News-Record.com

Great question. It seems that those of us that exercise our choice of neighborhood schools are always getting the short end of the stick. Not only does it cost more ($3200/year average) to transport magnet school students, but the cost of setting up and maintaining these schools is much greater. They need more labs, or dance studios, or speciality teachers. In a perfect word, with no fiscal restraints in our budget I would say- go for it! However every year, the GCS asks for more money, sometimes they get it, sometimes they don't. Who does without to implement all the new programs? The neighborhood students, and that is about 92% of the total population. This doesn't include the 'choice' of High Point HS. My numbers could be off slightly, but the last I saw about 5500 students go to magnet schools, and only 2500 use buses. Can you imagine what the cost would be if everyone chose buses? BTW, average cost for neighborhood buses per student is around $1100/year. I think magnet schools are fine, if the children are being taught enough to pass EOG's and if there is enough money. It is hard to tell how successful these schools are as GCS has never made those facts available in one form.(at least that I know of) Of course, we can go and check each school... I might just have to do that. Many have waiting lists-- Jones, Brooks Global and General Greene all do great on their EOG's. Should they be measured by this stick? Who knows? Of course that is one of the main standards that everyone uses. Not sure of the solution, but we do have a large problem!

Debora - I always enjoy your comments.

Just to clarify - ALL of Guilford County EXCEPT HIGH POINT has neighborhood schools. High Schoolers in High Point have FORCED BUSING, NOT Neighborhood Schools. They also have forced magnet programs and cannot voluntarily choose a magnet.

After attending the community forum in High Point last evening I came home very frustrated as did the many others in attendance. One question was asked about magnet schools having a master plan and a budget. According to notes I received on the evening, the question was answered (after being asked a second time) by a board member who said there was no master plan or budget. They are "working on this". Why to the magnet programs just continue to grow with "no plan" and no money?? Who would ever run a business this way?

Establishing a criteria to see if these program are even successful and how much it is costing all of us needs to be a priority of the School Baord.

After hearing a young speaker mention all the Art Programs in the SWH curriculum, I came home last night and opened the book. There were about SIX PAGES or mroe of Art Courses - where are the teachers to teach them; where is the space for these classes? Why is GCS planning to tear out space in an overcrowded school to build a dance studio for some kids who have NEVER had dance and put the regular classes in trailers? And at what cost? How many jobs are out there for a career in Dance?

We can't even get teachers for Math and Biology Where are they getting the money for all these specialty teachers and Andrews and Southwest?

With regard to a Master Plan, this reminds me of a city having no master plan for development. Sound familiar? Developers just keep on building and contributing to our overcrowded schools and have to contribute nothing in for the privilege of contributing immensely to the the overcrowding.
Yes, they are the "city" and schools are the "county" but these same new housing developments in the "city" are being paid for by all the county taxpayers who are providing the roads and schools.

to Gambling Man:

DITTO - We do not have the privelege like the rest of the county of having a neighborhood or home school. Please know that it is your county tax dollars Guilford County that is paying for all the costs of busing our kids to a program they may not even want at all. It would be nice if they had a CHOICE to go to a magnet school and waste your tax dollars on busing but they do not. Ultimately these wasted tax dollars could also screw-up their future college/career plans if they don't get their "choice" or want all these art electives. At least the rest of the county - not High Point - has a CHOICE of neighborhood school or a magnet school.

One more thing - just read the High Point Enterprises and all the comments from last night and trying to digest all of them. A school board member now calls the HP Plan the "random selection process" is not going away. Two words came in my mind last night immediately when I heard this new term (just like those psychological games) "Nazi Germany".

Still seems like the HP Plan is social engineering at its best to those of us who have followed the process for a year now.

One of the reasons last year for the great "plan" was introduced was to relieve "overcrowding at Southwest High School".

If that is the case:

1. Why are they tearing out classrooms for a DANCE STUDIO?

2. Why did a school board member last night say there is no space in High Point for a Very Strong Needs program? (Kids are now bused at taxpayers' expense to Greensboro.)

3. As the development of North High Point continues, if there is "no room for Very Strong Needs" in HP, where will all these kids who move in go to school? More trailers at $60,000 a pop spread out on 3 high school campuses?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Gamblin Man-- I agree with you, the HP "choice" is not really a choice, but a forced option. I will never agree with this plan.

A master plan? What a concept! This board has never met a magnet that they don't like. Dr Grier and staff seem to support all new ideas and we put them anywhere that is recommended. I don't think anyone other that Darlene and Nancy ever question the money.Well maybe Anita. Correct me if anyone knows differently. Has anyone noticed that costs are never metioned when plans are introduced? And guess what? I feel sure that Craven will be some sort of magnet-- the board approved 1.5 million to renovate that school with no program. They can't decide what to do, yet that 1.5 million could have addressed many needs in current schools. Remember the 3.5 million of needs that were left off the bond in 2003? Neither McCleansville, or Craven were even on this list. Am I the only paying attention? Wake up Guilford Co. There are needs in every area of the county that aren't being met, yet we keep spending on new ideas/program etc... WITH NO PLAN!!!!! Where are the PTA's? People need to pay attention- wouldn't it be great if more people were proactive, instead of reactive?

Okay enough venting for now!

I have heard Anita asked many times "Can we afford all these magnets; can we keep doing all these magnets; to look at what is costing us; maybe we need to rethink all these magnets, etc."

Also when it comes to "renovating schools" there are still schools out there causing children and school personnel many problems with allergies because of the air quality and mold problems and old HVAC systems that do not work. When will money be used to correct all these current environmental health problems?

I hope the new school board members will ask these questions along with all the new county commissioners. What "bang" is Guilford County getting for their "buck"?

You can hide a lot of problems in new, innovative programs.

Does anyone know who I should call about getting a lawn care magnet established in Guilford County Schools?

Also, I think a floor mopping magnet is a good idea.

Gamblin man, I think you should now that the lawn care magnet program will have automatic scholarship tie-ins with NC A&T, NC State, Clemson, and Auburn. Once these students graduate from one of these institutions they agree to come back and work for the Guilford County schools in a capacity that is "in John Deere Green" as the song goes.

By the way, the School Board and present administration can supply ample fertilizer to speed up the grass growing process.

Mark,

By the way some of the test scores are in Guilford County, these may seriously be useful fields in which to have magnets programs

The irony is there would be more jobs out there in floor mopping and lawn care business than a career in Dance. Also an added benefit, the GCS wouldn't have to tear out much needed classroom space like they are doing for a Dance Studio. (Remember some kids have never had Dance - just want to try it to see if they like it - an expensive hobby.)

With the lawn care business, they could use any space they could find that the schools still have with grass that is not occupied with trailers for kids. This could provide excellent training in lawn care for high density areas like those that are popping up all over Southwest Guilford of which the developers pay no fees towards new schools.

My rising 8th grader came to me asking if she could try to get into Weaver academy next year. I had never considered magnet schools before. I researched their programs and was thrilled...my daughter has made honor roll every year, had no behavior issues and doesn't want to be the next Brittney Spears- she just wants to sing- teach, in fact... so the idea of spending the last four years in an environment supporting her goals, driving her, steering her closer to her goals sounds great to me. Most 14 year olds don't know what they want sooo- my son- 7th grader- reg high school is fine with him! As far as the busing- I think it should be the parents responsibility to provide transportation if they are choosing an out of zone school---we have to give---I just really hope my daughter doesn't have this wonderful opportunity taken away from her.