News-Record.com

Bruce,

Thanks!!!

Not that the maps are terribly clear, byt from what I can see, once again Blairwood is getting the shaft, no matter which map you look at. But just keep sleeping, Blairwood, and watch your home values decline.

All I see is a bunch of colored stars; no legends to explain; streets are illegible.

What a mess.

Good luck. Eric is supposed to be explaining each one before the presentation. But it would surely be nice to have something legible.

Would the adoption of Map A result in a benefit to Central? And, if so, who suffers to make that happen?

"A" or "C" =WWIII

Oak Ridge Runner-

None of these maps will benefit the kids. Because when you bus kids to schools across town instead of fixing the schools themselves, nobody wins.

Did you see the John Stossel 20/20 piece, Stupid in America? Maybe we should be fighting for school vouchers... Now THERE'S some real school choice.

Bruce,Jennifer,

Are there any diversity numbers which correspond to each map available? How can we intelliegently comment and how can the board make an intelligent decision from such hasty and messy maps.

I personally think the fix is in and this is being made purposely confusing and hurried.

Bruce/Jennifer,

When you are digging for numbers, please furnish free/reduced %s - those are the numbers that really impact the schools.
Thanks for all you do to keep us informed.

A friend of mine has a son who is attending N.C. State as a Freshman.

This student was in the top 20 of his class at a High Point High School last year.

This student is having trouble in his math class at State,,,,,,,now get this....

The Professor of this class asked him if he attended High School in GUILFORD COUNTY.....

By watering down the advanced classes in GCS,,,mr. grier is slowly earning quite a reputation among many College Professors for lacking the Ability to properly prepare our children for the next Step in the Education process.

mr. grier,,,your effectiveness as Superintendent has come to an End,,,do the Children of Guilford County a favor and RESIGN today.....

You have lost respect from the Majority of Students, Parents, and most of all,,,,,the Teachers and Administrators of GCS....

The Time is NOW,,,,HIT the ROAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Come on Grier!!! This is embarrassing!

Please, GET OUTTA HERE!

Blairwood has not gone to sleep. Most of us simply stopped fighting what was obviously a losing battle. First, the 1999 redistricting plan removed Oakview, an integral part of our community, from Andrews and sent them to Central. The percentage of FRL students in the school skyrocketed, but the resources to support and educate them were not provided. When we begged for help, it was not forthcoming. Many unkind and hurtful comments about Andrews were made by parents and students associated with Southwest and Ragsdale. We have no way to hold the BOE accountable, because we vote for the BOE representative in District 2, but the representative for Andrews is from District 1. In short, we were disenfranchised and received no support from anyone. The time and effort were better spent in finding the best way to educate our children.

Many people now send their students to private school. Some pay tuition to send them to another nearby county. Others have chosen to go to the Early College programs. And some are still making the best of the situation at Andrews. I have been told by some that things are improving there, but I have no personal knowledge one way or the other. When the choice plan was in place, we at least had more options. Now it appears that we will once again be assigned to a school.

I would fight if I thought it would make a difference, but, in the end, I believe the decision will be made behind closed doors with no consideration for what is in the best interest of all the students and families of High Point.

SCHOOL BOARD GOALS OF THE ANNUAL WINTER RETREAT (coming up end of January 06)

1. Continue to raise overall student achievement

2. Improve district, parent, community relationships

3. Retention and compensation efforts

4. Provide effective and efficient administrative management of the district

Each goal has a subgroup of goals.

Let's focus on goal 2. One of the most important elements to me would be COMMUNICATION. Before these forums are held we need legible maps, a summary of how each map effects portions of the county that it is changing, and a breakdown of the ratios. Only then can we decipher the information and be able to make comments. I encourage each of you to ask for this.

Specifically with Map B (the Anita motion map for Neighborhood schools) Her entire motion was to do a map of the entire county which would show what neighborhood schools would look like giving students their closet or next closest school as space allows, how this would affect the current ratios that are now in place and THE COST OF BUSING associated with this, i.e., current lines with magnets vs neighborhood schools and leaving the current magnets in place.

Now the motion was made, seconded and voted on prior to the lottery part ONLY of the "choice plan" being dropped. The focus themes, per Nancy's four part motion, are still in place. Therefore, knowing the cost of busing is quite relevant to the total presentation of Map B. The focus themes are still in place and many current 9th and 10th graders will be staying in their focus themes. New students will choose these focus themes and it will not necessarily be their closet school.

At one of the past board meetings (before the lottery only part of the "Choice" Plan was removed) the staff (and I think Dr. Grier) acknowledged that although this was a lot of time on Eric's part, it was a worthwhile endeavor as they would finally have a true picture of the county. It is more important now than ever with a goal toward "one county movement" that there is a master plan of the county lines on record - current vs actual neighborhood schools. Busing costs are extremely relevant in order to show accountability in spending our tax dollars. This goes hand in hand with Goal 2 of improving community relationships. It is our money they will be spending on busing if we don't go with neighborhood schools.

This county redistricting process can potentially affect thousands of students for four years. It should not be rushed or sloppy. We should be able to read all of the maps. If it takes longer than expected so be in. I do not see any time line as to why there needs to be any change in HP now. They are not building any new schools in this part of the county any time soon. The focus should be on redistricting where new construction is NOW taking place. All of the HP agendas is just taking time away from what really needs to be done now, including starting to work on a county budget.

Redheaded Stepchild,

Question - in your first paragraph did you mean from Central to Andrews?

The point that many parents are missing is this. ONLY THE LOTTERY part of the "Choice" Plan is gone. The focus themes are still there. They can apply for grant funds to make them the truly world class programs they were marketed to be. If the programs are truly world class, this will create a true draw and people will come.

The programs need to be streamlines, enhanced and resources and qualified teachers provided. This is what we all need to fight for - quality curriculums in all of the schools and giving kids a real choice not a lottery ticket.

Your situation of how you vote for a rep who is not actually your school is not unique to you. There are people in the county whose rep is not District 2 who go to SW because there is no room at Ragsdale. Every child who got lotteried in 9th and 10th grade is in the same boat. They got "lotteried" out of their district home school but GCS explanation is it is one BIG HP DISTRICT. So as you have given a great example, how can that ever be? With the lottery, who does represent whom? Is it the school you came from where you actually live? or the school to where a lotto ticket sent you?

And then there is our "at large" rep, how can that be when it was quite clear at the Penn-Griffin forum that she supported the interests of certain groups in HP and not at large.

If our reps are truly at large, it must be DIVERSITY for the entire county starting where it needs it most. Southwest HS is very diverse. Or we have NEIGHBORHOOD schools closest, or second closet when room does not allow it.

All of us in North High Point, in the Jamestown area of North High Point and in the county (not even in HP) who go to HP schools are tired of not being treated like the rest of the county.

Redheaded St.,

For the record, I had attended about every school board and redistricting forum around that time and I never heard any comments by SW people about Andrews. On the other hand, looking back, there were some parents from Welborn who shot themselves in the foot at the Andrews forum with all their negative comments about Welborn. I remember it quite well. There were similar comments I had heard from Andrews parents.

Your fight is not with parents.

There were many parents who fought to keep the Title I funds at Andrews which would have allowed Andrews to be an Opt out school and/or get the true help it needs. Parents did not remove that status.

