... stop printing those "missing" posters and cancel the call back to Nancy Grace.
Liz Brown has been found! (Not that any parents were actually looking for her) And, she turned up in the most unlikely of places - at an actual Board of Education meeting.
While some might find that a logical place for an elected Board member to be, that has not been the case for over two months. Liz Brown has been AWOL since June 18th, all the while collecting the guaranteed payday she helped create for herself this past spring.
Given the recent neglect of her responsibilities, her reappearance at Board meetings appears to have been as negative a development for the other Board members as it was to the pesky parents who insist on attending Board meetings. From what I hear, Liz took a public verbal lashing from Ted Triebel over her inexcusable abandonment of the Board for over two months.
But before you start to speculate that she used her time away to reflect on why she is such a bitterly divisive force in the community, what she brought tonight was vintage Liz Brown.
According to The Daily Tar Heel, during her first meeting back she both alienated other Board members and fought to reduce the educational options open to parents with children in the county's two lowest performing elementary schools. That is quite a night's work.
In Liz's unique self-important arrogance, she claimed to be the "only school board member who persistently fights for more funding." This comment even seemed to provoke her philosophical siamese twin, Dennis Whitling, into a response of "extreme offense" at her assertion. I guess absence doesn't always make the heart grow fonder.
Liz was also the only Board member who wanted to slam the door on parents seeking to exercise their right to school choice under Title 1 of No Child Left Behind. Over her self-righteous singular dissent, the Board rightly agreed to keep the door open for parents wishing to opt-out of either CES or ECES.
Parents currently zoned to CES and ECES now have until Sept. 30 to exercise their transfer options. Parents moving into the two schools' zones will be able to transfer out between Jan. 2nd and Jan. 14th, 2008.
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27 comments:
Last night was an embarassment to all of Orange County. Liz want to pawn our children to promote her own useless agenda.
Hats off to Ted for counterattacking. While some of the board members sit helplessly like a potted plant, Ted took her to task.
Dennis could use Ted's example on how to deal with Liz. It's called Leadership.
CES parents still have some more time to come over to HES. Please ask some of our new students, we love our kids. Just fill out the form and come over! You will be hooked on the year round schedule right away. We don't care if you are purple striped or orange polka dots, just give HES a try. We also take care of our own and make sure that each child has what he/she needs-be it new markers or some extra help reading.
Please know that our anger is with the school board and not at all directed toward the children of the community or the parents of CES. Please give serious thought to coming to HES - you will love it!
Liz thinks that having these kids transferring to HES is a waste of money. Liz also thinks that we need to have our taxes increase so the school system will have more money. I'm not sure I follow her logic at all.
Thank goodness Liz is alright. The neighboring counties were scared that she would try to run for their School Board.
New markers?? Yeah, sure I'll rush right over to HES for that. Why would I need you to buy my child new markers? This is the elitist attitude that keeps people away. Why would you assume we need NEW markers? Why would you assume that every child from other schools need help? Stop making assumptions about the families that attend Central and Eflend. AYP makes it appear that ALL the students failed. It takes one child to fail in a sub-group to keep a school from making AYP. It is not the schools, it is the silly idea that ALL students are going to be proficient in every subgroup. The law needs to change. Some of you need to change.
Notice how the first meeting that Liz attends is the one where the press is guaranteed to make an appearance!
She was not at the CES meeting Thursday Night. What a shock.
I made the post about new markers. The BOE has repeatedly honed in on the fact that CES has such a high Free and Reduced Lunch population. So, I'm thinking that if you can't afford lunch for your child, you might need some help getting: markers, wipes, zip lock bags, tissues, crayons, pencils, etc. The school supplies for my kids were $125. So do you follow the logic? 70%+ FRL would imply that the children at CES are in the lower spectrum of household income. I think you are on YOUR high horse. If you are blessed enough to be able to easily afford school supplies, then you have an obligation to buy some for those who aren't. That is what WE do at HES. For our children who can't afford field trips or books at the book fair (YEP, we have poor kids too), we ALL pitch in and level the playing field. If that sounds horrible to you, I am officially uninviting you to attend our fabulous school. If you, however, are FRL and would like a little extra help, come on over. We will help you succeed in school.
I think it is wonderful that HES parents are willing to support the CES students. I don't think anyone should ever shame another person for trying to be helpful and generous. This has nothing to do with assumptions: it has everything to do with reality. It's hard to learn when your tummy is growling, and it's hard to write if you don't have pens, pencils, and markers.
"We take care of our own" What does that mean? "Thats what we do" I'm sure your DONATION would be greatly appreciated, but don't do it so that you can make yourself look good, or to show pity on those poor kids. How about reaching out to the community. Venture out, go beyond your fabulous school with your blessings. I fully support helping people in need. If that is the intent, then you donate it to the class, not to an individual. This way students are not singled out and made to feel different. Send your new markers, and books to the schools that need them most. Sounds like you have enough for everyone.
