News-Record.com

It is nice to see people willing to answer Doug's call for help. Bruce and Jen, you are nice people. You don't need this battle, though. All Doug has to do is say he's sorry, he made a mistake-that although the CP would help the demographic at his neighborhood school where his son's went, an unfunded, pseudo-magnet raffling-off of children against their parent's wishes from a single highschool in a county of thirteen or fourteen diffferent highschools, is not a viable educational diversity policy, and he's free. You should refuse to catch his flack.

By this same logic, shouldn't the GC County Commissioners/City Council/Planning board use their considerable influence in zoning for developments to insure that every development includes housing in all price ranges: subsidized to mansion?

What would be the outcome if the same money that was spent on socioeconomic diversification in the schools was spent on socioeconomic diversification in neigborhoods? Wouldn't socioeconomically diverse neighborhoods foster socioeconomically diverse neighborhood schools?

If you really want 'One Neighborhood' then shouldn't it be implemented directly by zoning and economic incentives rather than indirectly through schools?

You are right, Skeet Club Savage - Jennifer & I don't need this battle and we aren't trying to get involved in it!

Some folks just indicated that they would like to see a thread started on this editorial and we're just trying to oblige.

What hypocrites and cowards the editorial writers are. They have advocated, supported, and shamelessly defended the High Point plan, all the while knowing that your neighborhoods and children are well insulated from it, just like the School Board members and their neighborhoods.

If they had any integrity, journalistic or otherwise, you would have long ago called for this plan county wide, or at least questioned why it was not implemented between Grimsley, Dudley, and Page.

If Guilford County is “one neighborhood”, then why has my Jamestown neighborhood (not High Point) been singled out, and discriminated against? What other neighborhood in Guilford County has children bussed to the SEVENTH nearest High School.

I challenge them to publish what High School their neighborhood children are assigned to and I’ll bet you a donation to their favorite charity that it’s the first or second. This includes Doug who I’m sure is in the High Point Central “safe” zone that Dot and Susan created.

Scott Burnette

jwg,

That very "ONE neighborhood" does indeed already exist. It's the place that Doug Clark and Dot Kearns dream about every day. You can visit this very 'social' place via a lottery. No kidding, only a select few can go each year--it's called CUBA. Possibly we taxpayers could fund a trip there for our school board members since they have taken it upon themselves to 'socialize' Guilford County. They may as well learn from the best. Oh, and yes, Dougie can go too.

Bruce,

Thanks for Putting this up for Discussion.

This Editorial sounds like a Ringing Endorsement for a county wide "Socialist Choice Lottery Plan" throughout Gulford County.

It will be a Wonderful Day when we all see Dudley High School Drop its' percentage of Black Students from 99% to 50%...

Won't it be great when you walk in the doors of Northwest High school and see a Rainbow of Colors instead of that same old Drab White,,,

THE TIME IS NOW FOR SOCIALISM TO TAKE OVER THE REST OF GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS.

Susan Mendenhall: You made the Motion for the Plan in High Point,,,now get off your ASS and get the ball rolling for the rest of GCS.

Have a Nice Day!

As I see it the Doug's editorial is really calling for an end to the (sh)IT plan. If we go back to the 99 maps you get what he is recomending in this quote taken from the end of the editorial.

"Students should attend schools that are reasonably close to home rather than always closest".

His pride just wont let he come out and say it is a big mistake.

Bruce,

how can editors of a paper write an editorial on education and not consult the very reporters that are paid to be the experts.

You know what the answer is?

A paper that is run by a corrupt few intent on using its power to influence a political situation.
Its funny how this editorial came out a day or so before the board intends to discuss redistricting. Sounds like "someone" had lunch with "someone" last week over one or two ( or many) drinks.

Bruce, we NEED to get mean here!

I've been asked to post as a reminder to everyone what the school board's goals were when they approved the choice plan/lottery two years ago. It is interesting to review them to see that nothing that has happened in the past two years has even approached achieving those goals.

• To increase academic achievement by providing an economically diverse student population in each of the three high schools in High Point.

• To provide stability in assignment of students by allowing students to attend the same school from ninth through 12th grade.

• To provide equitable access for all students to a high quality, rigorous curriculum.

• To equitably utilize the three High Point area high schools and to provide the district greater flexibility in efficiently using these high school facilities.

• To provide more high school program options for students and parents in the High Point area.