What has been said recently has to do with facts noted on the NC report card, test scores and record of violent incidents. These are public reports, not what any people have said. Andrews is on record as one of the 4 lowest performing schools in the state. It was written in the newspaper about the violent incidents.

This is no reflection on you or the students at that school. Prior to the vote on the "CHoice" Plan, I personally met a lot of great parents from Andrews and we sat down and discussed a lot of the problems there. This is a reflection on how the current system is failing that school. This is where the efforts need to be targeted.

Other parents' kids are not the cure.

I'm glad you mentioned private school. After the "Choice Plan" we lost MANY great SW parents to private schools, some to the Northwest area (check out their booming real estate numbers) and others simply moved out of GCS. I can name 10 families I know of personally who went private. One family has 5 children. Think of their cost.

Parents didn't want their kids in a fixed lottery. Would any school board member have put their own child in this situation?

It has hurt all of us and the hurt continues for many.

The lottery of children solved nothing. Everyone has a right to know where their child will attend school just like the entire rest of the county does.

It is time for GCS to build schools where they need to be built - where the growth is. If this nonsense of rushed, sloppy maps and miscommunication and not truly listening to the parents of High Point continues, I am afraid will never see the funds for future schools in this county. The trailer cities will just keep on growing.

Dear Redheaded Stepchild,

Believe it or not, I feel your same pain. Many of us have always said that the goal of our superintendent and many on the board is to "divide and conquer". They were successful. During the fight leading up to the vote on the Choice Plan in 2004 and for 2 years afterwards, parents fought parents.

We all wanted the same thing. We all wanted to attend schools close to our homes. We all wanted safe schools which are academically challenging. In the end, we have not received any of this.

I may be wrong, but I believe Blairwood is closer to SW, but was redistricted to Andrews - the second closest school.

I live in NHP and my closest school, by far, is Ragsdale. There are many students attending Ragsdale who are closer to both Andrews and Central.

I think the board needs to stop playing games with our children. They need to make better decisions when prioritizing their bond projects. The fact that Jamestown Middle was removed from the 2003 bond that I supported means that Ragsdale cannot grow to accommodate our neighborhoods.

It's a domino effect and until the board does the right thing - build a new Jamestown Middle, expand Ragsdale and build an "Airport" High School, we will continue to fight.

I wish all the parents could come together on this one.

RIGHT ON QUEST!

YOU ARE ON A QUEST!

Freedom's just another word for nothing else to loose.

The Pearl

Barbara Ann, referring to your 3:43 post, (not the subsequent 4:57, 4:07 or 4:18 posts) Redheaded Stepchild was correct saying that Oakview was removed from Andrews and sent to Central. I'm pretty sure that RS is referring to the Oakview community (which attends Shadybrook Elementary), not Oak View Elementary (which attends Andrews).

Redheaded stepchild,

You have spoken for many of us here in the Blairwood section. Thank you and ignore everything Barbara Ann has said in her subsequent three, four, or how many posts she made. You are speaking the truth and we know it.

Sandy

In my previous post, when I mentioned Oakview being redistricted from Andrews to Central in the 1999 plan, I was indeed referring to the Oakview community that attends Shadybrook. The students and parents who live there were an important part of the success at Andrews.
Blairwood and the adjacent neighborhoods are much closer to Southwest than many of the Jamestown neighborhoods that claim Southwest as their "neighborhood school". Prior to the 1999 plan, this area was split, with one portion attending Southwest, and the other portion attending Andrews. The 1999 plan sent the entire area to Andrews.
If all three schools offered equality in terms of a quality education, strong discipline, a safe environment, and a diverse student population, I would have no problem with my children attending any one of the three. I live close to Southwest (1 mile), I work close to Central (7 miles), and Andrews is in between.
However, I cannot support any plan that places a large percentage of students on free and reduced lunch into any one school. During the 2002-2003 school year at Andrews, we learned to our dismay what can happen. I lived throught that horrible year with my child, and I would not wish it on anyone. One of the maps now under consideration proposes to make Central over 70% FRL. Surely we do not want to make that mistake again.
I understand clearly that the "focus themes" will remain in the schools. However, many of those programs, such as the IB and Early College program, are only open to students who are high achievers academically. The average student will still have to attend the school that is assigned to his or her neighborhood.
Many now speak of a time of healing and working together. I would like to believe that it can happen, but as I study the maps currently on the table and listen to the rhetoric, I am not optimistic. When it is all said and done, I believe there will be winners and losers. The winners will gloat and the losers will be bitter. But if we do not do what is necessary to improve the education for ALL the students in Guilford County, we will all be losers.

Why am I always labeled as a problem???????

Poor with Pride

If Dot Kearns Socialist Experiments are allowed to be carried out once again through the redistricting process,,,,,another wave of positive families will abandon GCS and head to the private school arena.

If this pattern continues,,,within 5 years, GCS system will become nothing more than a Holding Tank for Juvenile Delinquents.

Dot,,,your service to our schools has been nothing more than an Atrocity.

According to Redheaded Stepchild, after the 1999 redistricting some Blairwood residents went to private school, some went across the county line, some chose special programs. I assume others moved. All these things require sacrifices and it's now obvious to anyone reading that it is not a North High Point/Jamestown mentality to want the best education for your kids. People, everywhere, will always do what they can no matter what the cost. The problem is that the people from Andrews that are making the most noise don't plan to sacrifice anything.

Take the Sandy Allen types. She wanted kids to be forced to Andrews so her son could have access to more AP courses. She told us all about it on this blog. She didn't choose one of the many solutions like her neighbors but she expected other parents to understand when their children were forced to Andrews strictly for her child's benefit. Any other solution would have taken sacrifices from her family. They weren't the solutions she was looking for.

Try to see it from the side of the NHP parents. If a school needs resources, you can't just take kids from another school, force them to come to your self-diagnosed resource-depleted school, and expect them to be OK with that. ANYBODY would fight it - whether it is from a fixed lottery or a backdoor map!

Somebody, tell us what Andrews needs. We could probably agree on the solution and be more than willing to help as long as we don't have to offer up our kids. We're good people, but we aren't God.

Dear Redheaded Stepchild,

Thank you for clarifying. I am not familiar in details about your neighborhood. I had heard many of the Andrews people were pulled from Andrews in 1999. In 1999, I went to several of the mapping meetings. People in each school got only 2 reps each, thus the people in the county were under represented because it was not based on population per school. Since new schools had not been built in many years, the people in the City of HP had more representation. I watched as reps from the Central area made the maps to benefit Central. Many feel that, once again, this is what the "Choice" Plan was about, building up Central.

Putting other people's kids in a lottery was NOT the answer to solve the redistricting mistakes of 1999. It has only made things worse in many respects. We have lost many good parents.

Many of us would like to go to our closest school, Ragsdale. Our second closest is Western and Southwest. My family is in the county and not the City of HP so why are we even involved in all this shuffling in HP??? It is not our fault that Guilford County did not build a new school for 17 years (Pilot Elementary). We would be extremely happy to have a school closest to us. We are always told there is no room for us at Ragsdale, yet builders continue to build houses (East side of the corridor) with no impact fees attached (same goes for SW area). Where does everyone expect us to go to school? There are many people at Ragsdale who are closer to Andrews and Central as Quest stated.

