News-Record.com

It was good to see those Grnsboro and Ragsdale people well-behaved. Let's see, hmm....it doesn't appear like any grnsboro people have been shafted lately, (other than the general shafing of anyone in guil. co. where Grier is super.)and the Ragsdale people had their redistricting plan thown out by a solitary person showing up and speaking against it. Heck, I'd lick their boots and take them to dinner if they did that for me. I'd like to see how well-behaved they'd be if their kid was randomly selected by lot to attend one of the four worst highschools in the state after paying 250K for a house right next to a good school or how mannered they'd be if they just endured an appeals "tribunal" with Commisars Duncan and Kearns in attendence, waiting for the thumbs up or thumbs down as their childs educational fate hangs in the balance like a gladiator in Caligula's Roman arena. You gotta compare apples to apples, Bruce, if you want to bake pies. Your statements were empty and meaningless.

Candy Boy

Candy,

Actually, most of the folks who were there last night weren't happy with the current redistricting plan, since they weren't in their closest school. They just chose to express their concerns and complaints in a civil, respectful manner. Most of these families aren't from Greensboro, either; they live in the northeastern part of the county.

And Alan Duncan and Dot Kearns - along with the other nine board members - were there last night and the school board ultimately will decide the outcome of the redistricting plan.

And the voters ultimately decide who is on the School Board.

It will be interesting to see how radical any redistricting is in January at the start of an election year.

That's a good point. If redistricting isn't resolved by early 2006, it certainly will be a campaign issue.

I applaud Anita's map proposal Tuesday night. It was disappointing to me to learn that GCS doesn't already have a neighborhood map showing children's theoretical assignment to their closest/2nd closest school.

This should be the gold standard with which any other proposed assignment should be compared.

I do believe that the results will provide many surprises and I believe those who voted against the proposal have the most to lose.

Let's not forget - the following seats will be contested in the November 2006 election: Alan Duncan, Marti Sykes, and Susan Mendenhall.

ATTENTION:

The Pre-Forum Pep Rally scheduled for Tuesday, the 20th, will have a change of locations.

Due to conflicts beyond my control, we will move our rally from The Chop House in G'boro to The new Hams at the Palladium.

Remember Folks, the drinks are on the General from 5:00 to 6:00.

Transportation will be provided to the Forum and then home, so come to the Rally and prepare yourself for another Night of Frustration with our school board.

Bruce,

"Joe also noted that for the first time in recent memory, all 11 board members attended a community forum outside of Greensboro."

Joe's memory must be fading. All eleven board members attended the Southwest "hearing" in North High Point last year preceding the adoption of the choice plan. I would think that would be in recent memory, at least it is branded into many people's minds in North High Point. And, as I recall that was a polite audience as well, at least until someone called the fire department, and Alan Duncan said some people would have to leave.

But, perhaps, that was a meeting that Joe missed.

Bruce,
the people you are referring to at NE are what you would call "pre-shaft". They are just in the lubrication stage. When you are in the lubrication stage you may still want to still be nice to your potential shaftOR on the off chance they may have mercy. You cannot compare pre-shaft with post-shaft behavior

C. Boy

Bruce,

"Yeah, I know it sounds strange congratulating a group of adults for not behaving like two-year-olds. But I've been to plenty of these types of forums, both here and in Cleveland County, and the civility we saw last night is the exception, not the norm. We've had some school forums here in Guilford County that resembled a pro wrestling match."

What was your agenda that compelled you to add this snide comment to your post? Was it really necessary or add any value?

I thought I said, I meant to say, that is was the first time that all had been present when we have had multiple forums on the same matter. The meeting you are talking about was a one of a kind if I remember correctly. I may be losing it. The BOE takes its toll.

Not a snide comment at all, Stormy, just a statement of fact. There actually were several people arrested at redistricting meetings back in 1999.

Joe, you are right - these meetings do take a toll. I admire your stamina and persistence over all these years.

Joe,

Nope, you must be losing it, then. The Southwest meeting was one of a series. There was a meeting at Southwest, Andrews, and Central. The meetings at Andrews and Central drew a much lesser attendance, something like 100-200. The Southwest meeting had over 1,000 people there, all wishing to express their strong feelings and concerns about the misconceived choice plan.

Joe, were you at that forum?