So I'm not clear. Does CES need assistance or not? We have a few children in each class who need some extra support when it comes to snack and school supplies. These children are never ever made to feel that they are different. I, personally, contribute in a very confidential manner (which is why I'm posting anonymously).
When all of this $#%& started with the merger, a board member suggested to someone I know that HES should have given money to CES just out of kindness. What does that say? The board perceives Central to be in dire need. Clearly if a check had been given, it would have been burned rather than cashed. I think it sounds like you have a hang up about how CES is being portrayed by the BOE.
I also have a friend who is highly skilled in tutoring children. She is amazing. The principal at CES pretty much told her to take a hike when she volunteered her services. She was told that CES has plenty of volunteers and doesn't need any more.
So the bottom line for me is this: if you need help, no one cares why, just accept help. If you want to hunker down and build a nice tall wall around CES to protect you from the supposedly elitist parents at HES, then have at it. There are PLENTY of people in Hillsborough who need help and will accept it gladly.
Your attitude is far more divisive than ours. Contrary to popular belief, HES parents are not wealthy so we don't have the resources to save the world. We choose to put what money we can spare into our own school. That is very natural. If there was partnership between our schools, that generous spirit would be shared. We'll be sure not to insult the 30% that don't need help though. Maybe you could wear a special tag. We choose not to differentiate between our FRL and non FRL though.
To the anonymous September 7, 2007 5:32 PM poster: why are you being so mad? Maybe you should stop judging people. "We take care of our own" is taken out of context. Playing the segregation game is not going to help, and that comment was not at all about "We"-subgroup, but instead "We" the families of Orange County. We donate TIME in the classroom. We donate attention, and we donate materials that are needed for individuals. This is not a crime. Stop shaming people for being nice.
Would CES actually accept donations from other schools? If so, please let it be known who to contact and what the needs are. We would be more than happy to help the children in any capacity.
CES is not a welfare school! I'm sure that is what you think, but you think without all the facts! You offer your assistance, and then you go tell everybody about it! Thats not how I was raised! I cant believe that the HES PTSA is supporting this site! CES PTSA would never stoop to this!
Nothing positive is ever said about the other schools. There is rarely a kind word said about the hard work that goes on in other Orange County Schools. Contrary to popular belief there are many hard working parents and volunteers who donate TIME in the classroom, donate attention, and materials that are needed for individuals, in the other schools. Those teachers work very hard each and every day, just like the HES parents and teachers. Central made AYP in Reading this year. They came very close to making it in Math as well. This is due to the hard work of students,parents, teachers, and volunteers.
NCLB is designed in such a way that it is difficult for a school to come out of improvement once it goes in. Schools are closed for that reason. This leads to over-crowding of the other schools.
You are correct, there are many families who need help, but they don't need pity. And that is how your statement came across.
If you weren't trying to make a distinction, then all you had to do was say we welcome you. Stop shaming them, and maybe the wall would come down. For the record I am an HES parent.
I have a general policy of not responding to anonymous comments, but I must do so to correct a misperception in a posting above.
This site is not supported in any way by the HES PTSA. The articles here are exclusively my personal opinions, and I do not represent any organization.
In fact, I am not even a member of the HES PTSA.
Okay fine, you don't see what I'm saying. For the record, the PTA of HES does not have anything to do with this site. They are completely separate.
The BOE has (on and off) the record driven into the HES parents' heads that HES is selfish and hoarding resources and that CES is poverty stricken and barely getting by. Is that not the case? Why would a board member suggest that we donate money to your school and tell us that we are awful for not thinking of this ourselves. Dennis said just the other night that he wants to use our resources for your school i.e. parent time and money that we donate to the school. Need another example? We have been told that your teachers are burning out b/c it is hard to teach poor children. It is difficult to get academics accomplished when the CES children are hungry, can't afford glasses and need the CES social worker to take them to the doctor.
So what on earth is the truth? Is the student population 67% FRL and struggling or are you fine? If you are in the minority and are financially comfortable than I don't think that you are being fair speaking for those who may need help. You are pissed off at me, but are you hurting those who might want help? NOT PITY. For crying out loud where is your anger from? HES is willing to help b/c we have been told you need it. If you don't, we can easily move on. We are not condescending like you think, so are there students that need help or not? It isn't fair to those students if you let your affluence and success hinder children over there who need some extra attention. WHAT IS THE TRUTH??
Marker Chick
I think it's funny when a member of the executive board of the PTSA poses as Marker Chick! I'm not mad at you I just want everyone to know that we want respect! I hope you can return your calls.