I have been told they are teaching on carts at Andrews so where are these so called empty seats?

You have a point about Central going to 71% FRL. That wouldn't be a good thing for that school. With regard to the focus themes, per the last board meeting and other discussions many of us have heard, they are talking about eliminating the focus theme at Central that is not working and the educational strand at SW that is not working. They are talking about putting a magnet in Central that would work hand in hand with the Market and train people for jobs in High Point. So it will not just be the IB Program.

I don't think anyone is gloating now. It is a sigh of relief for lotteried children. I saw many "gloaters" while kids cried hysterically on Black Tuesday about being lotteried to a school and not knowing where they would go. Parents are glad the lottery is gone. It was never the right thing to do to children.

All children do deserve an education, but shipping a kid off on a bus and not addressing his real needs, i.e., learning to read, is not going to educate him. Look at the scores. Putting high achieving kids next to a low achiever is not going to help the low achiever. Kids don't learn by osmosis.

Yes, there will be winners and losers in the redistricting mess. The losers are the children who don't have their real educational needs addressed.

You are right about strong discipline, a safe environment and quality education. We have been saying this for years. We have written and spoken on these same issues for years. We are all saying the same thing. But the responsbility is with the administration and the school board. Central Office has all these educational "experts" who make big bucks so why are our schools failing kids? Busing is not the answer; resources, quality programs and good teachers are the answer. We are losing teacher because discipline is not being addressed in all of our schools.

And Sandy, if you don't to read what I write, turn off your computer. We are all entitled to our opinion. I've been at this for years now. It gets old for us too. We may have not technically been redistricted over the past several years, but we go through this constant stress every January for seveal months. First Christmas then redistricting. This year it just started earlier.

If we had known this was the situation in Guilford County, we would have never moved here. It certainly hasn't been fun for us. But we will continue to fight for what is right.

Well put 2 Men and a Truck. I remember that post quite well about wanting more of certain type students at Andrews so Ms Allen's kids could have AP classes. Hijack other people's kids so her son could benefit. Nice.

Why do I hear people saying that the choice plan was better? If you thought you had a choice with that farce you are wrong. If you are middle class and not FRL you are only going one way. Central or Andrews. No choice!
Now you will have a real choice. The lines need to be drawn as in GSO and we all need to get on with our lives and the SB need to fix the broken schools the way they are supposed to. By teaching!

I got it! The master plan is to drive everyone to private schools. There will be less students to spend money on and more money for central office people.

Redheaded Stepchild and Sandy Allen,

What is your solution?

You'd almost have to wonder if some people on the schoolboard are not getting paid finders fees by Westchester, HP Christian, Wesleyian, Bishop Mac etc. It's really the only logical explanation. I think me may see one of the biggest mass conversions to catholicism in guilford co. history.

Anyone have any data on how these private schools have grown over the last few years?

If our school is failing there are several people we must look to for a remedy, in this order:

1) School Board Rep
2) Superintendent
3) Teachers and Administrators
4) Leadership Teams/Parents of Students
5) The surrounding community

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER can we expect CHILDREN from the other side of town to come over to fix this! They didn't cause our problems. Elected officials and superintendents turn schools around everyday in this country. Guilford County shouldn't be any different. What have our leaders tried that didn't involve busing CHILDREN?

Like Pink Floyd says, LEAVE THEM KIDS ALONE!

I thought this blog was for a free exchange of thoughts and ideas, not personal attacks.

Two Men and a Truck seems to have missed my point. When I mentioned all the different options that people in this area have resorted to for educating their children, my point was that it should not be necessary to do this. All we ever wanted was a good public high school with a student population that emcompassed enough high achieving students to make it possible for us offer an adequate number of honors and AP classes to prepare our students for college. When the Oakview neighborhood adjacent to Shadybrook was redistricted to Central, many people did not want to go. It was done to improve diversity and test scores at Central. However, a similar neighborhood from Southwest did not get redistricted to Andrews to compensate us for the loss of Oakview.

I keep hearing that North High Point and Jamestown just want to be treated like the rest of the county. During the 1999 redistricting, many neighborhoods throughout Guilford County were moved from one school to another, regardless of their wishes. If they redistrict one of your neighborhoods, you should not feel singled out. It has happened to many people, not just you.

If I had my way, we would put the district lines in High Point back to where they were prior to the 1999 redistricting. I don't expect that to happen. I believe that Andrews is still a good school for many students. I know several families who still send their children there, and I am sure that they would not do that if their educational needs were not being met. However, I have come to believe that perhaps no school can readily meet the needs of all the students in a given neighborhood. Perhaps the answer is to draw district lines so that students will have a home school, but make it easier for students to opt-out and attend another school if the home school does not meet their academic needs. Maybe we need to have a vocational high school for students who do not plan to attend college and a high school that focuses more honors and AP courses for students who are college-bound. Transportation should be provided, if necessary.

In short, all of Guilford County needs to focus less on WHERE any one child attends school and more on ensuring that every child receives an appropriate quality education in a safe school.

Good suggestion redhead. Can you give us a rundown of what neighborhoods would change. I just can't remember back that far, but I know the schools were more even before the 99 redistricing.

Is this map D that Dot asked for?

Red head,

the point is that as many of us knew using the data that the board used for the choice plan was against the law. They had no option but to scrap it and go back to straight districting but once again, having been through it, the choice plan did not give you choice. If you are not FRL you were going to Central or Andrews.

As far as Blairwood is concerned you are going to your second closest school. Its impossible for everybody to go to the closest. Logical lines need to be drawn. Now you have a real choice.
Stay or sell.

Dont drag my kids into it.

Map D is the one AFTER the 1999 redistricting.

I do not remember the precise map that we had before that. All I know is that, prior to the 1999 redistricting, the population we had at Andrews was probably the best reflection of the local community as a whole. They were a good mix, racially and socioeconomically. We had a strong principal as our leader and teachers that were second to none. IT WORKED! (Which is probably why they tore it apart.)

I like the redhead.

During the 1999 redistricting, my neighborhood - and many others in Greensboro - saw their schools change in an effort to strike a balance between 'closest to home' and 'diversity'.

Sure there was some grumbling, because no one likes change - but through it all the focus of the school board was clear: Diversity and proximity... within reason.

Redistricting will always be a fact of life for a growing community with limited resources.

And also... How are Sandy Allen's motivations different from anyone else's here? Despite all the people professing that they want what is 'best for all the children' etc, I suspect that our first loyalty is much more focused than 'all the children' and much closer to what Sandy is berated for. We all want what is best for our own children first, but '2 Men', and others, seem to find such efforts to be less than an honorable undertaking.

Sandy's efforts didn't benefit just her child any more than other parent's efforts to overturn the lottery benefited just the more vocal parents' children.

She is looking out for her own first and foremost, just as you and I do. Others either benefit from our efforts - or not.

Hoggies back. As himself!

Hogg, why didn't you post as Bubba or Jon today? I suppose its early still right?

My solution would be to make each high school as balanced racially and economically as possible within reason. I have always said I supported redrawing the school lines over the choice plan. There are plenty of areas of NHP and Jamestown that could easily be moved into Andrews district without extending their bus ride to school.

