News-Record.com

Dismantle it!!! Do you honestly expect to find anyone who thinks it's actually a good plan???

Mike,

I think that question will be answered clearly in the next few days as parents open their letter from GCS that tells them which High Point high school their 8th grader will be attending in the Fall. If initial indications tell us anything, there will be plenty of parents who will tell you exactly what they thnk about the plan, in no uncertain language.

Are more interesting question would be what should be the fate of the designers of the reassignment plan?

I believe everyone should be finding out the results of the lottery any day now. No one should forget that last year everyone who completed their application on time received their first choice. If this statement is not correct, please correct me.

It will be very interesting to see what the outcome of the lottery is in a non-election year. If the results of the lottery this year are a double-digit percentage of students do not get their first choice, then something is truly wrong with how this plan was presented to the community last year.

For openers non-existent ethics and reptilian morals come to mind.

Mike,

I agree wholeheartedly, the High Point Enterprise this morning correctly described how GCS looks upon the children of High Point.

This morning the HPE described our children as numbers. They are being assigned to their first year of high school using an identification number. Not a first name?Not a last name?Not with an address ?but with a number.

This afternoon I will go to Southwest Middle and pick-up four students from track and take three of them to soccer practice and one to her home, which is down the street from our home. This will never happen again after this year because two of these students will not be attending their ?neighborhood school? next year they will have been reassigned elsewhere.

My guess is other parents in Guilford County will be carpooling with neighbors and friends much in the way I described. The difference?they won?t be thinking about their carpool the same way I will.

While the other Guilford County parents go through the motions of carpool today. I will be looking and listening to the girls talk about ?carefree girl stuff? in a different way, I will be listening more closely to their laughter and silliness.

Next year two of the girls will be at a school where they know few. They will be leaving friends they have had for years. They won?t represent on their high school together as they had planned for years. Two of these friends that live within walking distance of each other will now be taking a bus ride to a school where no one knows their name.

I am not saying there is anything wrong with Andrews or Central?but to these kids home is where their heart is.

Mercy:

Add my daughter to that list. She just found out 20 minutes ago when the mail came, that she is going to Central (choice #2 in the lottery).

By the way my daughter currently walks home from SW Middle School everyday with 2 of her friends. This walk would be half the distance from the High School (5 minutes rather than 10 minutes). Of these 3 girls, 2 are now going to Central and the 3rd girl is only going to SW because it is where her brother attends high school.

On behalf of everyone I would like to thank Kris Cooke for lying through her teeth last October at UNCG. No doubt the mirrors in the Cooke household need to be replaced every day because they must crack the minute she looks in them.

As far as Dot Kearns, please do the County a tremendous service and do not seek re-election in 3 years when you are 102.

Oh, Susan Mendenhall, I certainly hope you have the nerve to want to run again next year. WE ARE GOING TO THE GET THE 3% WE WERE MISSING FOR DOT.

I think its time that the citizens of HP start lobbying for a "sucession from the union". You should have your own school system. High Point is large enough to run the system it used to have. This whole "choice" crap is RIDICULOUS! I am very sorry you all are having to go through this. I don't even live in HP and I am furious over it. GCS is too big. Without HP schools the GCS staff would still have more than it can handle. You all should start a serious effort to find out how to make it happen. You would have a lot of support.

Kim

Just got in and there are sure a lot of e-mails flying out there today among all those 8th grade parents.

Okay here is the latest on the Twilight Zone District - for some it is still the same dimension. This is for all the supporters of the Fat Chance Plan who voted for Dot and Susan's plan to fix Andrews. Hope EK and Susan Allen are reading this - time to call your friends at the School Board if the following is indeed true. Unofficially, I have heard that most SW parents got their 2nd choice which is Central High School. Now that leaves one question for the others out there, who is going to Andrews this year? How will Andrews now be "fixed"? Inquiring minds want to know.

Bruce/Jen when you get the figures in, can you post what percentage of parents got their 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices and what those choices were?

Thanks.

Barbara Ann (of course it's me)

Barbara Ann,

As I understand it, this lottery is supposed to be designed to randomly assign students to the three schools. If all students who requested Andrews and Central as their 1st choice got it, and 150 SW students didn't get their 1st choice, but rather their 2nd choice, how is that a random assignment? Actually, rather than random it sounds as though it is pre-planned. Perhaps, you or someone from GCS can explain that result?