Bruce,

Why was it necessary to mention the fact that the group was polite? What's the point of specifically saying that? Sending a message to someone?

Also, you knew that Joe's comment was wrong, why didn't you correct him? You knew about the three "choice plan forums".

I have never been to a HP plan forum. I can only imagine what I missed. I need a rest.

I mentioned it because it was unusual for these types of meetings - if you look back, they traditionally are more rowdy. For better or for worse, audience behavior has been a big part of redistricting debates in the past.

Besides, it's important to paint a picture for people who weren't there. If folks were screaming and yelling, I would've noted that, too.

I remember the choice plan forums, but you can't honestly expect me to remember how many board members were at such-and-such a meeting a year or two ago. I'd go crazy if I had to keep track of that! But I'm sure you are right that all 11 were at the Southwest meeting.

Joe,

OK, I can appreciate that, but, if I may ask, why did you choose not to attend any of the High Point forums, whereas you attend almost all of the other GCS meetings and forums in Greensboro? Even though they aren't treated as such, the "High Point Schools" really are still a part of Guilford County Schools.

I am not directing this at you, but it seems that Greensboro citizens don't really care much about what happens at the High Point schools, even though they have been part of the same district for about 10 years. It's almost as though it is still a different school district. Certainly, having school choice in High Point, and it not be available in Greensboro would seem to be treating the schools differently.

Bruce,
I was wondering how many kids you and Jennifer have and what school they attend? My assumption is (I may be wrong) that you are both young, single, and idealistic. Nothing wrong with that, but I would respectfully submit that you have no idea the hell that families have been through with the High Point plan.
Have your children segregated from the rest of a school system, put into a lottery that is rigged against them, and bused to the SEVENTH nearest high school to their home. All of this from a school board that wouldn't dare submit their own children to such abuse. I am amazed that this whole mess is as civil as it has been.
Why don't you ask Sykes, Cooke, and Duncan why no lottery has been proposed for their children? When is the News and Record going to write an editorial advocating this plan for Page, Dudley, and Grimsley? The answer is never. There is a different set of rules for Greensboro and the power elite on the School Board. They are the only bullies my children have encountered in school.

Reading the article the "polite" stuck out almost more than the people complaining about not being able to go their neighborhood school.
Bruce, like it or not it was obviously bloody snidey....
You hate N.High Point dont you!

Bruce,

Thanks for publishing the link to the article on the map Anita proposed.

Could you please tell us who voted for, against and who abstained. I think I have most of it straight but would like confirmation.

Thank you.

And what time is the forum on Tuesday?

Joe,

to quote one of my favorite poets, Robert Frost....

"The woods are lovely dark and deep
But I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep
And miles to go before I sleep"

You can rest Joe, but you are now a tradition at the BOE kind of like that lady that always has to speak first at the Commissioner's meeting.

I guess you promise yourself that you will stay and speak even when the meetings drag on and on and on and on....

Thanks for staying committed.

Is it time for another speech on "goals"?

I will have to admit that Candy Boy's first post sure puts things in prospective. I would not ever play "lotto" with my only child's future. You would have to be in the person's shoes of a parent whose kid was thrown in the lottery.

There is a major difference as to how people feel on the "Choice" Lottery Plan and a possible mapping change to one neighborhood. Everyone knew that plan was so ridulous as proposed; a UNANIMOUS vote to scrap it proved this point very well.

The "Choice" plan is in its second year now and has anyone had anything positive they can say about it or prove that this is working? Lots of research, hard work and time was done before the plan went into place and here we are still talking about it. It's a major difference in that and a plan being scraped after one person speaks.

Just IMHO.

I say good for the people that have Anita as a representative! She truly listens to her constitutes!

It is so great that they were well behavior; did the News and Records really have to mention that?
Well let's see how well behavior they would have been if they had to swallow Dot and Susan's - let's save Central compaign and screw Southwest and Andrews. So in essence they really didn't get shafted; they were pre-shafted as Candy Boy eloquently said!

Oh I almost forgot. Has anyone seen the new mascot for Southwest? Hmmm - I didn't know that a cowboy wears his basebase cap backwards! Shafted again!!!

How much are we suppose to put up with??? And Bruce - when you spend $200,000+ for a home where the school is within walking distance of that home and your kids will be bussed 10 miles, then maybe just maybe you will understand that being nice just doesn't cut it anymore!!!!

