enter from the front so we know who is coming and going.
The difference, to me, is not how the schools look (they both are in bad neighborhoods), it's their attitudes. At CES, you can look at the kids and teachers and tell they are not happy. It is a dead school with little emotion. HES is the opposite: smiling faces, happy teachers, and lots of laughter! Remember: a content cow gives sweeter milk.
That's why I encourage the school board to get the CES teachers to communicate with the HES teachers. What are the HES teachers doing that the CES teachers are not? If the merger does happen, maybe it would be a good idea to have the CES teachers report to their HES shadow on what progress is being made. It will be somewhat of a hassle for the HES teachers, but knowing them I am sure it would be a success! Education is not easy--we need to try everything to CES back up to par.
Ouch. That is a little mean. CES actually has a nice campus and it is very clean inside. I think that calling Central a slum is ironic considering our campus is so old. The CES teachers and principal are very caring and capable. We are all victims of the board's lack of foresight. At any rate, IMO we need to focus on keeping HES a single campus with a better FRL ratio. Better meaning higher!
My frustration with the board is their complete lack of planning, communication and ability to hear the parents of the community. I feel like they are bowling with the students of the district rather than viewing the school system as a whole and creating a clear plan.
Venting is helpful, but what we really need are strategies for eliminating the achievement gap for minorities and the link between FRL and failing AYPs. It is a national epidemic and merger is not the answer.
I'm not trying to getting into a word contest. This is just my opinion. I have met some wonderful people who have children at Central and they don't need any more hurtful comments sent their way.
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