I think this parent speaks for many of us who have been unfairly painted with an "anti-diversity" brush by both the Orange County Board of Education and its media mouthpiece.
Diversity yes, displacement no
As a parent at Hillsborough Elementary and an active participant in the grass-roots organization, Attention Orange, I deeply resent the implication made both in the press and by some members of the Orange County school board that we are opposing the board's plan for diversity.
It has been clearly stated by the attorney that represents Attention Orange and by many parents in open session that we are NOT against the board's goal of diversity in Orange County. We are against the discriminatory and unconstitutional practice of expelling 20 children from one school in a district of 7,000 children and seven elementary schools.
The expulsion of these children will not impact the diversity at either the schools to which they are sent or the school from which they come. This is a targeted effort by the Orange County school board toward Hillsborough Elementary families -- and is one in a long line of retaliatory efforts from this board.
Very simply put -- we support the board's efforts to increase diversity in all Orange County schools, but we ask the board to reconsider displacing these 20 children based only on their parents' income and education level.
Melanie Wilson
Hillsborough
February 27, 2008
1 comment:
Great article. FYI, Al Hartkopf is waiting on funds before deciding to re-run or not. Please contact Al TODAY & offer your $ support. The deadline to file is Fri I think. Can't complain about the board's decisions if you're not willing to change who is making the decisions.
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