Should be well behaved not well behavior. I have got to stop drinking while I'm on the computer.

Candylady,
I guess you sobered up between 10.29pm and 1.58am!

Candyboy, great post.

On my last post I meant to say:

Lots of time, hard work and research and thousands of man hours were put into the why the "Choice Lotto" plan would NOT work by several dedicated parents.

I have no idea how much time the SB put in before it's inception. (granted, they sure have put time in now hearing about it) But I do remember that some of the board members in Greensboro knew as much about it as most of the public did when it was first announced.

And now, after all we ALL KNOW, i.e. test scores down , suspensions up in High Point, long bus rides effects on kids' lack of personal time with family, the cost of long bus rides in today's dollars and a plan definitely not accepted by the majority of the public, a PR nightmare for many school board members and Terry Grier, and ALL the time that ALL the school board members have had to hear about it when they could be listening to their own constitutents' needs, or having meetings and planning goals on how do we really improve the ABC's, AYP's, and SAT's, IT is still here.

Go figure. And I have a request.....

Can we just all now shorten the High Point "Choice" Lottery, Lotto, Reassignment plan to "IT". We have lived this 24/7 for how much time now? I think we all know what "IT" will be referring to, if we say "IT". The reason being it has changed names to make "IT" sound better. But "What's in a name?" "IT" is still here.

I think that was the name of a science fiction movie in the early 50's. So I think "IT" is a very good new name.

Mayor Becky knew about IT.

I attended the meeting in North High Point Thursday evening.

The City does still NOT have a position on IT.

I would like to think that our schools matter to city officials. Guess not.

Best of luck Mr. Woods.

Bruce: Any chance you could print some of Deborah's comments in the paper before the NWHS forum? As you know, NWMS and NWHS were left off the bond, despite being the most crowded schools in the county. BOE justified that by saying that our overcrowding would be solved by the new Northern schools. However, as Deborah so accurately pointed out, our schools will still be overcapacity with the current redistricting lines.

I love my school board representative.

Well there District 2, I don't care for my School Board Representative. And by the way the at-large representative is equally inept.

All that District 2 has going for it is Steve Arnold.

Oh, don't misunderstand me. I'm not talking about that Susie Mendehnhell person that was somehow elected to represent District 2, I'm talking about another school board rep. that always answers my questions. She's basically adopted this district because she understands that we have that thing called, "Taxation with representation." And she's not even an at-large rep.

So you're right "oustsusanin'o6" District 2 has ineptitude all the way around. How would we go about getting another board member to officially "adopt" our district?

Deborah,

Did you know E. J. Deering has quit the GCS?
Does anyone know how many bids we got for Northern Guilford High School? I hear we are $10 million over budget.

Stormy,

Bruce wasn't at the Southwest forum in 2004 so he wouldn't remember that all the board members were there or how the audience reacted.

I was at that meeting, but I'm not sure it's the same meeting you remember. While for the most part it was polite, there certainly were moments that were not so polite.

I remember at least one audience member who spoke up in favor of the plan who was shabbily treated - booed if I remember correctly. And there was another audience member who chastised the audience for its behavior and asked everyone to be polite. And I remember some pretty rude remarks to board members, enough so that chairman Alan Duncan rebuked the crowd.

When I wrote that story, I included some of those incidents to give readers an idea what that forum was like. And in stories about board meetings I've included back-and-forth comments from board members when they're arguing a point.

I didn't do that to be snide, and neither did Bruce. It was just a way of showing readers what the meeting was like and how it related to past incidents of a similar nature. I wasn't here in 1999, but I hear those redistricting meetings got pretty rowdy. For anyone wondering if that was happening again, Bruce told them that it wasn't like that this time.

Bruce/jennifer,
I heard someone say the other day to Major Becky that we can't help it. Anyone is bound to turn into a "madman" when they force your child to go past the local school and travel 12 miles down the road to another.
Until it happens to you, you cannot know this pain. You have no idea.
I have been to the Central parents evening tonight. Nice teachers, nice school but so is the one(SW) right next to my home. Why do they do it?
You will probably see a few madmen/women tomorrow.
But dont blame them! They cant help it!

District 2, I feel displaced as well at times, fortunately Darlene Garrett is always available to talk to. Now there is a section of Guilford County that has its act together, Linda Shaw represents them on the County Commission and Darlene Garrett handles the Board of Education.

