In the background you can hear Former Orange County Board of Education Chairman Keith Cook ask for the opportunity to comment on the newly revealed plan:
- Ted Triebel: “We had public comment in this room to start with.”
- Keith Cook: “That was before I heard anything.”
- Unidentified attendee: “How can we comment when we don’t know what y'all were going to say?”
- Keith Cook: “That was before we had …
Frustration was obvious among those in attendance, and Mr. Cook provided them with a voice in the Durham Herald Sun: "'I'm disappointed because rarely does a school board put something on a table and vote on it at the same time without getting feedback from the community,' Cook said. 'You heard nothing about how we're going to raise scores for Efland-Cheeks or Central Elementary. It seems that we got caught up on a lot of things that don't matter.'"
This Board has shown time and again that the academic performance of Orange County's children "doesn't matter at all" to them. Rather, the fixation on "things that don't matter" is of greatest concern to this group of amateur social engineers.
I understand that Captain Triebel comes from a military background, and is not accustomed to people questioning his orders. But, he needs to understand that he is a civilian elected official now, and that comes with a high level of accountability to members of the community.
He cannot be allowed to show such arrogance and utter disdain for his constituents, and still lead the Board.
7 comments:
So who does the new policy impact? As best as I can tell, it will be families with kids in K and 1 from ECES and CES districts who don’t have an older sibling at HES and don’t receive FRL. How many children is this? Follow my logic (but know I am guessing at some of the numbers): 4 classes each for K and 1 with 17-20 students each is 134-160 kids. If 50% of those kids come from ECES and CES that’s 25% from each district which is 5% over the limit. So that’s 64-80 kids into the lottery for 51-64 slots. Keep in mind that most of those slots are guaranteed to those with older sibs and those receiving FRL. The end result will be that 13-16 rising 1st and 2nd graders will get the boot from HES.
Bear in mind that we as parents were told that once accepted into HES our children would then be guaranteed a slot in the next class. This allows parents to arrange their schedules for the year-round calendar. We have made our summer and fall travel plans for 2008 based on that calendar. We have placed sizable non-refundable deposits based on that schedule. We have made our childcare plans based on that schedule. Will the Board reimburse families for these expenses? I argue that it is unfair and capricious of the Board to grandfather in only certain grades while excluding K and 1. The Board has effectively broken their contract with parents of K and 1st graders and that is just not right!
The next comment is directed specifically towards Liz Brown. During redistricting you argued passionately to grandfather rising 10th graders at Cedar Ridge in addition to 11th and 12th graders. You stated that it was unfair and capricious to exclude these kids and that their friendships and school connections were just as valid and important as the slightly older kids. To exclude rising 1st and 2nd graders at HES is to make a value judgment that their friendships and school connections are less valid and, indeed, unimportant compared to rising 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. Is that the call you now want to make?
Since the County Commissioners are doing nothing to rein this board in, the only accountability I see would be: a) flooding the State Board of Education with calls b) organizing a recall of Ted c) calling our reps at the state capital.
Other than that, I only see 5 individuals who have license to harm. This redirection of funds is a slap to the children at CES and Efland. The BOE doesn't care if you are learning - just what color are you and what is your household income. That is disgusting.
How will subsidized pre-school help Central and Efland students do well on their 3rd grade EOGs next year?
I will happily leave HES behind, but that is no longer the point. The point is that the Board of Education has had ample time to devise a plan to assist both of these schools and the best they could do was punt at the last minute. This new plan has no value especially for poorer families b/c the pre-school is not based on financial need - it is based on academic need. So if you can easily afford private preschool, but your child needs academic readiness help, you get to go. If you can't afford preschool and your child is bright, you get to stay home. I guess this is another example of how the BOE associates poor being equal to not bright.
Another way this is screwing the poor is the ending of transportation for opt outs. That is ridiculous.
Please Ted, tell us again who this plans is benefiting? What's that? No one? Well, why on earth did you design it and sneak it through? You are a huge disappointment to me - I thought you would come in and really show Dennis how a reasonable person could get things done. Jokes on me ---- and the parents at two failing schools. How sad.
Please stop the nonsense of recalling Ted. I don't think we need to look like a bunch of elitist snobs. Actions such as this molds public perception, which in turn makes people judge our children.
I do believe that we need to communicate with the State Board of Education. The sooner the better...
The following scenario needs to be addressed:
A parent has a 1st grader at HES. Their districted school is CES. The parent did not have the "choice" to opt out of CES because her child was already going to HES. If the parent had the "choice" to opt out, they would have. Now, the parent has to reapply to HES if their child is to return to HES. If they do not get accepted, they have to go back to CES. CES, BTW, has not changed at all since they did not make AYP.
This is a blatent disregard for the NCLB process. I don't see how this was passed with their attorney at the meeting. Of course, the attorney may not be too well versed on NCLB--which is no excuse.
It's time to get with the program and follow the law.
Here's another scenario:
A child is districted to CES, but is on a transfer to Cameron Park and has been for several years. The parents did not complete the paperwork to opt out b/c they were already out of Central.
I don't see how a person can be forced back to CES or Efland when they did not make AYP. I thought that NCLB said they have to pass AYP for two years b/f people are no longer allowed to transfer.
I, personally, do not think it is so ridiculous to consider legal action or recalling of board members. That is not elitist - it has nothing to do with HES anymore. This is about the entire district and how the board is not in compliance with NCLB.
Also, is it true that it will be 30K to make the preschool rooms meet code? That seems crazy to me with all of the talk about budget constraints.
There is some mighty fine real estate on the eastern side of the county. That's the only way most will avoid going to CES or ECES.
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