It upsets me, though, to see so many of you post that you want to return to the 1999 redistricting lines even though you know that it resulted in the slow decline of Andrews High School.

It sends the message to me that you really don't care about all the kids in High Point, just your kids up at Southwest. Tell me that I'm wrong and convince me that you really care about my child and other children besides your own.

Sandy

Redhead SC,

I love the idea of vo-tech schools. Many of us have been saying this for years. This was in a written Solutions Proposal that was presented to the SB in February 04. It was brought up on January 03 and many school board members (some who actually voted for the IT Plan) agreed about having vo-tech schools.

All kids do not want college. All kids won't get into college. But all kids should be able to find a decent job when they graduate and be able to support themselves. All should graduate and at least be able to read and do basic math and write a letter and/or resume.

The Jamestown Area is just asking for their 1st closest school, Ragsdale, or their second closest Western or SW. For some of us if you break down the corridor by addresses Andrews is our 5th closest. That is far from being 2nd closest. We shouldn't have to drive by other neighborhoods who are in their closest school (thus creating satellite zones). Also many live in the county and NO city. We are not in High Point, Greensboro nor Jamestown. This is just for receiving mail. So why are people who don't even live in High Point expected to go to a city school and be thrown in this constant turmoil every year.

(To all, I thought we determined the other day that David was not the original Bubba? See other strands, everyone knows who the real Bubba is now. Follow the clues. As for Jon - good question.) Hey David did you ever connect this week with Biotechboy?

Sandy, Redheaded SC, et. al,

If I understand correctly, you wish to return to pre-1999 maps? If my memory serves correctly, are they not the pre-merger lines? Would those lines not restrict High Point residents to High Point schools, county residents to county schools, Greensboro residents to Greensboro schools?

This would be a step in the wrong direction. We are a unified school district and we must blend accordingly.

How do you feel about children attending their first or second closest school?

What resulted in the slow decline since the 1999 lines had to do partly with people moving and going private who were redistricted to Andrews. This will continue to happen. You can't force people into a low performing school. Had Title I funds remained, it would be an Opt Out school. Parents did not remove that Title I status.

Many factors where involved in the decline. It had to do with a novice principal from Nova University being put in that school. Rumor has it she worked on her PhD the entire time in her back office and was not a strong principal like Mr. Hairston. Giving answers to students for standardized tests and other issues contributed in the decline and the bad publicity that resulted from same. Then came an outsider principal who thought he was getting an established world class technology magnet school. Programs were put in place and the funds were never there. Then our Guilford County handbooks became more lax. Discipline issues where not addressed as is the case in many of our schools.

Now Andrews is on record as one of the four lowest performing states in the school. SW parents did not do this; their children are not the cure all. Once GCS corrects this situation, people will willingly come. This didn't happen overnight. It won't be corrected overnight. And the problem is not going to be solved by some rushed, sloppy maps that people can't read.

David, you asked about Sandy. I guess because 8th graders and their families were put through two years of hell not wanting to be in a lottery. She is on record as being for the IT Plan. All kids should know where they will be going to school. Neighborhoods should not be split between 3 high schools, taking away children's ties to the friends they grew up with. That might be one reason.

We lost great parents to private schools or other counties, or the NW area. The IT Plan affected many families financially as realtors could not tell potential buyers where their kids would go to school. Husbands moved on due to corporate moves; wives remained to deal with the family issues and a house they couldn't sell. It affected families. And yes these families are angry. I think John Faircloth said it best at the SB meeting this past week. You don't mess with people's kids.

And David and Sandy, now as a result of what has happened over the past several years, we are only losing more and more children, parent volunteers and their volunteer time and dollars to private schools. The spiraling down continues.

If any redistricting is done in HP, it needs to be done when the entire county is redistricted. It is Neighborhood schools for all or Diversity for the entire county, starting with schools like Smith and Dudley. GCS goal is one county movement. This would prove they are willing to do this.

One other goal is IMPROVE DISTRICT, PARENT, COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS.

How do rushed sloppy maps help this?

Also see the article in today's N & R about starting a new school mid year in the Northern/NW area. These parents are angry too. They weren't asked for input before this vote. There were some great questions raised about merging sports teams, clubs, etc.

So far this 2006 goal of community relationships is NOT off to a good start. If this same trend continues, I fear we will never get the new school buildings we need as bonds will never pass. In the end, it hurts the children who need a school building and not a trailer.

One other solution to "redistricting" in HP...take every NEW development - single family homes and apartments and put them in Andrews and Central if there are indeed seats. Hang a NO VACANCY sign on SW to these NEW neighborhoods until a new "airport" school is built. That is what other cities in the country do. Make our builders pay impact fees for schools, roads and parks. This was brought up in a Solutions Proposal to the SB and Commissioners before. Areas that are already in SW would be grandfathered in if these new developments become satellites. There were also maps provided about ways to do this with annexing areas. Once you have the new school built, then redistrict the SW area.

Thanks for your support, David. I agree with everything you said. Most of us do tend to be more concerned with how any plan will affect our own children than about how it will affect others. However, I do not want to see a plan implemented that will cause any school to face the kind of issues that Andrews faced during the 2002-2003 school year

As for what quest said, I don't have a problem with attending my second or even third closest school. I said that earlier. I do have a problem with the 1999 redistricting because it was not done equitably. It was done in a manner that benefits Central and Southwest and harms Andrews.

Also, in reference to the lottery, I knew several students last year who are not FRL who did get into Southwest.

Dear Redhead,

Thank you for saying what you said and not wishing this on others. I sat in some of those mapping meetings in 1999. Emorywood people steered those maps. You know this. Look at the results. It has always been about Central; so was the IT Plan. With a lottery that could use the FRL numbers they could fix their school how they wanted it to be. Also many smart kids from SW chose the IB program. So they got the smart kids too like they wanted. Perfect social engineering at it's finest: income and smarts at the same time.

I can't acknowledge your lottery comment in the last paragraph. But the following is true and the SB acknowledged this:

Only children at Andrews and Central got their FIRST choice in the lottery this past year.

ONLY children at Southwest did not all get their first choice. And this is the ONLY school then out of the ENTIRE county that was put in a situaTion of not getting their choice school, i.e. one in which they moved to that neighborhood and KNEW the school they would attend.

Another point to mention is there was not other plan in this country like the IT Plan. It was a hybrid of a magnet "like" program. It was not ever a true choice magnet.

Be afraid, be very afraid .... Central trying to get rid of their gang problem to someone else. Has this always been about Central????????

Please read the following email from the HPC PTSA president and help us. I know some of you don't have students at Central now, but you either went there or your kids did. Central has really made great progress in the past year and if the school board passes the proposed redistricting map, it will have a major impact on the ability of the administration to have a safe and learning environment for the future students. Please email or call the board members and ask them to reconsider. The more voices they hear, the better chance we have to stop this.