No one is saying help is not needed. But it is not necessary to keep degrading a group of people because of their socio-economic status, or achievement level. Once again, it continues to be that negative things are said. It is so true that it takes a lot of hard work to try and educate low achieving students and teachers do get burned out. Even more reason to sing their praises. It doesn't help to read on a blog or hear from parents how they need to get up and do something. Especially when they are working so hard. They deserve praise for what they have accomplished. Give them credit, for getting the students where they are. Once again this is why NCLB doesn't work. It paints an unrealistic picture of the achievement level of all the students. Look at the growth of the individuals, and you will see that there are some fabulous hard-working students and teachers at the OTHER schools too. Reminder: Central and Efland were not the only schools not making AYP. There is a bigger problem out there then just Central. The situation is as it is. The District can't sit and do nothing. A change has to come. New markers won't fix it. I am not angry, I'm just burned out.
Okay we can finally have some constructive talk. I have to explain that although I need to remain anonymous, I am not on the Executive Committee of the HES PTA.
Yes, CES has made a big improvement and absolutely should be proud and excited. NCLB is the worst piece of legislation in decades. We are stuck with it for another year though. So where does that leave us?
What would you like to see happen? Redistricting at this point might be futile b/c with two opt out schools, you have even less control over student populations.
I think that a motivating factor in the merger is that the AYP clock gets reset. That is so convenient for the board, but it isn't what the parents want.
How can HES help? What are some real ways that would make a difference to CES? I really don't know b/c I don't have experience with two schools so close and separate calendars. What if our parents volunteered in the classrooms over there? Would that help be accepted? With such a bleak picture painted by the BOE, it is difficult to figure out what is true and what isn't. Would you please list five feasible ways that HES parents and staff could contribute to CES this year - HES parents becoming mute can not be one of the suggestions (just a little humor). Time? Books? Fundraising? We really don't have any way to know unless you tell us. Please give this some thought. The BOE is useless IMO so how can the parents get together and work on the problems that CES is facing right now - today, this week. What can we do to make sure CES continues to succeed.
MC
HES has already helped my child. We transferred over from CES and have been surprised with how friendly it is. We wanted to go to HES a coulple of years ago, but was turned down. Told over and over that HES was not the best for my son. Found out HES is the best for him.
I wish everyone could open their eyes and realize HES is special. The people at CES are wondering where all of you were last year when we needed help. This is said over and over again that the only reason you care now is you are protecting your turf. If they take help from you they woud be ammitting they need help. They need to realize you were not informed until 6 months ago.
MC, you are good to offer your help. They are wondering where you were 6 months ago, but I know you just didn't know.
Can a parent or teacher from CES give some ideas of how HES parents can help to your school? We understand that our calendar doesn't appeal to you. There are, however, 100+ days that we are both in school at the same time. (Total guess at the number). What can we do as fellow citizens to "light a candle" in our shared corner?
MC
September 10 3:27 : Who told you over and over again that HES was not a good choice for your child?
It wasn't one person who has said that HES is not a good choice. There were quite a few people who said this. There are several people's careers that are on the line from CES not passing. These are good people who are saying this, and to let you know who they are will cause only pain for them.
I have heard the same thing about certain Board members and the principal at CES badmouthing HES, saying we are stealing kids that should go to their districted school. There has been a case of people talking out both sides of their mouths. They "publicly" show they want minorities to enroll at HES, and then encouraging others to tell these families that HES is snotty and elitist.
I am tired of hearing that "they said HES was a good choice for my child" if no one will say who "they" are. The only reason it would cause a hardship for someone saying it is if the statement were proven untrue. If "they" are school personnel, politicans, parent - whoever - their names need to be made public so that if misinformation is being spread it can be corrected. OR just ignore what "they" say and think for yourself and your child.
Anonymous at 7:57 am: People have responsibilites that require them not to make waves. Maybe you are independently wealthy, but the rest of us know that it is better not to speak up. This is why our educational system is so screwed up. Whisteblowers are protected...to a certain extent.
I completely understanding not identifying the person who steered you away from HES. Sometimes it isn't worth the damage it would cause to i.d. someone when it is water under the bridge. Also, it would ultimately be a he said/she said scenario.
What baffles me is that no one can articulate what CES needs from HES or even the community at large. There seems to be this mentality of martyrdom or something that I don't understand. People who are attending there now are there by choice. The parents want the school left in tact, but there is a high concentration of FRL kids. So what is needed to improve the situation? A large FRL population doesn't not necessarily mean that the school has to fail. There are actual schools who have succeeded with this very same situation.
What do the people at CES need from us?
MC
WHY IS NOTHING HAPPENING TO HELP OUT EFLAND CHEEKS? WHY IS THERE SUCH A FIXATION ON HES? WHY CAN'T THE PLAN THAT IS CURRENTLY IN PLACE AT CES NOT BE GIVEN A CHANCE TO WORK?
It's time the Board look at all of the picture. Stop trying to drive a wedge between HES and CES. HES is being penalized because of personal vendettas and ignorance.
If you close down HES, you are closing the best performing school in the Orange County School System.
End of story.
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