Yea Buck, I hear ya. It used to be that families choose a house because of the school district. Now I see that it's wisest to choose a house based on who represents your district.

Did you see Anita get her panties all in a wad when they suggested dragging Ragsdale into the High Point stew? Now that's getting your money's worth in a board of education member.

What district is she? I think I'm movin'.

Here's one for you.
Redistricting proposal 4.
Bus the Oak Ridge rising ninth graders to Western then bus the Western rising ninth graders to Andrews.
Bus rising ninths of Page to Eastern and Eastern's to Dudley and the latter to Central.
Problem solved.

Sounds a practical sound idea..

Joe,

Who is E.J. Deering?

Please explain.

Is this a GCS employee or a building contractor?

If he is a building contractor, have you heard why he quit?

Barbar Ann

Jennifer,

In all fairness, regarding the SW forum in winter 2004, it was a totally different situation. It was about the "IT" socialization plan that had never been done exactly like this anywhere before in the entire country.

You have to consider the size of the crowd - over 800 people. There was standing room only. They even called the fire marshall.

Perhaps the person who spoke in favor of the plan was booed for other reasons. Also that person had not put the research homework time in as the people who opposed "IT" which proved that similar plans had previously failed elsewhere (as they are still doing). The Seattle case is still pending. Busing for race in this country is still illegal. And now we can see it is also very COSTLY.

So maybe that day there was some booing from the crowd, but there were many more who bit their tongues and very polite and professional. No one mentioned these people.

I think when you screw with people's children, the Mama Bears and Papa Bears are going to come out. This would be the same situation anywhere. It is human nature. I take it you are not a parent; I know Bruce isn't. One day you may understand. I don't think you would want your children to be guinea pigs.

But until you have a child and can experience the pain, it is hard to understand the passion people have when it comes to their children.

As for Bruce's comments about the forum last week, I know he had been to many in the past that weren't as calm. I took it he meant it was calm compared to redistricting in 1999. Also this is a very preliminary stage. These are proposed maps. A lot of the 1999 meetings where after the actual maps had been drawn by parent reps. There are major differences.

And I do remember reading where people were arrested then.

It was also tough to sit at mapping meetings and watch one end of High Point try to move all the the kids around like pieces on a chess board to accomplish their own agendas. Yes, it is really hard to sit and watch while a certain school then was sending ZERO kids being bused from their school but just played with their crayons and send other kids across town.

And by the way, what is still the hold up on the appeals in the last "IT" lottery? Why are these numbers so secret?

Thanks to you and Bruce for checking on this.

EJ Deering was one of the main people working for GCS with construction areas. He was always in the meetings for North project team. I don't know his title, nor why he left.

Jennifer,

You said that you were at the Southwest meeting, and it wasn't the same one that I remember. I said that the meeting was polite until someone called the fire department, and Alan Duncan threatened that some people would have to leave because there were too many people there. Yes, things started getting a little testy at that point, as it was clear that the board wasn't comfortable being there and having to listen to 1,000 people pleading with them to come to their senses.

Jennifer, as I recall, you were just getting involved with the education beat about that time, so you probably weren't aware of the history that preceded that meeting, so let me provide some of that for you.

The choice plan was conceived in darkness by Alan Duncan, Dot Kearns, Susan Mendenhall, and Terry Grier to address some unknown problems in the "High Point Schools", but as we now know, it was to return Central High to its glory days from which it had fallen. They conceived this plan, marketed to the media and area businesses, and brought it forward without many members of the board even being aware of it. After it was floated-up to the public, the board had some community meetings to get some "public input" into the plan, just as they are doing now with redistricting. What was apparent then, and is obvious now, was that the plan had already been decided, and the public meetings were just for show. That fact became clearer to Southwest parents as the meetings were held, and High Point board representatives made their comments about the plan. By the time that the final community meeting was held at Southwest, it was clear that the board had already decided what they were going to do, and the meetings were just a farce. The board members weren't really listening to public input, and that fact was clear at the Southwest meeting, so things did get testy.

Yes, there was just one person at the meeting of 1,000 people who spoke in favor of the plan at the Southwest meeting. That person was an Andrews parent who had spoken at the other two meetings previously. That parent wanted the choice plan to take place because she didn't like the redistricting decisions that were made in 1999 that sent her children to Andrews instead of Southwest.