Here is a list of the school board members email address:

nrouth@bellsouth.com
childsw@gcsnc.com
mendens@gcsnc.com
dygarr@aol.com
alan.duncan@Smithmoorelaw.com
Sharpea@gcsnc.com
mcsykes6@aol.com
kcooke73@triadd.rr.com
hayesd@gcsnc.com
quicka@gcsnc.com
dotkendall@aol.com


I am not sure how many of you watched the Board of Education meeting last night when they talked about redistricting because they did not start until 10:00pm but if you look at the maps they are proposing for redistricting in High Point you will see that they want to increase HPC enrollment to 1500 students with our free/reduced lunch number going up by almost 13%. This is unacceptable. WE need to have voices out their fighting this plan. They are planning on having a forum for public comments next Thursday at 7:00pm at Providence place. Please try and come and speak about these maps. They are located on the GCS website but they are very hard to read. If this goes through we will even have more problems to deal with that what we have now and our administrators are doing a great job keeping our school under control but if this does happen I am not sure if they or even an Army of people will be able to. Please let your voice be heard at the forum and also e-mail the Board of Education. If you have any questions regarding this please contact me.
Thank you for helping HPC the great school it is.
Debbie Maines


As a note to Debbie's email, I watched the school board meeting Tuesday night. Dot Kearns and Amos Quick seem to be very concerned about the added numbers of free/reduced lunch students being sent to Central. Email all the board members and let them know what you think. Dr. Grier made the comment that they would need more parental support and community support if this passed. I think we all know how difficult it is to have that presently. If they would split Juanita Hills and Southside, this would dramatically decrease the gang problem and fights at Central. This is common sense. We need to make our voices heard. We need to also show our support for Mrs. Johnson and the extremely hard work she does at Central. We are very fortunate to have someone willing to do all she is doing and it's making a big difference, but even she would have an unbearable task if this proposal passed.

Kay Miller

BE AFRAID ANDREWS AND SW .... IT'S ALL ABOUT CENTRAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Andrews may now be addressed not as a "problem school" or "failing School" but as having students that need more help. I have heard good things about the new principal and less about violence. What concerns me is teacher complains about the rising violence at Ragsdale, some gang related and it is not being addressed becuase their principal is very good at containing the information. Southwest also has some violence problems that are being "media" managed.

Until the real problems are addressedm until parents are welcomed back with open arms to volunteer and be accepted at the schools many problems will not be addressed. One great parent I knew was gifted in helping children and yet was told by old - 2 ago - Andrews principal and staff that they did not need help.

Real problems deserve real answers. Head office staff should be required to spend 5 hrs a week "volunteering" at schools that need help, then they will be motivated to find good solutions. Then parents will be welcomed back, and then we can begin to move forward.

red,

quest has the answer. stop looking at hp alone. look to the entire county for your answers. it won't be found if you continue to focus on hp only. look bigger and the answers become clear. the northeast section of hp should be going to ragsdale. we should stay at sw and so should blairwood.

Garth,
Great idea about volunteering. I would add that the SB should do the same. Not just visit, but get in there and answer the phones, work in the media center, read to our little ones, work in ISS, do cafeteria duty, etc. Walk in the volunteer and school personnels shoes and then maybe they would understand what really goes happens on a daily basis.

Was this the Debbie Maines that ran for school board?

Very sad indeed. I am so glad this came to light now. We have seen her true colors.
This woman should never be elected to the school board.

That E-mail will haunt her for a long time.

Gues who?

"I dont want "those" types at my school.

It Dot reincarnated.

Let's see. A school board candidate for District 2 that only cares about Central High School.

Yeah right. This will never happen now.

Susieeeeeee has taught Debbieeeeeee well!

Garth, thank you for caring about all the schools.

One big happy parent party Thursday at Providence Place with the School Board. Is Fantasia coming to sing again? C Boy will accompany on the guitar. She can tell us all the good ol' stories about the great High Point schools. Whose bringing the popcorn? General are you wearing your Santa Suit? Jane, Joe, Janie and Joey are bringing the drinks. Bubba will pass out the socialist literature. A fun time will be had by all.

You would be EXTREMELY surprised who is supporting Debbie M if she runs. Very surprised. No it is not someone from Envywood. Think further east, like a huge group in another city. Word is out she is not running. We shall see.

Once again, let's stop the personal attacks. I know Debbie Maines and, like many of you, she volunteers tirelessly in the schools. I believe she is president of Central's PTA. I think the map she was referring to is Map A, which would dramatically increase the number of FRL students at Central. As far as I can see, her email is just informing the parents at Central about the impact. Could someone please tell me why you think it is acceptable for the Southwest community to organize against any plan that they believe will be detrimental to their school, but when Andrews or Central does it, you seem to think it is unacceptable. Everyone is just fighting to get the best deal they can for their own school, so let's stop the hypocrisy.

As for Debbie Maines running for school board, I think she would do an excellent job, because she cares about the kids, not the politics. However, if memory serves, she lives in District 1, so she can't run in District 2.

To the paranoid scizophrenic recently known as 'He's Back':

Your claim about me having several identities is known as 'transference' in psycho-babble - look in the mirror man/woman. I only post under my name. If you have evidence to the contrary, please share.

Although I only play the role of a shrink on TV, I've learned enough to know you may be in need of counceling for another ailment: denial. You obviously find it impossible to believe that similar views can be held by more than one person. Especially if those views might differ from whatever yours might be.

But the truth is, you might actually agree with me that the HP lottery plan stunk to high heaven, we just don't know, now do we?. You are simply a cowardly construct who's comfort zone is to anonymously snipe at real people from the sidelines without substantiation. By doing so, you never have to truly commit to, or be held accountable for, any point of view or opinion. I think that is a symptom of 'borderline personality'.

No charge for the the diagnosis.

Okay, I'm back.. I almost fell into that trance! I guess I was on the Magical Tour.. or was it the Wishful Tour. Anyway, I will be going to Page for the comment session, however our area has 4 maps and they are all the same. Not much to comment on there. Good Luck on Thursday. I hope the BOE comes with open minds, but I fear that they know where the wind blows and these meeting are only for show.

Where is "Providence Place"?

Red, I don't think you know the people that post here very well if you think the comments about Debbie Maines are personal attacks.

I think most people are simply saying that they have dealt with Susan Mendenhall NOT representing Southwest for years and there is no way they will support ANOTHER candidate with the same mindset.

Looking at Debbie's E-mail I read "I dont want those types of children at our school"
I dont think this is good language from a possible school board member.

Now, why is it that people think taking kids that live close to SW solves the problems at these schools? Why are you not asking about Ragsdale too? If we are going to maps like A or C then Ragsdale could also be included and the FRL numbers could be spread around a lot more. Ragsdale is not a very diverse school at all!

Joe,

I think Providence Place is the old Westchester Mall. (It sure would be nice to have a street address in the newspaper or one line though.) If it's where I think it is, you stay on Eastchester (68) heading away from the airport toward High Point. Cross over Main St. in High Point. That becomes Westchester. Go several miles and it is on the left. I think near a restaurant called "The Rainbow".

Maybe someone else can give more specific directions. A street number would be nice.
(Maybe they don't want anyone to know where it's at from the likes of the many postings here??)

Yeah Redhead, Debbie cares so much about kids that she says it will take an "Army" to handle them. I feel the love.

I just spewed coffee all over my (actually Jinni's) screen.

That's the best anonymous name... EVER!

