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Oh good. Send the translators out PRONTO and get a feel for what these Latino parents want. Would they like escuelas close to home, or would they prefer their ninos on a GRANDE bus ride? I'll bet they are just like us English-speaking parents that just want a neighborhood school. When will the BOE expand their efforts to communicate with us?

The efforts to communicate with the North High Point folks will start in November 2006. The BOE will finally have somebody on their payroll that can listen, hear and understand.

Are they going to reach out to the children who speak Japanese, French, Swedish, Korean, German, etc.? Fair is fair.

I feel the visiting parents should also attend whatever English classes are offered in our PUBLIC schools so they can communicated better in English.

Multi Linqual,

Actually, many Hispanic parents take English classes through the school system. The district offers those courses now more than even just a few years ago.

And the district does have programs in place (translating documents, finding translators etc.) for parents who speak languages other than Spanish. Hispanics just happen to make up the largest portion of the English as a Second Language population.

Jennifer

That is very good to know. If they can speak English in their homes it will also help their children in school. I think the other nationalities should be encouraged to attend classes too. Hearing English in the home helps tremendously.

This is off topic, but I had a few questions about the ideas for new programs that are to be discussed tonight.

With regard to Smith and the Health Academy.....
Is Smith overcrowded and do we need new seats at another school that is in another area that is not growing in population?
Have surveys been done to see if students are interested in this type of program or are we once again "hoping if we build it they will come." Several academies that were started for the High Point Schools failed because of lack of interests. Are we creating that again?
I think Andrews has a Health Academy. Staff says there are extra seats at Andrews. Why not make that Health Academy truly World Class since that space is already available? If it becomes successful, then start another one in a different part of the county?
How much would the new property plus the new employees cost? (News 2 reported at least 20 new positions to staff this academy)

Does anyone else have questions?

I wish that for once we would spend money on the basics of education and then when we've mastered that, we could move on to additonal programs.

Two other questions, "How many seats does Craven hold" and "is it still empty"?

Kay,

I have also asked specific questions about the programs at Andrews. I never get any answers. You took the words right out of my mouth. Why add new programs, when previous "promised" programs have not evolved? This system will be fill with many half-baked ideas if someone on the board this weekend doesn't say STOP! I believe that part of the reason that the "Build it and they will come" philosophy does not work is because Guilford county has gotten into a rut of "Build it half-way...and they don't come"!

Supposedly there is a health academy already at Andrews High, along with some other Engineering/Technology strands but I've come to believe that they don't really exist. Supposedly there are local agencies that are aiding in these technical strands but again, no one can give me any information.

I must surmise that these descriptions exist only for a fancy brochure and for the Andrews Website--to trick students into applying at Andrews. I firmly believe that if these programs were truly there, and were as they are stated in the description, that students would be begging to go there.

I totally agree that no more programs should even be discussed until the promised ones are implemented and running smoothly.

Craven is empty-don't know about seats- and now being proposed as a Scales school (closer to HP) and use the old Jesse Wharton on Pisgah Church Rd as a small elem. school about 200 seats.

I wish someone would answer Clueless and Kay. Isn't there anyone who knows what programs are really available? What partnerships are there in the Health and Technology magnets? Do kids do in these programs have internships or mentors in the community? How many spots are available in these programs?

We know the board and the superintendent read this blog. How about some helpful answers?

Jennifer/Bruce, can you find out?

Kay,

It looks like Smith is about at capacity (around 1,630 kids with a capacity - including mobiles - of about 1,640).

Not sure how much the building would cost. No one has said what building, which really determines how much it will cost. And don't forget, it will need renovations to make it into a school.

Remember too that the money and teachers follow the students. Some staff likely would have to be paid through local funds, but most should be picked up by the state. I believe the minimum enrollment to get the principal position paid through the state is 100 students.

Jennifer,

What are you talking about? What is going on at Smith?

Numbersgame,

Earlier in this strand Kay had asked questions about proposed magnet/options. One of them was to put an early college academy in a building nearby Smith High school and open it primarily for Smith students. The academy would offer strands in health sciences and construction technology, with students able to take college courses their senior year. Likely, this would be at GTCC.

This is a proposal that will be discussed tonight at the board meeting. I'll post the story.

I can't imagine why Grier and his staff would ask the school board to pour millions into starting a Health Academy for Smith when the one that exists at Andrews is not running proficiently. If THIS doesn't cause Dr. Childs to speak up, nothing will.

Adding seats to a land-locked school is NEVER a good idea and you would think this board would know that from their past mistake at Andrews.

Or is there more to this story? Are these seats needed for later redistricting plans? Is the board actually planning to diversify some Greensboro schools?

Didn't I hear that this brand new proposal would have to be accepted tonight so that the Academy would be available for the 06/07 school year? What's the rush Dr. Grier?

I heard today that it is part of a big plan to help curb the fights at Smith High School. Some in the community nearby have said it is getting out of control.

One thing about the Smith plan: it would be for Smith students only, rather than being open to students from other schools. So it doesn't have any bearing on the Andrews program

WHAT Andrews Program?!!!!!!!!!!

Bruce,

It does have bearing on the Andrews program. There are kids in the Smith zone who are closer to Andrews than some of the kids who could be redistricted to Andrews per one of the maps.

What about the population at Smith will make this program popular and successful when the opposite is true at Andrews?

If it is so popular with the Smith population, they could easily attend the classes at Andrews.

There's more to this story than simply starting a program at Smith.

Clueless,

The PTSA of Andrews in conjunction with the guidance department is hosting a Registration Night and Curriculum Fair at Andrews High this Monday, January 30. We are meeting in the auditorium. Time is 6:30 p.m. We are targeting all current 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students currently enrolled at Andrews as well as the current 8th graders at Welborn.

You can learn about all the classes and educational pathways that are offered only at Andrews. You can visit our computer labs, automotive technology and construction technology classes, and our forensic pathways.

Thanks,

Sandy

Sandy,

Thanks for that information. Is there any way that you can get that publicized so that the greater Guilford County can be made aware?

Thanks

That's a good point, quest. There's no guarantee that this program will be successful or popular.

My point was just that it won't compete with Andrews for students. It'll draw exclusively from kids currently at Smith - the idea is to reduce enrollment on Smith's main campus, which is growing pretty fast. It won't be open to students from other schools.