Shortly after it became clear that HES parents were going to actively resist any plan to merge Central and Hillsborough Elementary schools, one vocal supporter of the plan sought to minimize resistance by labeling its opponents as "elitist," while others hurled accusations of racism.
While this tactic of race- and class-baiting served to silence some of the less vocal merger opponents, it had a disastrously chilling effect on the discussion of options for providing programs and services to the struggling children at CES.
In his letter to the editor of The News of Orange County this past April, CES parent Brad Davis relayed the content of an email he received from Board member Al Hartkopf. According to Mr. Davis, Al said:
“The advantage we have at this time is that we have identified children who are being underserved. We know where they are. Why would we make any move to obfuscate the clarity of that picture? Why do we not simply deliver to these children what they need? My answer is that we should do exactly that and nothing else.”
Based on Al's suggestion to increase the resources available to struggling children at CES, Mr. Davis accused him of elitism and of being a segregationist. Mr. Davis went on to imply that without a merger his "very privileged" child "from an educated, affluent situation" would have to transfer out of CES "to succeed, at her highest potential."
At the Orange County Board of Education's "listening session" his past Thursday evening, a parent pointed out that the Board was focusing exclusively on the "quick fix" of merging the two schools. She then asked why the Board had not developed plans that would allow it to target struggling students at the schools they currently attend.
She felt that this approach would have the benefit of allowing the Board to address problems at other schools that fail to make AYP in the future [like New Hope Elementary?] that cannot feasibly be merged with higher performing schools.
For anyone who has felt the sting of being unfairly labeled, the answer was quite clear:
Thankfully, a number of CES parents spoke up in support of Al's ideas, and told him that merely being called a racist by someone with an obvious agenda does not make it true.
With another false argument out of the way, maybe now we can have a real discussion of how best to help the struggling children at all our schools - without the "hyperbole" and name calling.
13 comments:
I think we are all sick to death with the threats of being called a racist. What can you do? How do you fight against that? It's a good way to shut somebody up, even if you know good and well that is absurd.
Al Hartkopf came from one of the most diverse communities in the state. All the schools in his hometown are a majority low SES. There are no schools to opt out to or merge with. He knows what he is talking about, when he says you have to work with the child in need where they already are.
Moving children around only stunts their educational growth potential.
Brad Davis owes Mr. Hartkopf and the HES familes an apology.
Of course, the group we all need to tune into is the News of Orange. I am personally boycotting this paper--they need to quit killing trees. Casey has been promoting this idea that HES has no reason to exist. Casey has also promoted the idea the CES parents are igonorant--why else would he have posted Davis's insults? He was trying to make everyone believe that Davis represented CES: instead, Davis was representing no one.
Brad Davis apologizing? Wouldn't bank on it. That would take character to admit you did something foolish and hurtful.
Liz should and needs to apologize. If the Board doesn't force her to apologize, they obviously condone her sentiment. If she can't apologize, she sure can resign. I'm sure that she could do some work on her farm.
I suggest that the parents who are upset about Liz's illegal comments go before the County Commissioners and ask for her to be reprimanded, censured or whatever they can do. Follow the chain of command. She should resign because her behavior is a distraction to progress and insulting to the very group that she proclaims to support.
CES parents, please know that HES parents didn't realize that you were being degraded like this by the BOE. I am embarrassed by their assumptions and would like to extend an olive branch to the CES parents.
My hope is the we can go forward and work together and get all of the children in the district doing the best that they can.
Can we get a focus group developed to talk openly about what would continue CES' great progress? The school obvious is treasured by its parents and is improving. So what can we do as a community to work TOGETHER. One parent suggested developing a model that could be implemented at Efland Cheeks and then New Hope next year. That is really positive thinking.
So, let's ask that Liz resign. If possible, have her seat filled with a CES parent and get back on track for improving all of our schools. Let's become a great district again. Just a few more weeks and we'll have a new superintendent. If we can get some forward motion, we'll have a better chance at putting the past four years behind us.
It is time for Liz to resign from the Board. It is time for the other Board members to let her know immediately that this type of action is not to be tolerated. Please stop making the assumption that because CES is nothing but a bunch of poor minorities.
While the idea of Liz Brown resigning is simply wonderful, it is also unrealistic. The County Commissioners can't reprimand her. It isn't their job. Elected School Board members do not report to the commissioners. They report to you. The other school board members are far too timid to ask Liz to resign. Yeah, they all think she is a kook. Not one member though, has the guts to ask her to resign. Let's face it, we are stuck with Liz.
The best thing to do is find a candidate to run against her in May and then work work work for that candidate. That is productive.
Well, surely the State Board of Education would be able to step in and get her to resign. We can petition to have her removed.
I think that speaking on the record in direct violation of the law warrants more than shrugging off her behavior.
I understand that she has friends in high places. However, with the current scandals taking place in government, would the State Board of Education really not address this issue b/c of past friendships?
The bottom line is Liz was way out of line, Dennis let her continue and something needs to be done.
I can not sit by and let her corrupt my school district.
Liz on the Board of Education? What were we thinking? Can you believe that Orange County actually put her on the Board of Education?
The BOE voted last night to form a 'task force' with the charge being to look at alternatives to the merger. The number 1 goal of the task force is to create steps or a plan that increases diversity at both schools.
The new task force will consist of 15 people - 2 teachers from each school, 1 admin from each school, 2 parents from each school, 2 board members, 2 central office staff, and a facilitator. They want the new task force to meet and come up with ideas/plan before the November letter of intent goes out the parents regarding the merger. They did not officially take the merger plan off the table but they thought they would once they have a plan b
1. Who gets to pick the people on the task force? Liz and Dennis?
2. If the school board couldn't come up with a plan in over 6 months, how do they expect a group of 15 people to do it in 6 weeks?
tentatively, the 2 board members that Dennis picked for the 'task force' are Anne Medenblik and Debbie Piscitelli. Al Hartkopf really wanted to be on the task force but was not appointed.
Can anyone tell me why Dennis would not put Al on the committee? He seems committed to making this work while "allowing" parents to make choices *AND* helping central and efland.
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