News-Record.com

How they can now expect to ask for more Bond money from the families they have betrayed is beyond my comprehension. Last night I had people telling me they were moving and no on bonds was the common phrase. After duping the commissioners into diverting bond funds into an unplanned project at the spur of the moment, they trick half the board with an unplanned map. They cannot continue to play the whole county as stooges for their silly, childish games.

I will say that recently I started to feel at least some of the board members believed in "transparency". Taping the work session Monday night was a great sign. After watching most of last night's meeting (dozing off in between) caught most of what happened. I think this board has reached it's all time lowest. The backdoor politics were SO obvious. You could blatently hear the truth come out on this.

I thought that Black Tuesday was bad, but Tuesday, February 21st is the final nail in the coffin for the City of High Point.

I feel just like I felt the day after Black Tuesday. Only difference is thank God I am not working today and have to be around all the people whose families just got screwed.

This is the ultimate move in destroying communities.

If I hear about someone else's neighborhood being split and how great this board is for not splitting neighboods and pretending to care about families, I will have to puke.

The display site on SW School Road is available. Any ideas? Anything goes!!

Hey Barbara Ann, I understand via the NHP communications media that you dosed off last night, were you sleeping during Susan's speech? It was almost as insane as Dot's GA peanut farmer speech back on 2/10/04.

I thought Susan was going to cry, she must have taken a bite out of an onion first. At least now I finally know why High Point is different than the rest of Guilford County. Apparently Dot and Susan know it is illegal to cross county lines and abduct kids out of Forsyth, Randolph, and Davidson counties and put them in their two pig-in-a-poke schools. Unfortunately kids in High Point and Jamestown are always in season.

If only the Board were made up of Darlene, Anita, and Nancy things might improve.

Looks like High Point Realtors will have a lot of listings in the next year. These "educated" people on the school board actually think that they will be able to ask for more bond money to throw to the 4 winds, and High Point taxpayers will just vote it through. The school board will reap what they sow when voters get to the polls.

You are right, Buck. that was the stupidest speech ever (after the peanut speech). what wasd the point? She was almost sending a message loud and clear DON'T MOVE TO HIGH POINT. These people are cutting thier own jugular right in public. Susan, if you want to commit your town's economic suicide, do it in private.

Susan finally told us why high point is different it borders other counties.

what does that have to do with the price of eggs?

on another note - there seemed to be alot of bitter medicine going around last night over how the lottery was voted out.

the lottery was originally voted in the same way -closed door meetings - noone from nhp knew it coming with exception of a few elected officials that chose to not spill the beans

there is plenty of good ole politics to go around this county

the school board should have brought in outside firm to look at redistricting

i guess we can thank susan for the real estate tip on neighboring counties!!!

I mean susan's speech, like you said, was a declaration that since HiGh Point is in a corner and they can't mine any other direction for kids they had to come north, sort of like apologizing to the N. HIgh Point people. These people are so lost, it's unbeleievable. SUE, I know you are from Emerywood AND THIS CONCEPT IS THEREFORE DIFFICULT FOR YOU. The point is: OTHER PEOPLE DON'T JUST EXIST FOR YOU TO EXPLOIT. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT DIRECTION YOU GO IN!!!!!!!!

Like Jennifer said, we're gathering feedback from parents for tomorrow's paper. So please give me a call at 373-7078 if you want to weigh in. Thanks!

You are exactly right Emery Would, past performance is the best predictor of the future of the future so let me look into my crystall ball:

1. Anderews and Central have failed in the past and will continue to FAIL IN THE FUTURE.

2. The present School Board has suceeded in dumbing down schools in other parts of the county and now clearly will be able to accomplish this mission at Southwest.

3. Private Schools have grown in the past in High Point and will only continue to grow in the future.

4. The School Board has grossly mismanaged the taxpayers money in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

Things that will change in the future:

1. The present School Board will never be able to pull off a hat trick and get a 3rd School Bond approved. Let's face it people are going to need money to pay for Private School.

2. NHP/Jamestown will finally have representation on the School Board come this November. It took all of the tricks up the sleaves of Dot to eke out a win last time, the hand-picked successor to Susan will not be so lucky.

3. And finally Emery Would, on a personal note someone in my family will keep driving through your neighborhood everyday to and from that private school that's right in Central's backyard. We're easy to spot, it's either the Bravada, Grand Vitara, or MG with the Grier-Ended magnets on the back.

Bruce, you have that section of the paper where you print the blog postings, why not to that?

Just let me hit the spellcheck first!!!!

I'm typing like a drunken sailor this morning...

Hey Emory, er...I mean, Paul. We love you...You don't live in Emerywood either. Just a wannabee. Although now I guess you will be going down to Central anyway, huh. You're getting just as jacked as everyone else.

Emory, by the way. If SW is 44 % minority how do you figure that's 'as little diversification as possible"??? This just kills me, especially given the pop. that lives within six miles of the school. I mean, you're not the only person to mention this. It just happens to be a delusion that many people have. How is 44% minority re-segregation???? this is the fallacy that has been incorporated into the delusional systems of all the people trying to mine SW high for more white kids for their own school.
so they can justify the pilliage in their own minds.