The plunder and pillage of Southwest and its students was complete on the night of February 14, 2004, when in spite of a litany of public speakers who pleaded to the board to not adopt this misconceived plan, High Point District 2 Representative, Susan Mendenhall, made the motion to adopt the plan, and High Point At-Large Representative, Dot Kearns, made the second of the motion (yes, betrayed by Southwest parents' own and only board representatives). On reflection, this was no surprise as they were two of the primary planners of the choice plan. It's approval and implementation assured the future of Central High and sealed the fates of Andrews and Southwest. That betrayal continues until this day with Susan Mendenhall, as she still does not listen to or represent the concerns and interest of her Southwest constituents.

So, Jennifer, it is my recollection that Southwest parents were polite when this process started, but as it became obvious that the choice plan was rigged against them and a majority of the board was just going through the motions without really listening to their concerns, they became testy, and, yes, impolite. Want to bet if the same thing should happen to those Northwest parents and students in this redistricting that their politeness turns to impoliteness? But, that isn't likely to happen as Northwest has a representative that would lie on the tracks to prevent the same happening in her district. You see, she actually represents the parents and students of all of her district.

I suspect that you, Bruce, and others would have reacted in the same manner, if you had children, and they were being used like chattel to serve someone's purpose or as the old Pink Floyd song said... "All in all they're just another brick in the wall".

Jennifer,

If you want another perspective about "politeness" of Southwest parents. Here's an actual parent's letter sent to Susan Mendenhall a few weeks ago that is polite as you can get. Susan Mendenhall never acknowledged this letter until she received another letter from the parent's spouse that wasn't so polite. Then, Mendenhall had the gall to say that she never received the letter (she sure got the impolite letter, didn't she) Jennifer, politeness doesn't work or have any impact on some members of this board. Other sectors of this county will learn that some day as their turn in the barrel with this board comes around.

Ms. Mendenhall,

I would like to let you know a little about what the people in your district are going through. For the past two years we have been in constant turmoil over the education of our children. You cannot imagine what it is like to live in a community for 15 years, raising a family, laying down roots to suddenly lose control of your choice. Going to school in another community (and that is what the distance between North High Point and downtown High Point has created) forces you to start all over. No matter all the job opportunities my husband passed up to be able to stay in the same community; the same home; with the same friends for me and my children. Those things that we decided early on that we would make sacrifices for, were no longer in our control.

We are in our second year at Central with our high schooler. We, as well as other families, have really tried to "make a go of it." Get to know people in that area and start all over. You have no idea how hard it has been. Community is so important to a school. We really do feel like outsiders, because people in that school have grown up together, are friends, go to church together, etc. Don't get me wrong, they are wonderful people, but we all feel the divide. We have to drive to downtown High Point, sometimes 3-4 times a day. Taking my daughter to school, picking her up, back for drivers education, back for football games, band competitions, award ceremonies, band concerts, teacher conferences, etc. These activities always seem to start at 5:30or later. Not to complain, but I have two other children that are at two other schools. They have activities they enjoy too. So, hopefully, you are seeing how hard this is on our family. Central folks also have no clue what we are going through, because their existence at Central isn't threatened. They know they are not in danger of being sent to Southwest or even Andrews. I know this because I have spoken to them.

Then out of the blue we get three new maps. Now everyone in our community is potentially going to different schools. The kids are all confused and one day their best friend is potentially going to one school and the next, another school. The middle schoolers are upset, because now they are potentially having to switch schools. Conversation in our community is dominated by the anxiety all this uncertainty is creating. It is so sad that we are having to go through this. I wanted you to know what a hardship this has been on us. Hopefully, you can understand where the anger is coming from and also understand why we feel you have failed us. You made the decision to do this to us and that is why everyone is so angry with you. Southwest folks were unfairly targeted for the move and we didn't feel that you took up our cause. I would have felt much better if every school would trade equal amounts of students. Why some schools had large groups projected to move and others had none was totally unfair. Why wasn't Ragsdale targeted? Northwest? Why aren't we moving students to Western where there are seats? And finally, why is it the High Point choice plan when we are Guilford County Schools?