Teddy:

Do you think this fish still stinks from the head down or has the odor problem cleared up?

I agree with Teddyballgame. How random was this lottery? I think they went through every application until they got their numbers. Next year it is going to be worse! My poor neighbors are so UPSET. It not right that they are forcing people to attend schools against their will. Frankly, it is unamerican. It goes against everything we work hard to achieve.

Teddy,

Me explain that one -you got me there. "Random" in my thesaurus says "lacking a definite plan; purpose; or pattern. Does not sound very random to me either. Sounds like they definitely accomplished their agenda, purpose and followed a pattern. I think the 8th grade parents will have to be asking many questions. I think it is hard to tell until Bruce/Jen can get us some definite numbers of who got what? Who's on first, Teddy?

Bruce/Jen - when can you have that?

It was Susan Mendenhall who used those words "random" at the Ray Collier forum - maybe she can explain their meaning of "random". Maybe they don't go by Webster's definition. Before that they board and GCS folks always called it the Choice Plan. Why would they change what they call it all of a sudden?

p.s. Teddy - remember how they tell you that you can never beat the house in Vagas - the odds are stacked against you. Is this why it is called a lottery?

Barbara,

Who's on first, What's on second, and I Don't Know is on third. This insane random assignment plan is as much a vaudeville act as Abbott and Costello, and it's not half the fun. At least their act included the national pastime; I'm not sure what GCS' act is about.

Sorry I'm just now replying, but it's been a busy day.

We'll have a story in Wednesday's paper, but Teddy's numbers are correct: everyone who requested Andrews and Central got in.

But 149 people who wanted Southwest didn't get it, meaning they'll have to go to either Andrews or Central. Needless to say, I've spoken with a number of parents who are upset about that, to put it mildly.

Teddy,

Was thinking these thoughts as I had to drive my daughter somewhere tonight. "There is no joy in Muddeville" today; this is the understatment of emotions flying out there today. Parents are in shock; kids asking why this is happening and not understanding. Thinking how lucky she was; how fortunate to not be in this mess of a lottery.

I was thinking of last year and the night of Black Tuesday; the 8th grade kids crying hysterically; other parents leaving in tears while an Andrew parent had a smirk on her face and was laughing as SW kids cried; even Alan D's voice faltered as we left that sb meeting and Darlene Garrett had tears in her eyes. Then there was all the waiting and worrying and lobbying and then finally the day of THE LOTTERY and lo and behold a the smiling face of our superintendent on the front page of the newspaper as "everyone got their first choice". Yes, folks it was an election year to remember.

Today, I am thinking of "the kids". I have had several of "my kids" since fifth grade call me in tears and asking me, "what do I do? I don't want to go there? I am leaving my friends?" These are the same kids I nursed through "911" as I subbed so many fifth graders that year; now these babies are in 8th grade, facing the ugly grown-up reality world of politics. Somehow baking them a flag cake; telling them a joke or letting them have bubble gum just won't do. They are big kids now; so what can I tell them. Nothing.

I was thinking today how I worried about my brother possibly being drafted for Viet Nam because of a "lottery number"; he lucked out. How are these kids feeling who lost the luck of the draw?

I would like to share a poem my daughter wrote in 7th grade - it reminded me of 911 and I keep it on my desk always:

"Transition"

I used to be a wall
I stood firm and tall
and people would dent me,
shape me, mold me
until I gave in
but now I'm a statue
unique and smart
I have been taught lessons
and everyone knows
statues are better than
plain, straight walls.

Now we have all been taught many lessons these past long months; about lies and politics and personal agendas. The list is endless. I hope for you 8th grade parents that you remain steadfast and smart. No matter where your kids go, they are unique. I hope you will keep up the good fight for that gift of uniqueness.

After all, it still is America last time I checked.

As always,

FOR THE CHILDREN

Barbara Ann

FUBAR

The Great Satan has spoken!!!

The Socialist Regime that rules the schools in High Point has once again raped our children of their democratic rights.

Citizens must unite and fight this madness.

Dot, Susan and the rest of the gang will sleep well tonight knowing the stress and mental anguish they have inflicted upon a large group of 14 year old kids.