Hey Emery...anybody that was actually from Emorywood would know how to spell it! You are a sleeze and you sound like you may be a lover of Marti Dykes.

Oh, and remember...it ain't over until WE say it's over.

Kitty,

It's clearly spelled EmErywood. At least it is on re-districting map C3.

Lets face it the vote last night was a Joke. This move will not help Andrews. Those parents that can will send there kids to private schools, those that can not will move. Also it will be interesting to see how many HS kids decide to stay and be grandfathered in to there old school. Both from Oak Hollow and Parkview.

I am a teacher at an unnamed GC school. I agree with many of you. Neighborhood schools are the only way to go IF and ONLY IF the resources are put into these schools. And sadly at our school, the resources are not there. When teachers have to scrounge around for paper and printer cartridges and there is no working copy machine in the school serving 100 staff, there is a big problem somewhere. I have lost all respect for our "elected school board," especially Dr. Childs and Dot Kearns. And just where are the new schools for HP? Because if we had schools planned for the drawing board, we probably wouldn't be having this discussion.

Amen, Teach

Eric is outta here in 2 months.

A 6/5 vote is devastating to the system. Those that have the votes do little to bring the others on board. Will companies choose to locate here? Can we get out of depression?

Buck,

I woke up to Dot's LONG speech. Heard some of Darlene's challenging remarks about one of Dot's speakers saying it takes "good teachers'". (I will be taping entire meeting today.) Her speech was longer than the farmer's speech.

I did hear Susan's speech. Unbelievable! You guys are right. If that wasn't an ad to move out of High Point I don't know what was. Now for those who stay in the system, more will apply for Central's IB Program. This will also make them happy; Andrews still will come out short.

C. Boy you are 110% on the money as always. These people who think they "won" are missing the big picture.

How do you take a child who has been socially passed, can't read and write, transport them on a bus to a school which is ALREADY diverse, put them in a class to do algegra with an "okay" or poor teacher who can't teach and expect them to magically learn? As one school gets more challenging students, what happens to a teacher's time to teach the average kids who could have made it?

It would be better to address special needs, no matter what they are, where kids are instead of adding bus time to their day.

You can't force parents to help and volunteer, vote for school bonds, etc. when they have been forced to redistrict and in such a sneaky way. Darlene said it best about teachers - you can't make them stay at certain schools.

To "A teacher":

Many of the schools didn't have supplies. Florence needed copy paper this year. MANY are hurting because the TA's have been pulled. When some of the money came back for TA's, the board voted to give it to "Sports". They could have hired more TA's. Also $500,000 spent on racial healing, for example, for some questionable ministry could pay for a TA or two. As more and more is stripped away from the successful schools, i.e., TA's, office supplies, teachers leaving for other counties, successful students going private and taking their parents and their volunteer hours with them, many more schools will go to the "failing" side of the report card.

Time will prove this was a BIG mistake for High Point - it's children it "says" it was trying to help, it's tax base, it's reputation (which wasn't so hot after Fantasia's statements - now they are making a movie on her life - that should be good), it's furniture market, it's economy in general.

Eric Hoekstra does not deserve to be disparaged here, or elsewhere, folks.

As I said at my place today, such anonymous, sophomoric, mud-slinging tactics have not worked to affect the changes many here hoped for - and I doubt (hope) they ever will... or have.

Anybody know a good window washer? I need to spruce up the place before I call the Realtor.

I agree, David. If you don't like the outcome of redistricting, don't blame Eric - this is a board decision. He simply creates the maps as requested by the school board and they've certainly kept him busy.

And he's not exactly fleeing. He's put in his years with the system and is retiring, which he announced a long time ago. I wish him a happy retirement.

I believe Mr. Hoggard does winders. Why he'll fix 'em up with a nice tint to them that provides you with a unique perspective of the county.

So Emory Would, the schoolboard doesn't like us??? How could you say such a thing. We never knew that. Duh....Here I thought they were kidnapping my kids because they loved me so much.

Loved Marti's resignation letter. She decided since she will no longer have a child in the system "my work here is through, and I'll just ride off into the sunset". We'll miss ya, Mart.
If you were this kind and considerate of other people's children and feelings WHILE you have a child in the system, we just SHUDDER TO IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE IF YOU DIDN'T !!!!

Hugs and Kisses, Vaya con Dios

ERIC IS RETIRING THIS MAY.

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST.

Both Darlene and Anita have stated many times that Eric's numbers were wrong. You have state suggested capacity. Then you have real capacity. Then you have guestamates? Probably putting in long hours, overworked - all probably true but.....

School board members should not make decisions that affect thousands of life based on "guestamates".

The entire process was rushed, sloppy. Whose fault? People spoke and were not heard.