So, is this more of what we can expect from Doug Clark's "One Neighborhood Plan"? Nothing. By the way, how is Doug Clark able to highjack the newspaper's editorial page in this manner? We've known since his days at the HPE that he was in league with Dottie and Susan to jam the lottery into place. Doug knows that the other members of the board will not publicly vote to put a choice plan/lottery in place in their districts. They don't want to subject themselves to that level of criticism and grief. But, Doug working with Dottie and Susan definitely want the lottery to remain in place in High Point. They want to kill any discussion of neighborhood schools because that would endanger the lottery that pillages Southwest for the glory of grand ole Central.

Stormy, I would offer that Doug is not hijacking the editroial page at the N&R. He was brought there specifically to write these kind of editorials, since none of the other editors are daft enough to think raffling off kids from just one highschool in a county is any kind of viable educational policy. None of the other editors are this crazed and none of them are on a mission to save THEIR neighborhood school and their attendant property values by simply appropriating somebody else's kids. They KNOW it will never fly in Greensboro. They are using Doug as a patsy.

I like Reassigned first explanation.

"Children should attend the school that is closest or reasonably closest."

Now this makes sense but it will always depend on which end of the county you start making the crayon marks first. I don't think 7th closet should count!

Interesting tidbit in the recent article in N & R on Lisa Stahlmann regarding her comments on the IT plan. When mentioning City Council and how they feel, it was indicated they were in unison on how they felt about the IT plan.

After hearing one of their own speak at the P-G forum a few weeks ago, this does not make any sense. The many of you who heard her speak, heard it loud and clear where she stood on the IT Plan.

Now was she speaking for herself or as to how the City Council feels as one body? This is totally confusing.

So, based upon this moronic editorial, the next logical step is to not allow people to move into whtever neighborhood they choose; rather we ought to implement a lottery system. This system, based upon income and race, would tell one where they can buy/rent. No more of this silly "freedom to do what one wants" stuff. It clearly isn't good for the greater society.

sounds a litle Orwellian to me. Funny how the author of this editorial hasn't volunteered to move his children to another school to help balance things out

The "author" of that editorial already made sure that his kids were long gone from the system, before he started the advocation of abductions from Southwest High.

As he watched his kids go to the High School down the road, he and Dottie plotted and planned about how the sh(IT) plan would play out.

It's so sad that the color of the children inside the building matters. How ignorant of me to think that education was going on behind the doors of Central. Now what's going on? Learning by osmosis? I hope those Central kids are feeling the Cowboy Pride.

Doug, you're editorializing about anti-neighborrhood school propaganda. Might as well rail against grandma, apple pie and chevrolet. What's Allen doing, witing about earrings and Harry Pot'er. Figure it out, dude! Lee Harvey Clark!!!!

Bruce and Jennifer,

I have a mission for you if you are wiling to axxept it. It won't be easy, not will it take just a few seconds, but it could serve a noble purpose in your quest to find the truth in education reporting.

The mission is to discover and report where the children and grandchildren, living in Guilford County, of school board members and administration executives attend school. Having this information and then comparing it to trends of voting by the school board would be most enlightening. It could help us understand the relevance of board votes to their relatives' educational opportunities. I believe that would be very instructive. We do not need the names of the children, but rather the school that they attend, especially if they attend private schools. Surely, that is not private information that members of the board and administration could not share.

That's a fair question, Stormy. I'll see what we can find out about school board members.

To the best of my knowledge, none of the current school board members has children in private schools. I know that was the case as of about a year-and-a-half ago because we checked - there was a controversy about the late Garry Burnett sending one of his children to private school.

But it's certainly worth checking again. And you are right; a school board member has an obligation to disclose where they choose to educate their own children, in my personal opinion. Grandchildren are a little different - most grandparents don't control where their grandkids go to school - but I'll certainly ask.

Bruce,

Thanks for your willingness to undertake this mission. I agree that school members don't control where their grandchildren go to school, at least directly, but as you would understand, they would have more than a passing interest in the subject. I asked for the grandchildren information as I suspect that the ages of most of the school board members don't have children in school anymore, but it would be instructive to see if there are correlations in their voting trends as it impacts their grandchildren's schools.

If a school board member is not willling to share that information, it should bring to question the level of their openness and objectivity. After all, children and their educations are the subject matters and focus of this group.