I should be back up later this week, but I'm afraid I am just getting warmed up. Nothing like a looming BOE election meeting to get the juices flowing.

Dave,

I have never been to your blog and dont know anything about it or you. You say that you did not like the lottery part of the choice plan. That means you agree with most of the posters here so why is it I see you in conflict with everybody?
Why is that?

Great observation, Fair. They might as well say, "We don't want those gangs in our schools. Just put them somewhere else." No one wants gangs and fighting in their schools. So why are they still there?

That's a GREAT question for David. Where was he in the fight against the "Choice" Plan the past two years?

Fair says: "...then the FRL numbers could be spread around alot more."

If I'm reading correctly, you seem to agree that "those types of children" should be "spread around". It's just a matter of where some of "them" should end up.

Good point, you are aptly named.

Would anyone else care to answer 'outintheopen', because I don't have one?

I really don't understand the animosity toward me... never have.

It could go back to the fact that I opposed one of ABC of GC's candidates for school board in the last election. But my opposition to that candidate had nothing to do his stance against the lottery - that was about the only thing that he and I agreed on.

David, I've been trying to figure out for a while why I don't like you. Now I know. I'm jealous because I want for my kids what your kids have.

I remember you waxing on in a post about how your kids can walk to Kiser and the sense of community you have. Like much of Greensboro, what's good for you is not good for everyone else. Like the School Board, it's never YOUR kids or neighborhood that is bused. SB members and many in Greensboro are very generous in busing my kids long distances.

Please pick the FIFTh closest school to your home and imagine your kids being bused there. How would you feel? How involved would you, could you be in that school? I would think it reasonable for my kids to be assigned to their 1st or 2nd school. That would be Ragsdale or Western Guilford in my case. The already go to the third, Southwest, which is quite a haul to run kids to events, games, etc.

The current distance already limits my involvement. My involvement at the fifth school will be non-existent, because I will never allow my kids to be persecuted in this manner.

All we want is the same consideration from the SB that you get. Would you think that fair?

ScottB.,

No one will believe your post to Hogg. There was no racist twist to your confession so the rest of Guilford County won't believe that is all the folks of NHP/Jamestown request.

We have been made out to be such awful, whiney, racist, selfish lot of folks so our simple desire of a reasonably close school will not be understood--just like it hasn't been for the last 2 years.

Scott,

It is Aycock, not Kiser, that is across the street from my house - but you are correct - having that sense of community is very important for me.

My neighborhood is bused to both elementary and high school, but not too far. And we don't pass other schools on the way. And I've really never measured the distance to see if they are "closest to home".

How would I feel if my kids were assigned to the 5th closest school? It would piss me off and cause me to rage against the machine... just like you.

I have long advocated for a compromise between two seemingly polar-opposite goals: reasonable diversity within reasonable proximity.

Tim Mann, of whom I otherwise hold in the highest regard, is of the opinion that there can be no compromise on diversity. He advocates that all schools in GC must be treated exactly the same. If I read him (and others) correctly, the only way to achieve fairness is for every school to adhere to a hard and fast FRL percentage. Say 60/40 for argument's sake.

This is impossible to acheive county-wide. We simply can't afford the gas, nor the wholesale flight to private schools, that such 'fairness' would cost. So compromise will be required - and I am all about compromise.

Others here are not, and that creates friction.

Is there no compromise that lies somewhere between my 1st and 5th closest school?

I'm also about a compromise, I am reasonable, but my 5th, 6th or even 7th closest school is not acceptable. The new redistricting maps will give me either my 3rd or 5th closest school. The 3rd is okay, the 5th will cause me to either move or go private--even if private is farther away. If I'm going to have my child shipped across town, then it's going to have to be an awesome school that makes the long ride have a benefit.

Hoggard, it's nice to see you playing nicely.

I have "heard" that Debbie Mainess has had a significant personal tragedy involving one of her children. She is one that has tirelessly served our community and many children are much better off today for her efforts. Should she run, I would be grateful. It is people like her that will make the real difference in children’s lives. Her input into the race would truly give a clearer perspective, and I believe that truth, complete truth will offer hope. It is administrators, business managers and Glamour Committee Volunteers that can either help these real workers such as Debbie and Barbara and many, many others, or get out of their way. I hope to do both with their input and support. My real wish is that the Board were so interested in our children’s education and less on personal agendas and aggrandizement that I wouldn’t need to run and someone more like Debbie or Barbara could be on the Board. Most of the Board already prays that someone else besides me wins and I don’t blame them. I do not like to play games and do not believe in misinformation at all.

My hope is to get the Administration out of the hair of the real workers. Most teachers in Guilford County have no love for the current Administration. They have become an obstacle to any real solution and have inhibited parental involvement in “neighborhood schools”. No, I do not believe Oak Hollow and Blairwood are “neighborhoods” anywhere near Andrews or Central. We must stop the slithering snake where it is and then work on turning it back. There are large neighborhoods a stones throw from Andrews now attending Ragsdale that are far closer and would alleviate pressure on Ragsdale’s facilities. Andrews has been “underrepresented by it’s current board member and Central needs significant help also. There is, as far as I can see, no real Southwest Solution without a true High Point/Jamestown/Colfax solution. Preserving current lines just means a first small step to addressing real solutions and returning to true neighborhood schools. Central has a great, working IB program, the foundation of which can be built upon.

Andrews has a good advanced program, that with the technology program can be enhanced to become true magnet style programs that along with smaller classrooms, more teachers and tutors, can offer real hope to those who have gown up with so little hope. With neighborhood schools working and true help being offered, High Point and Jamestown can reverse the trends of the have and have not syndrome. We must target our resources on the problems, not on hiding or covering up the problems as we currently so. Restore Title 1, take the lumps and fix the darn thing.

Garth!

Dave,

"How would I feel if my kids were assigned to the 5th closest school? It would piss me off and cause me to rage against the machine... just like you".

So why criticize those that fight against this very thing? Why join on the bandwagon and call us biggots,racists and other such names?

Dave I dont get you?

"Why",

Please point to where I have joined any "bandwagon and call us biggots, racists, and other such names".

While I may have labeled a particular post or poster as such in the past, I have never done what you accuse me of.

The public forums are just a way for the school board to get a good laugh. They already know what map they want.It does not matter if a thousand people come out and protest, just look at the choice plan. A deal has been struck behind closed doors. Greensboro will almost stay the same while HP gets the shaft again. If map "A" gets approved, my kids will be going to their fourth closest school. I do not believe anybody in Greensboro will be shipped to there fourth closet school. If I am wrong, please show me where.

Why are students from Bessemer Elementary being "forced bused" to the seventh fartherest away school?

We will experience the same problems that current students from Rankin have been complaining about. Move the Magnet and VSN program from Lincoln and room for students that could walk to Lincoln would not be an issue.

- transportation..to and from school..length of
ride
- participation in after-school activities
- in-ability to attend parent teacher conferences
- in-ability to meet with school administration
- difficulty making doctor appointments i.e.
- difficulty picking up students when ill

Dear "Parent",

All of those valid rationales are of NO concern to the majority of the school board. If they did not move students around, they would be forced to make changes at the school level. This is beyond their ability. Do you actually think that the Guilford County Board of Education is capable of addressing the educational needs of your child?