Child Abuse is against the law, would someone please take out a warrant on our school board for this crime.

If the above numbers are true, one of two things has happened. #1 A mathmatical impossibility has occurred or #2 the lottery was not done "randomly".

If #1 is true, call Ripley's Believe It or Not. The statistical propability is hardly even measurable.

More than likely #2 is correct. If this can be proven, the GCS school board has just opened themselves up to a "win-able" contest. There was NEVER a public meeting that discussed redistricting to be done in this manner. As such, the GCS school board (via its' superintendent) has implemented a new policy which was never publicly discussed or voted upon. Additionally, using race (disguised as socio-economic status) is illegal. The superintendent is on tape numerous times over the past year using the terms interchangibly.

Some will choose to flee to private schools. Others will choose to continue to fight for community schools.

All, however, are simply tired of this nonsense and the cast of clowns that support this circus.

Tim

PS Check out the original objectives of these "world class plans" -- How does any of this fit into those objectives?

Bruce,

In the spirit of maintaining the integrity on this board, I am requesting that you investigate the poster titled "ksh" who posted FUBAR. That is an imappropriate term for posting on a public board. You have insisted that order be maintained here, so I expect that you will take the appropriate action and publicly rebuke that poster, if you are serious about maintaining the integrity of this board.

Teddy,

I second that motion.

Barbara Ann

Teddy, I agree completely. Someone sent me an e-mail explaining what that term means and it isn't appropriate language for The Chalkboard. Let's keep it clean and keep it civil, folks.

Bruce,

When you and Jen get time can you post the breakdown of the figures for the transfer this year, i.e.:

Of each school how many kids got their 1st choice; their 2nd choice; their 3rd choice.

And which school was their 2nd and 3rd choice they were assigned to.

Kind of a detailed breakdown like the handout a several weeks ago on the Algebra studies.

Details would be great. We love those charts and graphs.

Thank you.

Barbara Ann

We're trying to get some more complete information. It wasn't available yesterday, but we hope to get it today.

Bruce,

Why didn't you have a picture of the good doctor smiling his big smile on the front page this year, bragging about the results of the lottery? Was he not as proud of the results this year, since not so many kids got their first choice?

Now Teddy - leave Bruce alone. I don't think that would have been his call.

Anxiety soon turns into depression for some students as they open their "letters of fate" from Guilford County Communist Party School Board.

At 14 to 15 years old, these students are at a period in their lives where major "Problems" are dealt with differently by different students.

Dot, Susan, Kris, Alan, Marti and Grier, you must carry the burden of GUILT for the " Mental Torture" that you chained upon our children.

P.S. Have a Nice Day

I would like to know how many kids from Andrews and Central picked SW? Did they all get their choice? Are they all interested in the arts?

With the new reassigments, will Andrews be full?

I think we all agree there is nothing random about this plan. I am surpised that the total not receiving first choice is not higher!(not glad, just surprised) The smokescreen last year was to appease the vocal parents and look good in an election year. They might be hoping the community will forget, or lose their passion!

Deb,

Bruce is working on those figures and should be out in tomorrow's newspapers.

I know of a friend whose daughter has danced since age 4 and put SW - she did not get in.

Andrews now being full is a good question? Bruce/Jen? or will they finally opt for smaller classrooms. Per the newspapers with regard to the $847,000 grant money it was to be used for smaller learning communities and the money was to be divided EVENLY among the 3 high schools.

I have written the BOE and super now at least 3 times if not 4 and cc'ed the commissoners the last time. Dr. G was very polite and said they were working on the budget now. In conclusion, I still don't know the breakdown of the $847K.

We all agree on the "random" - the board just started to use that terminology at the Ray Collier forum as far as I know. Susan M said it. Before it was always "choice" or HP "assignment" plan. In the past, they have said that certain criteria would be considered to get the outcome they wanted. This is now surprise. Yes, we all figured it was a smokescreen for sake election year.

My opinion only, I think the community will never ever forget. Some people may run out of steam but others will step up to the plate. People don't just quit when it comes to their kids.

Slak,

You are right about teenagers and acting out and depression. It comes out in many different ways. The kids are still in shock; the reality has not set in yet.