I know that Alan's children go to Brooks/Page; Marti's son goes to Grimsley; Darlene's go to NW, I am almost 100% sure that Deena's children are in GCS schools. That is all that I know. Amos has young children; not sure if they are old enough for school.

If I am not mistaken, I remember reading that Deana's child received special permission to attend a high school other than his zoned school so that he could participate in a specific club...This was last year or year before.

Stormy (and others),

Just wanted to give you an update. I have sent a message to every school board member asking them for the information you requested. I will let you know as soon as I hear back from any of them.

I'll bet you will find that all Board members neighborhoods are assigned to THE CLOSEST (or second at worst) High School. How can they continue to allow this? I demand that all children be bussed by force to the Fifth or Seventh nearest High School like my neighborhood.

Bruce,
You don't need to get the info from Board members. Just take their neighborhood and you can determine where that neighborhood is assigned. I bet you'll find that their neighborhoods enjoy neighborhood schools!

Wow; I've already received responsed from two school board members. As promised, I'll share them with you:

- Kris Cooke says her children no longer are in school, but they all attended Guilford County schools: Irving Park Elementary, Aycock Middle and Page High. She had kids in school when she was elected to the board in 1997 and is a former Guilford County Council of PTAs president.

Kris said she has a three-month-old grandson "and I can almost guarantee he will attend public school."

- Darlene Garrett has three children at Northwest High and one kid in college who graduated from Northwest.

"I guess you can tell I am a firm believer in public education!" she said.

And I understand what you are saying, ScottB. But it is possible to attend a school outside of your neighborhood (i.e. magnet school or private school). The specific question was, "What schools do the school board members' kids attend?" and for that, I'll need to ask them individually.

Bruce,

Thanks for pursuing this. Sometimes the response and his speed tell you as much aboout the person as you need to know. It is instructive that Kris and Darlene were prompt in their reponse. Igive them high marks for that, especially on a school board meeting day. It'll be just as instrcutive to see those who don't care enough to send their best or do when they get around to it.

Okay, we have more responses from the school board:

- Amos Quick has a child who is a freshman at Dudley High School. No kids in private school.

- Marti Sykes has a child who is a senior at Grimsley and a son who graduated from Grimsley and is now in college. Both kids went to Lindley Elementary and Kiser Middle.

Tally so far for children of School Board members:

NONE involved in a school lottery.

NONE forced to go to a magnet.

ALL allowed the opportunity to attend their "neighborhood" school.

Hummmmmm..Will the pattern continue?????

And here's another response from Nancy Routh:

- She had has five adult children, all of whom graduated from Guilford County and Greensboro public schools.

- She has 13 grandchildren, most of whom have graduated from high school (five in Guilford County). One grandchild is at Southeast High and one is at Brooks Global Elementary.

"I think everyone is aware that I was a teacher, curriculum coordinator and a principal in the Greensboro Public Schools prior to my retirement," Nancy said. "If I weren't committed to public education, I wouldn't be trying to serve on this board."

TALLY UPDATE:

Children AND grandchildren of School Board members:

NONE involved in a school lottery.

NONE forced to go to a magnet.

ALL allowed the opportunity to attend their "neighborhood" school.

Stay tuned for up-to-the-minute updates. You can thank Mr. BB for the leg-work.

General Slak, haven't some of our operatives reported that Commrade Kearns has nieces/nephews that transferred out of Guilford County??

Buckmtn,

You are correct about Dots' Niece and Nephews.

When her Socialist Lottery Plan went into effect, her Kin-folk Bailed out of the GCS System.

Bruce,
The underlying issue is that the School Board does not practice what it preaches. It seems that if you live in a School Board members' neighborhood, you are assured of being assigned to a nearby High School.

My issues are fairness and distance. It is not fair for my kids to be forced to the FIFTH or SEVENTH nearest High School to their home. No Board member would stand for it for their kids.

By the way, could you ask the three editorial writers "are you assigned to the nearest, second nearest, etc. High School to your home. Since the three editors have taken the stand that going to a nearby school is dirty, I think we deserve to know if they are living it and how would they honesty feel about their kids being FORCED to the FIFTH or SEVENTH nearest High School to their neighborhood? I know Doug thinks I'm just a "Central hater", but that's not the case. It's the unreasonable distance stupid!