The Guilford County Board of Education is in the business of transportation, NOT EDUCATION.

So sorry to be the bearer of this news.

David,

Point of clarification.

Please re-read my suggestion re: busing for diversity. I say the county wide average + or - 10%. That's a 20 point swing from the high to the low. In my opinion, THAT's compromise.

As I have stated earlier, if you allow anyone's position to begin, "Yeah, but" or "That doesn't apply here because....", POLITICS will rule the roost. Our kids are too valuable to be used as pawns to serve political agendas.

Even well meaning people have screwed the system because they "hoped" a particular theory would work. I said it before and I'll say it again, HOPE IS NOT A PLAN!

A countywide plan that adheres to a base principal (either neighborhood schools or busing for diversity) is what is needed. Different strategies based on the municipality in which you live will continue to cause conflict.

Glad to see you engaged in a spirited dialogue with all of the folks that post here. Obviously, ALL have a passion for kid's education.

Point taken, Tim. I stand corrected.

Glad to be back in the fold. The tone has dropped back to a civil level. At least for now.

Just wondering, Tim - and for public consumption. What has been your understanding of my position on the High Point lottery for the past two years?

From the HPE: "Kearns said diversifying the city’s schools has a long-range purpose: to move the city forward from a historically poor past."

Question that I have been wondering for a long time now:

Why is Dot Kearns trying to "save" High Point from her School Board seat? Shouldn't she be on the High Point City Council or the High Point Chamber of Commerce if her real goal in life is to save the city of High Point.

She's on the WRONG board!

Hey DOT, LEAVE MY KIDS ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just a note. The first "Why" that posted is not the second "Why". Check out e-mail address.

But I guess we all want to know "why" on many of the questions.

"And the word went out from Caesar Dotticus, for the good of the empire and to atone for the past sins of the patricians, the northern tribes should offer up their progeny and themselves for crucifixion forthwith. The tribes will present themselves to Providence Placeicus in front of the Senate, where for the amusement of the masses, each tribe will plead for itself henceforth."

Let's tell them we've all had enough!!!!!

I'M SPARTICUS

"As the little child rats scrambled for their crumb of bread (a decent school) the Piped Piper played on. The faster he played, the faster the tiny rodents drew nigh to the abyss. 'EEEE, which one will go first,' they cried.

In a far away land, while Spartacus was preparing to go into battle with the famous 14 Star General, Nero fiddled faster and faster as Rome (aka High Point Schools) continued to burn up in smoke.

Those who did not escape in time were left in the dust."

Garth,

Weren't you the guy that ran for a seat on the Board of Education a while back? Ran a full page ad in the newspaper about your view of the school system and how to improve.

If so, you got creamed as I recall, and what do you plan to do differently in the 2006 election that you didn't do in the other'n.

The SB is a Lost Cause:

Rankin Elementary students have been bused since the 1999 redisticting. Their 7th closest school
is Eastern Middle School.

To fix the problem the school board is proposing switching out the Rankin students that are screamming and sending them to Page and switching these students with Bessemer Elementary kids which currently attend Page.

Eastern Middle will be the 7th closest middle school. They could walk to Aycock, Hairston, and Lincoln and Dudley High.

Eastern is over 50% minority and over 50% FRL.

Eastern has four trailers to accomodate the overload of students.

There is a bus that currently travels over 30 minutes one way before dropping off the first student.

I want to see "THE REAL NUMBERS" for all these schools. For the school board members to make intelligient decisions, they should have this information....why is it being hidden from us.
Put it on the maps....

School capacity:

School enrollment:
School diversity:
School FRL:
School number of neighborhood seats:
School number of magnet seats:
School number of special program seats:
Number of trailers:
Closest school scenarios:
Distance:

Bubba
I did take on some hurt. Like a fool I underestimated Dot and Jim Kirkpatrick and came out 3rd in Primary. I was not to far behind Kirkpatrick, but several of us split the vote and Jim was to much of a gentleman to mix it up with Dot. Also running at large DOT had a large minority special interest contingent not in High Point. She has some deep political ties that I do not have.

Running for a fresh open seat for Ward 2 where I did carry the vote in last election is a relatively easy win. How ever... I do not make the same mistake twice and am planning a very expensive, very thorough campaign and have not ruled out TV. How negative will be dependent upon the current board. If I have to campaign against them and the Bond also I will. This is not my preferred tact, I prefer to support Bonds and work positively. If they mess with High Point/Jamestown again, it will be messy.

Hands Off My Kids!!!!

My sentiments exactly. I read the same thing in Sunday' paper and almost spilled my coffee. This was also stated at the board meeting the night the Lottery was voted out. The concern was expressed for the City of High Point and it's ECONOMY.

An At-Large SCHOOL rep should be concerned about all the children in all of the schools. The position should not be used to better one's city or origin. We are GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS, not High Point City. Consider the comments that were flying from the speakers at the Penn-G forum.

Garth,

Good luck.

One small word of advice. I would caution you to associate yourself with the Chalkboard. Over the very short period that I've been on it there has been an undercurrent of racism that permeates too many of the posts and you know how the competition might try to use it against you.

I can guarantee you that political action committee you refer to will be back in the fray to get their people elected.

Bubba,

Your information as to "creamed" is not exactly true. Running at large and considering all the influence that Greensboro voters have, it is tough in itself to get a High Point resident in an "at-large" position, let alone beat an incumbant.

The primaries were the main problem for Garth. As he mentioned, the vote was split by the SW folks between Garth and Kirkpatrick. And it is hard to beat an incumbant. This go round there will be no incumbant.

Money wins elections. Garth has the money and is not afraid to spend it. Garth has the support of MANY. Garth has tons of worker bees ready to start buzzing and hammering signs. Garth has the numbers in North High Point and Jamestown. Garth has been consistent in the past two years it what he stands for. His message has been about helping children, poor children and addressing the real problems in our schools, not in window dressing by busing. This has not changed.

What will be interesting to watch is who runs for SB in the other parts of the county. Garth might even have some money left to spend there too.

Whatever happens, it will surely be an interesting Nov. 06.

I would truly like to see some new school buildings instead of trailer cities. In order to get future bonds passed, we must have the support of the North High Point and Jamestown community. These parents are tired of not being heard. It will be hard enough to get bonds passed because of the state lottery that just passed. We will need all the support we can get.

BUBBA

ONLY YOU SEE THE RACISM BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT YOU CHOOSE TO SEE. I SEE WHAT YOU MEAN THOUGH AFTER THAT EMAIL "NOT THOSE KIDS IN OUR SCHOOL (CENTRAL)". HIGH POINT SCHOOL BOARD REPREPRESENTATIVES QUESTIONED THOSE PERCENTAGES.

I GUESS THE PAC WILL BE BACK IN BUSINESS AGAIN PUTTING UP THEIR HOMEMADE CARDBOARD SIGNS AND STARTING THEIR RACIST RUMORS. TOO BAD THAT TACTIC HAS BEEN USED. IT FAILED. TRUTH ALWAYS WINS. TRUTH ABOUT FRL FIGURES NOT BEING LEGAL FOR A LOTTERY. THE CHOICE PLAN IS GONE BECAUSE OF THE TRUTH.