You see it all the time in military families who have to move a lot; make new friends and leave what the know. It takes its toll on the families.

Some may adjust fine; but I worry about the ones who won't.

Yeah, we'll have a full story with plenty of numbers in tomorrow's News & Record. I'm scrambling right now (we didn't get this until after 5 p.m.), but I promised you an update and here it is:

- Southwest was by far the most popular choice. In all, 485 students chose SW, compared to 109 at Andrews and 197 at Central.

- Of the 149 students who didn't get into SW, 107 live in the SW zone, 26 in the Andrews zone and 16 in the Central zone.

- And, no, Andrews won't be full. Their 9th grade capacity is listed as 434, but only 295 students have been assigned their, either through the lottery or through choice.

Hope this tides you over until tomorrow! And thanks for looking to the News & Record (both in print and online) for your local education news.

Bruce,

Thank you. This helps and can tide us over until tomorrow. Hopefully, in the paper you will have a further breakdown by 1st, 2nd, 3rd choices if that is available.

You last line cracks me up - sound like a commercial - get your plug in where you can.

Thanks for all your hard work and time you have put into this.

Barbara Ann

I see where the School Board had one of their whining sessions today with the County Commissioners over money. Costs are going, raises are needed and the price of fuel is going up they cried.

I have one solution if the School Board is truly fiscally responsible: there are probably a busload of kids that could walk to a high school that now have to either take a bus or be car pooled. Apparently this type of financial responsibility will never happen and instead they will cry that they need more money.

If the school board needs more money to pay for fuel I suggest they look at their own paychecks and turn them back in to the county. Please don't come to me whining that you need more money when the reason the additional funds are needed is not a valid reason to begin with.

The last things these clowns need is a raise. The circus left town back in February and unfortunately they did not get on the train.

Barbara,

I have a copy of the Smaller Learning Communities grant and the breakdown of the budget.

I was told by Central Office the budget is being revised and will be resubmitted to the Department of Education.

The original numbers show the grant monies GCS is to receive will total $842,721.00 over a three year.

The monies GCS will contribute over the three year period will be $6,840,438.45.

Hope this helps!

It helps some Ronda but it was mentioned in the newspapers that this should be distributed evenly. Also I have asked what they monies will be spent on.

Do you have that and is it distributed evenly?

Not to steal the Chalkboard's fine and loyal readers... but...

Go to www.hoggsblog.com and read "Explain it to my son, please"

Appropriate or not the truth is the truth. Terry Grier is a lying rat bastard. The school board is either stupid (the ones who fell for his lies) or also liars. There was nothing misunderstood by the parents who were told that the likelyhood of receiving their first choice was very high. Grier has said that the goals of socioeconomic balance have been achieved by the "lottery" - Grier has no idea how much money I make because he never asked so this is also a lie. They did ask on the "lottery" choice questionairre, however, what the child's race was. Therefore Grier needs to properly identify his goals - bussing whites to black zone and bussing blacks to white zone - politically incorrect or not.

Mr. Gordon,

The way the district determines if someone is low-income is whether they have applied for and been eligible for the federal free and reduced price meal program. Families must meet the federal thresholds for poverty to qualify for that program.

The district already has this data, which is why I would guess that income was not requested on the application forms.

I understand that many people are upset over this issue. But we're asking that everyone please try to refrain from using profanity and keep the discourse as civil as possible.

forgive if posts twice, I couldn't see it after I tried first time.

I have been scratching the numbers for Southwest Kids... We are missing a key number so I backed into it. What percentage of Kids from SW zone that were Non-Free and Reduced Lunch NFRL and Not Specially admitted by Sibling or program, yup the ordinary kid without connections, that didn't want a specialty in puppetry on his college application, what was their chance of winning the lottery?

I was able to back into this number with School Board Figures for last Year. Also one small assumption.

For the 39% FRL ratio - every FRL child applying for SW got SW, yup you got it 100% guarantee WOW 336 admitted X .39 = 131 , oops only 130 FRL's applied. Can't do better than 100% now can we. (Mr. Grier's math probably could)

Next Little goodie...
143 Early Admissions - We assume 75% were NFRL for total of 108 slots. Remember the other 35 EA's were included in our 130 Fix was in group.