As much as I tell my children "life isn't fair, get use to it," I can't help but be angry at this situation because it is so pervasive in our life. Our friends are selling their homes and moving. They are putting their kids in private schools. Basically, this plan is tearing holes in our community. I am very well aware of the politics and forces that are driving this board. We could debate everything from World Class Curriculum to Magnet Funds that disappeared, but I'm tired. I just wanted you to know how our lives have changed. I know others in High Point need help, but I don't think the disrupting so many folks lives was the answer.

Thank you for your time.

Jennifer,

Here is the spouse's letter that was sent after no acknowledgement or reply from Susan Mendenhall. Politeness is ignored, impoliteness at least gets an answer. Oh, I forgot to say that the second letter was copied to Darlene Garrett. What that had to do with Susan Mendenhall getting the second letter and not the first is open to speculation. (Names have been withheld for the protection of the innocent.)

From:
Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2005 2:42 PM
To: 'Mendenhall, Susan'
Subject: RE: Thank You

Countless other votes did not have the adverse effect that your support of the Choice Plan did; you represent OUR area; you did not return emails
(check kjpeeler@juno.com), you did not return phone calls, you did not voice the opposition of a large part of your district during meetings, you never attended ABC meetings where at one point HUNDREDS of parents in your district were gathered and looking for answers; I have spoken at School Board meetings on violence at Central (my daughter opted to go there in 2004
b/c we felt there was no way she would be allowed to stay at Southwest) and never heard from you. As violence increased, the Choice Plan costs spiraled upward, AYP,ABC, and SAT scores spiraled downward, you were nowhere to be
found for North High Point. The continued level of upending us to try and fix one school has got to stop; why you support plans and redistricting maps that hurt a performing school to fix problems at the other schools is insane; Southwest is not the problem. I cannot figure out what you are trying to accomplish anymore; it can't be about free and reduced lunch since
the Title 1 money has been pushed away; it can't be about over-crowding since you are looking at not using Andrews to full capacity; what are you
trying to accomplish? I have two more children who will have to go to high school in this county; I hope that my next board member actually listens to her constituents; thanks for nothing

From: Mendenhall, Susan [mailto:mendens@gcsnc.com]
Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2005 12:47 PM
To:
Cc:
Subject: RE: Thank You

Mr. ,

Thank you for copying me on the email you sent to Ms. Garrett. You are not the first person to voice your opinion of my board service based on one vote and not the countless others over 13 years that have supported the Southwest
schools and citizens of North High Point. However I must question your statement that "countless calls and emails go unanswered." I work very hard to answer hundreds of emails and return all phone calls. I have looked back through over 900 emails and could only find this one from you or anyone
named Peeler. Please accept my apology if I have inadvertently not responded to you.

By the way, would anyone like to comment
(politely, of course) on Mendenhall's claim about her countless vote over 13 years that have supported Southwest schools and citizens of North High Point? Can anyone remember or identify those countless votes? Bruce and Jennifer, you can pitch-in as well. Oh, we know that you scan the CB regularly Ms. Mendenhall, so why don't you help us out in making this list?

I have sent several E-mails to the board too.
The only replies I have had are from Anita, Darlene and Alan.
Nothing from Susan! A flat nothing.
In fact she is remarkably silent in any redistricting discussion at the SB meetings. She sits there like a dummy.

Stormy,

Thank you for sharing the history of the "IT" Plan. Excellent. There is only one correction. Black Tuesday was February 10, 2004. (Feb. 14 was Sat.) The "Day the Music Died" as Don McClane (spelling?) would have sung. I remember the day quite well as I subbed the next day after 3 hours of sleep and everyone was just numb; several teachers whose kids were effected were in shock the entire day.

While 8th graders stayed late to hear their fates, certain Andrews' parents, particulary one smirked and laughed at these children. (You all know who it was.) No one won that night, especially the children and their families. It was not a Win/Lose battle. There were even tears in some of the school board members' eyes and others were visibly moved by the stumbling in their voices.

Just recently (and previously too) High Point elected officials have publicly stated the IT Plan did not turn out how it was presented to them. But now they KNOW the score. So what is their excuse now? And yes, even though these are "county" schools, the state of the schools in the county DOES affect future economic development in all of our cities. Outsiders moving in do research and have internet access. It is an electronic world. They know about Guilford County schools. Do you possibly think that is why Dell chose not to choose Guilford?

Some board members recently have hinted at similar negative feelings about the IT plan even though they had voted for it.