YOU REALLY NEED TO WATCH MORE SCHOOL BOARD MEETINGS.

GARTH STANDS FOR THE TRUTH. IT SHALL SET YOU FREE!

Barbara Ann,

As I recall now it was a pretty lopsided vote so the term creamed is pretty right on.

Wish him better luck in the next go around. He doesn't seem to intimidated by a good old fashion political rumble.

I picked up in some of your posts that you might wanta run also. Does that mean your gonna go after the same votes that Garth is after?

Politics can be a mean thing and you really gotta have a thick skin to run and rule. You just seem to nice of a lady to get muddied by the warfare of school board issues.

Parent,

Thanks for letting me know

TheWholeTruth,

What are you talking about? Are you a correspondent for the Russian newspaper PRAVDA (translated, truth)? You certainly seem confused to me 'cause I don't know what you're referring to. I never said anything about Central High being a racist high school.

You've obviously are confusing me with someone else's post.

Bubba,

The jury is still out. But thank you for your kind words.

Again, 100 posts on a tired ol' subject.

I'll have you know sir/madam the quality of our kid's education ain't a "tired ol' subject."

Bubba, you remind me of the class bully just lookin' for a fight. Even negative attention is rewarding, right? Well, I ain't playing. I'm tired of you too.

This years SB elections will be interesting and I hope each area has at least two people run. Too bad that Jim didn't beat Dot last time. I am tired of her only caring about HP and being called a HP representative. She is suppose to be an at-large that represents everyone. Unfortunately she doesn't get that idea. Or maybe it is fortunate for the rest of the county. Still no comments from Marti, Alan, Deena about running. I know that Nancy Routh is planning on running. She is a very intelligent, thoughtful person and knows more about hands-on education that the rest of the board. I haven't always agreed with her (like last Tuesday when she voted to open Northern in the middle of the year) but I do know that she puts alot of thought and research into her job. She really does love children and public education. I will support her. She is the only SB position that I get to vote on this time around.

Bubba, I thought you were supposed to be me. Now I'm confused.

Barbara Ann-

Bubba brings up an interesting scenario. What happens if you and Garth and Tim all decide to run. Now I know that any one of you will be an extraordinary improvement over what we have now, but I would really have to think about which one to select. All three of you are very strong contenders and would do a great job, IMHO.

Thank you Blairwhat. Time will tell. I hear Emorywood is scratching their heads hard to come up with a candidate. Who knows? Maybe we will end up with 5, and maybe only 1.

If it ends up just Garth, think of all the money he will have left for other adverstising campaigns if he chooses.

The possibilities are endless.

Isn't democracy great.

See you Thursday at Providence Place.

Mr. David,

You and I, Hank W., (and just possibly C. Boy)Barbara Ann & Garth, and one other whose moniker escapes me at this time, in my opinion are probably the only sane and well informed bloggers on the Chalkboard. Oh, yes, I almost forgot, I must include Bruce & Jennifer, though they aren't as opinionated as some of us are.

For the rest of them, only Jesus and Billie H. has the answer.

You know, they do pay you an enormous compliment by accusing you of being me, you know that don't you?

God bless the child that's got his own, that's got his own.

Barbara Ann,

If you should put your hat in the ring for a seat on the Bd of Ed you do have several things going for you.

1) You're a mother. Mothers are synonomous with PTA's and being teachers. Mothers are viewed as the safety nets for our kids.

2) You have a strong grasp of the issues.

3) You have public exposure already as a result of your speaking at meetings.

I don't know your bank book stacks up, but you do have many qualities in your favor.

Go ahead, take the plunge.

Hey Bubba, You're a mother too! YOU should run for the BOE!

Thanks for your vote of confidence, Bubba, but all in due time. Lots to think about and resolve in timing issue. Your last point is not a problem if I decide to run. That's what committed sisters and friends are for.

The most pressing issue NOW is redistricting, more importantly....taking a breath and putting any redistricting of High Point on hold until the ENTIRE county is truly redistricted. That would be with a focus on Neighborhood schools or Diversity starting in Greensboro first. As Garth has stated so well, we need a school in the Ragsdale area and we need an "airport" school. The Jamestown projects were dropped due to lack of sufficient funds. There is absolutely no real reason to redistrict now. The lines are in place as in Map D - DOT's motion. (Same lines that are now used for 11th and 12th graders.)

The focus themes are in place at the 3 high schools. The programs that are not working are being phased out. The others can be enhanced and promoted at the magnet fairs. These programs, in my opinion, should be open to the entire county or at least the western half. A new program is planned for Central that would compliment the furniture industry. The programs at Andrews can be enhanced and promoted.

I feel the focus now should be on STABILITY in all three high schools. There's been enough constant turmoil in the past few years. It is time to stop and think before the school board rushes into another quick fix doomed to fail.

It's truly time to give it a rest.

Joe,

This strand has gotten so long. I just noticed the beginning of it. The exact address of Providence Place is posted.

Here you go, Joe...
PROVIDENCE PLACE
1727 Westchester Drive, High Point
7-9 p.m. Thursday

Just go to www.mapquest.com to plug in your address and it will give you directions right from your door.

To All Members of the Resistance. The Eagle has pooped. Repeat...THE EAGLE HAS POOPED.

I see that TERRY the TURKEY has also made another appearance! Is that where the Eagle went poo??

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU KNOW WHO!!!!

Why thank you very much.

I know that for many of you our journey to make education better for the High Point community has been difficult with several detours.

However, and I promise you this, I will not veer from the Board and my goal of making education between the three High Point High Schools just and equal.

Barbara Ann,

In all due respect, the exact address was posted after I posed the question? Bruce originally put up the "maps" post then later modified the post with addresses etc. Bruce has super powers. He can change his post at will. On occasion, I could have used this feature myself.

FYI: I'm pretty sure that isn't the real Terry Grier posting (although he did post once before). So don't get too worked up responding.

And Joe, I do have the superhuman ability to alter my blog posts at will. Not as cool as being Spider-Man or The Flash, but it does come in handy!

Bruce,

How do you know that's not the real Terry Grier? Is it because we all know that his goal is to NOT make all three HP schools "just and equal"?

Ah, Terry, ah, 'just and equal'? For who? And, just High Point? I'm sure it was an oversight, but you know, your district includes Greensboro too. I'm sure you just forgot. I'm sure you meant to say the whole county, but the birthday celebration maybe made you a little giddy. Many happy returns to Tennesee er...I mean, of the day.

Your biggest fan,

Detour, I'm pretty sure because I can check and see where these posts come from. This one didn't come from the same computer as the GCS office - in fact, it was made by someone who is a regular poster to this blog.

Also, the e-mail address is wrong and I assume Dr. Grier knows his own e-mail address!

I see there were two SUPER, DUPER erections; and fyi Gilda is not a senior citizen yet so she is not getting on that bus!!!!!

You've got to be kidding, Bruce! That wasn't really Terry Grier? That's scary. Whoever you are, seriously consider euthanasia, you are channeling the man. Wow? The same trite moronic automaton phrasing. The same clever obfuscation of hidden political agenda with pseudo-egalitarian, pandering platitudes. You are an artist. (Although posssibly suicidal). I salute you!