That gives us 238 kids in without allowing for any from Central and Andrews that were NFRL. Well if Districts 20% ratio for SW attendance zone still has merit, then of 277 SW zones applying kids 55 would have been FRL.

So here goes...
Southwest FRL kids staying 55
FRL kids from Andrews & Central 75
NFRL kids from A & C 76
Early Admissions Kids not FRL 108
Space Remaining 22
_____
Total admitted 336

Because all FRL children were admitted, all second choice kids were Non Free and Reduced Lunch. Add 22 admitted in space remaining to 107 SW zone kids forced out and you have 129 NFRL (normal middle class kids) entering a lottery offering an 83% chance of loosing. That’s worse than 1 in 5.

While we are playing the HP lotto, let's try this. Of Andrews and Central zone kids applying 193, 75 are FRL guaranteed. 193 Applying - 75 FRL - 42 NFRL's rejected, leaves 76 NFRL's admitted. Assume 40% of Early admissions were A & C (143 X.4) is 57. Of this 50% were Early Admins or 28. That leaves 29 NFRL kids from A&C early. So 193 A&C kids apply, all 75 FRL's are in, 29 Early Admins are in, 42 NFRL's are out leaving 47 (middle class kids) from outside SW zone winning the lotto. Odds... 47/(47 + 42)= 53% win at the lotto from outside SW zone.
Compare with similar SW zone (middle class Kids) 22/(22+107)=17% win. ie 1/3 chance of simialr outside the zone child.

Summary:
A middle class child outside the SW attendance zone that didn't have a sibling already there and didn't want to enter a performing arts career, had one-third the chance similar kids outside the SW attendance zone. Message: LEAVE NORTH HIGH POINT if you want a neighborhood school. If your thinking of moving to North High Point, Don't!
(I want a good Realtor before the rush!)

(Observations on Grier's new math)

Last year I showed the School Board how many kids would be bussed in the High Point fiasco.
I was ridiculed as being a bit off so forgive this humorous Blogging...

From the numbers in the letter to Mr. Grier...
Bused
Andrews 79 + 30
Central 64 + 107
Southwest 79+72+15
Total freshman to be shuffled next year 446
Number they gave public last year in (attachment E) 114, inflation at it’s best! We were not lied too!
Add to that the upcoming Sophomores

Est. Last years 212 – almost twice the 110 we were led to believe in (exhibit E)continue in the program - Total Bussed Kids for 2005-2006 could be 446+212=658
Last years estimated operating cost per student bused was $7.67 (provided by you and Mr. Moen in (attachment E). Now cram 65 kids for 130 minutes a day on each of your new improved super buses and the High Point Plan in year 2 will require at least 10 buses crisscrossing town to our new, modern, well managed and supervised hubs serving your world class failure. Est. Cost with last years fuel bill… 658 kids at 7.67 a day is $5,046.86 a day. I guess for the whole year it would be $5,046.86 X 180 days, oh, about $908,434. Are we not a tad over budget Mr. Grier? Some times math stinks! Oh, you thought the $70,000 cost per superbus was lost did you? 10 X 70,000= 700,000. Let’s see now, that’s $908,434 + $700,000 = $1,608,434 less $85,806 (the amount you had Mr. Moen present to the School Board, as the annual cost, in fact I believe you both reaffirmed it was correct when an obnoxious accountant tried to point out it might be a wee bit off ). Answer $1,522,628 over the amount presented to the gullible School Board and the trusting taxpayers of Guilford County. Can we say oops. I am sure glad fuel hasn’t gone up 50% in price since January 23, 2004 (attachment E date). I’m sure your new School budget doesn’t have increased fuel expenses anywhere near $800,000 and aren’t you glad we only needed the 1 new bus. As a taxpayer I am a bit disheartened. As a parent I am questioning my own sanity more than I question your math. What kind of parent would trust their kids in a school system run as openly and professionally as ours?

Note to self…look for good psychiatrist after April 15th.

Thank goodnes (attachment e) isn't still around, and the obnoxious accountant's material was

Has anyone stopped to think about how much time the children who bus from SW to HPC will lose out of their day . Currently my daughter walks to school.Think about it ,now it will probably take her the same amount of time to walk to the bus stop and wait for it. Then it its probably about 3 hours of bus time . that doesn't leave much in the day after 2 or 3 hours homework .
What about that for hardship!
Its not hardship; its choice !