When the IT plan was first presented in the newspapers, some of the Greensboro board members hadn't even heard of it then. It was conceived in darkness and part of it still lingers in the dark.
(Jen/Bruce we need those appeals stats. Freedom of Information Act. Thank you guys.)

Now almost 2 years later we have lost so many parents and their volunteer hours to private schools or to other parts of the country. These same parents had volunteered to help ALL children.
Some people who were for the IT plan might say, "Get over it. It is here to stay so just accept it." But it never seems to be over as we all know. (Ask any Greensboro board member. Do you think they are tired of IT?) It is like a pebble thrown in water that just keeps rippling outward. Where's the dam?

But do remember, plans come and go but Energizer Batteries can be recharged. Maybe one day there will be a truly workable, common sense solution, and lots of hard, honest work and commitment so that ALL kids can really be educated no matter what school they attend.

It is just a little bit harder than "equaling" and mixing the numbers to look good.

Jennifer and Bruce, if either of you actually had your own children at stake perhaps you would better understand where polite can reasonably start and stop. Since apparently neither of you have any family members with a child at stake I'll spell it out for you:

BEING POLITE STOPS WHEN THAT ABSOLUTE HORROR OF A HUMAN BEING SUSAN MENDENHALL MADE THE MOTION BACK IN FEBRUARY OF 2004, SECONDED BY DOT KEARNS THAT IT WOULD BE OK TO LEGALLY ABDUCT KIDS ON A DAILY BASIS. That's right, I used the phrase legally abduct.

And now Ms. Mendenhall has enough rocks in her head to think that she has done a service to the community for over 10 years? And Dot Kearns the same thing for over 30 years? It sounds more they have collectively ruined education for at least 2 generations of students and probably for another generation into the future by the time it is fixed if you started today.

Personally I don't have a stake in this sinking ship any more because we put our daughter in private school back in August. The only mistake we made was not doing that sooner. However these two "LADIES" are stunning examples of how the incompetance of Bruce Davis and Skip Alston can indeed be topped in Guilford County and it continues to upset me that they can rationalize this the obscene waste of tax dollars.

If Ms. Mendenhall wants to have a legacy she can start by making a motion to can Dr. Grier. That shining example of a waste of protoplasm is out giving speeches again about how great he is. He could atleast turn the fee he gets for that back to Guilford County. I'm surprised the people up in Virginia would want to listen to his dribble. Come to think of it, Virginia is one state the guy hasn't screwed up.

I apologize for digressing, if Susan Mendenhall wants to make people happy tonight she should:

1. Resign.
2. Leave High Point.
3. Leave Guilford County.
4. Leave North Carolina.
5. Take Dot Kearns with her.

p.s. forgot to say I had heard that certain SB members said they just had figured the HP reps knew what was best for "their" HP schools when they voted for the IT plan. But every SB member saw the turnout at the SW Forum. Every SB member heard the research of the failings of other similar plans. Go figure.

Well that was then.

This is the present.

We all now know what we know - the PR nightmare, the declining test scores, the increased suspension rates, etc., etc., etc.

We know of current court cases in litigation in other parts of the country that emphasize that busing for race is illegal, not matter how it is disguised.

As we all know: "The past is history; the future's a mystery; that's why God gave us a gift and it's called the PRESENT."

Now is the time and place.

Let's please get it right next time for everyone's
sake and especially for our children's futures.

Can we get past his and move forward.

By the way, lest the fact get lost here, Ms. Mendenhall's only reply to these two letters never addressed the concerns presented in either letter. She only saw fit to respond that she worked very hard to answer emails. If, indeed, her idea of answering an email is to say that she is working very hard to answer emails, then she is truly a simpleton or a very clever politician. Personally, I favor the first, rather than the latter possibility.

What about answering the many questions and concerns in these two letters, Susan? You may not be answering the concerns presented in these letters because you don't have any answers, at least any that would be acceptable to Southwest parents.

Buck,

Although I agree 100% with steps 1 thru 5 of "How Susie Can Make Us Happy Tonite", I would be ecstatic with just Step 1.

She already has all those other steps to deal with in that other program, let's just only ask Step One of her.

Here, I'll make it easier for her. She can just print this:

Dear Fellow Board members,

I'm a screw up. I reassign.