*************NEWSBREAK*************

The following School Board Members have NOT yet, I repeat HAVE NOT responded to the Education Reporter at the News & Record concerning the whereabouts of their children's education:

Alan Duncan
Deena Hayes
Walter Childs
Susan Mendenhall
Dorothy Kearns

*NOTE** Anita Sharpe has just experienced a death in her family and no comment at this time is understandable.

To summerize-- TALLY UPDATE:

Children AND grandchildren of School Board members:

NONE involved in a school lottery.

NONE forced to go to a magnet.

ALL allowed the opportunity to attend their "neighborhood" school.

Please stay tuned as your regular blogging session WILL be interrupted as other board members reveal information to the kind education reporter, Mr. BB.

Dot's one niece (grand niece?) is a junior at SW High School. I don't know where she lives.

Susie's children both went go Central.

*********MORNING UPDATE**********

Highly Paid Guilford County School Board Members that have YET to ANSWER to their CONSTITUTENTS as to the whereabouts of their Children's Education:

Duncan
Hayes
Childs
Mendenhall
Kearns
Sharpe (excused absence)

**********UP-TO-THE-MINUTE TALLY UPDATE*********

Children AND grandchildren of School Board members:

*NONE* involved in a school lottery.

*NONE* forced to go to a magnet.

*ALL* allowed the opportunity to attend their "neighborhood" school.

Please stay tuned as your regular blogging session WILL be interrupted as other board members reveal information to the kind education reporter, Mr. BB.

Tally HOE!

Peter,

No,no, no. Correction. Not forced to go to a "magnet". The IT plan has NO magnets. They are only "magnet-like". The world class programs never came. They got lost in Never-Never Land.

Forced to go to a "focus" they don't want.

Whats the latest count?

I am dying to know about the rest of our beloved school board..

What about Grier

I hear his children are at Greensboro Day school . Is that true?

Bruce, can you check it out?

*********EVENING UPDATE**********

Highly paid Guilford County School Board Members that have YET to ANSWER to their CONSTITUTENTS as to the whereabouts of their Children's Education:

Duncan
Hayes
Childs
Mendenhall
Kearns
Sharpe (excused absence)

**********UP-TO-THE-MINUTE TALLY UPDATE*********

Children AND grandchildren of School Board members:

*NONE* involved in a school lottery.

*NONE* forced to go to a magnet.

*ALL* allowed the opportunity to attend their "neighborhood" school.

Please stay tuned as your regular blogging session WILL be interrupted IF other board members FINALLY reveal information to the kind education reporter, Mr. BB.

Tally HO HO HO!

**************Mid-Afternoon Update************

See yesterday's Evening Update--NO CHANGE

Children AND grandchildren of School Board members:

*NONE* involved in a school lottery.

*NONE* forced to go to a magnet.

*ALL* allowed the opportunity to attend their "neighborhood" school.

Please stay tuned as your regular blogging session WILL be interrupted IF other board members FINALLY reveal information to the kind education reporter, Mr. BB.

Tally HO HO HO!

Posted by: Tally Ho Pan at December 8, 2005 11:37 PM

**************Mid-Afternoon Update************

See yesterday's Evening Update--NO CHANGE

Children AND grandchildren of School Board members:

*NONE* involved in a school lottery.

*NONE* forced to go to a magnet.

*ALL* allowed the opportunity to attend their "neighborhood" school.

Please stay tuned as your regular blogging session WILL be interrupted IF other board members FINALLY reveal information to the kind education reporter, Mr. BB.

Tally HO HO HO!

Posted by: Tally Ho Pan at December 8, 2005 11:37 PM

Thanks for the updates, Tally HOE. And I've got another response for you:

Dot Kearns said she doesn't have any children or grandchildren in GCS. Her children (now grown) and grandchildren live out of state.

And you've been given some inaccurate information, Boardand?. Dr. Grier doesn't have any children at Greensboro Day or any school-age children for that matter. In fact, his kids were grown before he came to GCS - I know one is a teacher in South Carolina.

Alan Duncan also has responded:

"My wife and I have two children in the Guilford County Schools. We do not have any children in private schools."

We appreciate those responses from Alan and Dot.

Bruce, How about a followup question.
Do they feel the least bit hypocritical over the fact that they all enjoy neighborhood schools while they ship my kids to the FIFTH or SEVENTH nearest school?

Any updates Tally?