I had two more thoughts today. What about the kids who live near the Farmers Market and their home school was SWH. How long will it take them to get to Central?

Another thing, this week my daughter (10th grade and fortunate) has to be at school every day early for A/P studies; also has sports after school. What about kids who have to stay for A/P tutoring; sports; etc. and have both parents who work. How can they participate in outside activities and get home at a decent hour?

How can you car pool efficiently when everyone is spread out everywhere? (Of course, we had mentioned this before in speech after speech; emails and letters. They know this.)

The long bus ride times where also covered in speeches and coverted into hours per week and days per year lost out of a child's life. Quality time just lost. This could be time spent home with family; at church activities; at home doing homework. You cannot even do homework on a bus. They have been told all of this before and then some.

The best thing about Susan Mendenhall's term is that it expires in a non-presidential year. Dot was re-elected by the dutiful Democratic sheep that blindly voted what they were told to do (they voted the margin Dot won by for a Democrat that had withdrawn for the race but still appeared on the Democrat's vote list). Susan Mendenhall was the chair of the school board that brought Grier here. She voted for the choice (no choice) plan and continues to support it. Skip and his boys supported Dot because her support of the choice plan does nothing to help those whose social-economic position in life makes it difficult to succeed in an educational environment. This will insure that those SIMPAC business leaders will continue to have cheap labor. Unfortunately the people who will suffer the most will never see this blog or read the paper and will blindly vote as they are told.

All kids will suffer. White; black; poor; middle class because the "choice" plan does absolutely nothing to address educational needs. It is simply social engineering.

Those who can will leave the public schools or move but it is still unnecessary stress and hardship on their families. It has been mental anguish that could have been prevented. Money saved for college will now go for private school. For families who move there kids will have to leave what they know and love. Some will say "those kids will make it anyway". And you know what, they probably will. But why should they have to go through all this? If people pay taxes, the should be assured of a traditional public education. The rest of the county is. Why not High Point? That is the farce of all this.

For those who are put on a bus to SW because they have a few art courses and forced into a weak curriculum, you are right. Where will the decent jobs be? They will be the big losers.

For all the kids in the Twilight Zone District, who wants to be on these long bus rides? What about sports and after school activities?

Everyone is a loser in this Fat Chance Plan.

Bruce or Jennifer,

I know that Barbara Ann touched upon this issue in an earlier post, but I asked the queston before with no answer, and I would still like to know the official answer to my question. Why should GCS ask for "Race" on the High Point 9th Grade Application? GCS's statement of general principes in the plan states:

"The Guilford County Board of Education is committed to improving the socioeconomic diversity of the High Point high schools through a program of controlled school choice to support academic success for all students and to increase the effective use of school facilities. To this end, the Board has set as a goal that the percentage of students eligible for free or reduced price lunch at each high school should be no greater than 50% and the enrollment at each school should be between 85% and 120% of the building capacity."

So, if the plan's goal is to improve the socieconomic diversity of the High Point Schools using free or reduced lunch as a measuring tool, what does race have to do with it? Socioeconomic status is not about race, but rather income. If GCS has race information already for emergency information, then why ask for it on the application, if it is not going to be used in the assignment process. Interestingly, the application asks nothing about socioeconomic status or family income, so why isn't that on the application, if it is the determining factor in assignment?

I know that it is illegal to ask for an applicant's race on an employment application, so why is it being used by the schools, and is that legal?

I would appreciate it if you would resolve this matter in my mind. Perhaps, if you don't know the answer, you could inquire of GCS? I'm sure that many of your High Point posters would find the answer interesting.

I haven't had the opportunity to do some number crunching on MLS (Multiple Listing Service) data from the SW single family developments but I have done it on mine subdivision which is North of I-40. Since the "Choice (Not Really) Plan" was put into place house sales in my subdivision have experienced a time on the market drop by almost half, and average selling price increase of over $8000. At least 6 of the new families have told me they purchased here to avoid the mess in High Point and 2 of the families moved here from High Point. If would be nice if someone would analyize the last 4 years data for a subdivision or so in the SW area of High Point.