Love,
Susie

Dist2, as far as Step 2 do you mean like on the Seinfeld episode where George expected the guy in AA to apologize for not lending him his sweater because he was afraid George would stretch the neckhole?

You're right!!! I've seen that oversized head of hers both on TV and in-person. She might stretch the openings on any sweater I have.

Well OK, if she just resigns that is fine with me. I doubt it would happen though unless they thought an ever younger, more dangerous version of Dot could assume the mantle of power....

Do the initials E - K - M mean anything to you?

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

It was blantantly obvious from tonights meeting the Dot Kearns and Susan Mendenhall are committed up to thier eyeballs to a certain section/fraction of High Point.
Phrases like;
-if it wasnt for us (directed to Dot and Kris) you would not be elected now.
-We looked after your back now you look after ours.
-Some reference to support for Susan too implying commitment.

WHAT WAS PROMISED? IS IT CORRUPTION?

All in all it means that N.Point has no support in the SB whatsoever.
Why do these people think that swapping kids around will help their children?

Reassigned,

Thank you for your excellent speech tonight. I was hoping that you would use the word "bloody", in the British sense of course, but your compassion was obvious even without it.

Now that it's apparent that "IT" isn't about education at all, I can get on with my life. It's not going away so I guess I'll have to. You're right, it's corruption at it's best/or worst, however you look at it.

What a sorry bunch of individuals. Grier told me that they are losing a lot of kids "from the top" and that worries him. Boo hoo... What good will "IT" be when there are no high achievers left to "SWAP"?

What a surprise that they are losing their top kids. We have been telling them they are going private since "IT" and now consider the shifting of A/L testing to 3rd grade. Dah.....what are people who can afford it to do? Others are just waiting to sell their house and go North.

It was quite obvious to me last night that Dot and Susan had their followers there. They both must have made quite a few phone calls?

What was really appalling is the speaker who blatently said something like: Mr. Childs, Dot and Susan was his rep for High Point and to do what he voted for.

Correct me if I am wrong. Mr. Childs would either be his rep or it would be Susan - but not both!

Dot is supposed to be AT LARGE!

It was truly rubbed in if you where there, that North HP and Jamestown area who is in District 2 has not had any rep in their corner.

The most ludicrous comment was from the the woman who said the voters VOTED for "IT". We all just looked at each other and said "I didn't vote for "IT". Finally we realized, she was inferring she had voted for Dot; so therefore she voted for "IT". Yep, that was her platform.

Reassigned, your speech was excellent.

John G's speech was super. He was quoted in BOTH newspapers.

And fyi, Joe Stafford did make it out to speak and come all the way to High Point. His speech was also very good. He spoke of how he is for offering different programs and all but it is very simple why we cannot continue. We cannot AFFORD all these programs.

"Nough said"

Bruce or Jennifer, the next time a community leader or elected official says any plan needs a full 4 years to determine whether or not it is successful please ask how they plan on returning 4 years of all the students' lives to them in the event of total failure.

It is absolutely sickening to hear anyone speak that does not have a vested interest in the school (ie. a child at risk), reduce all the children to lab rats.

My sentiments exactly Buck.

We have known all along that certain powers that be have supported this plan all along.

Now it is SO OBVIOUS after last night.

As we all know the their little lab rats are leaving the "sunken ship" and taking their high test scores and parent volunteer hours with them.

I think this might just be your best blog ever!

We are behind you 100% Mr. Woods!

When does early voting start? I want to be the first to vote for Mr. Wood.

Oh, I also love the fact that Guilford County BOE is now using the term "SWAPPED". That says it all in one little word that they coined themselves.

Kudos to them for admitting what this plan is really about.

Can we SWAP Susan Mendenhall for a board member that cares about all her constituents?

Can we SWAP Alan Duncan and get a new chairman?

Most importantly, can we SWAP Terry Grier? I saw the cutest little monkey at the zoo last week. I'm sure she could do the job.

S-W-A-P=
Send Whites A Packin'

S-W-A-P=
See Who Actually Participates

Joe,
missed your earlier post about EJ-- yes he quit and there is no way hired yet. We had 3 bidders for the Northern HS, and yes it was waaaaay over budget about $10 mil is the rumor. There will be lots of value engineering, then the BOE will have to vote and then the Commissioners (if it is still over budget, and how would it not be) so looks like in my opinion that it will not open fall of 07.

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