I do agree that at times comments on this board are offensive to the school board and staff. However, there are many more individuals who have tried to work behind the scenes, present factual information, and build a working realtionship with board members, but this approach hasn't worked either. The overwhelming majority of the school board will not even respond to e-mails.

With all this said, public officials should be making decisions based on research, sound fiscal practices, input from the community, etc. The decisions they make should not be based on political ploys or how they feel about a small group of people whom they feel they have been mistreated by.

The result of bad decision making is the decline of the Guilford County School System and that is sad for every child and citizen in our county!

David,

You do not live in High Point. You do not understand the politics of old High Point. Regardless, Greensboro will always have the majority number of votes on the board. When Dot leaves, the next at-large rep will be from Greensboro. High Point will always be the minority numbers on that board. But High Point politics are good at their game.

"Nice", reasonable, research, letters, speeches, petitions, polite speakers in NUMBERS....nothing worked. This is laughable.

Let's see: Greensboro - two speakers at Washington don't want single gender schools. DONE. Grimsley parents (and told ahead I might ad) don't want SLC per a potential grant. DONE.
Western parents and Grimsley don't want block schedules. Let's ask them what they want. DONE.
Signs put up in Adams Farm for one day about splitting neighborhoods (which should NEVER have been considered) but again DONE. Some parents at Aycock don't want uniforms. Okay, not done...but you get my drift.

Thousands of man hours were put in before the Choice Plan as to why it would fail. People were "nice". IT FAILED. No one listened. By hook or by crook, Old High Point will "try" to get Central how they want it. It's always been about Central. It still is. They now took Blairwood too like they have wanted since 1999.

This new move will not help Central's scores. It will not help Andrews much. It will hurt SW. No one wins, especially the kids who are just hidden and not educated. High Point will not have a strong school to attract new business to the area.

When our graduates in Guilford County have to pass 5 tests to graduate per the state requirement, that should be real interesting. Time will tell the true picture. You just can't keep mixing kids forever, sooner or later, everyone will know they still aren't educated. You are still failing them. That is the bottom line.

thank you anita, amos, nancy, and darlene.
i didn't neglect alan, i just think he doesn't deserve a "thankyou" for this particular vote.

it is my belief that alan only voted "no" to map c3 because he knew it already had enough votes to pass. heck, this map has "alan" written all over it. what has his position been for the last 3 1/2 years - if recollection serves me right, he initiated the choice plan, supported it for years, supports diversity and busing over neighborhood schools, etc. go back and review how the chairman has voted since he was elected to the board.

his actions for the last several years speak much more loudly than this one last stinkin' vote (which did nothing for the kids of high point, or anywhere else). what resources has this board given to any of its regular, traditional schools? when was the last time you saw anything on an agenda, or heard during a board meeting that might give the 60,000 or so regular kids any extra help? i'll tell you, nothing. with alan at its helm, the majority of this board is all for latest fad, special schools, option schools, magnet schools, discriminatory busing, etc.
the bottom line is that it really don't matter if these kids go to sw, central or andrews - none of the schools have been given adequate resources to improve the education of these kids. the board just voted to move all these kids around, but i bet the result will be the same - just watch for the 06/07 test results, just do some research on school violence/discipline. same crap, different locations. who is getting screwed? kids. not mine, probably not any of those who read this blog. it's those very kids the board proports to help. bull crap.

it's an election year for him right? if he decides to run again, he might want the support of those in north high point, southwest guilford county, and jamestown.
or, just maybe, he wants to remain "ad free" during the elections.
yea, right.........

dang it, i left out the most important part!

i have really grown to like and respect eric hokestra over the last 6-7 years. i think he is a good guy trying to do his job. i can guarantee he doesn't get paid enough for the hours he puts in or the grief he is put through. maybe they should switch his and grier's salaries - a much fairer allocation of funds in my opinion!
i hope he enjoys his retirement - from what i've seen, he deserves it!

Hoggard,

You really should learn the proper use of the words effect and affect, if you are going to be the blog master. But, perhaps, you should be forgiven if you are a graduate of Guilford County Schools.

And, quit trying to steal posters over to your blog. No one here cares what you think.

Stormy,

Amen.

Stormy/Numbers game

DITTO THAT

I am just sick of this whole mess. My hat is off to all of you who have kept fighting so hard. I know one thing and I'll type this slow so some of the school board members can read this, I will NEVER vote for another school bond until we get rid of the people on the school board who supported this vote and continue to be parrot's of Grier's agenda. Yeah, I know, I'm one person, who cares, right? For every person who posts here, there are a lot more out there and our numbers grow every time another half baked plan comes out.

Hee, hee, hee. The joke is on all of us NHP suckers. For their next trick, the School Board, freshly empowered by Kelo v. New London, is going to seize property throughout NHP, sell it, and use the proceeds to give Terry Grier yet another raise. Steve Arnold won't mind getting another crack at re-developing North High Point. Heck, the High Point City Planning Department, Lee Burnett in particular told us all in 2003 he wanted to redisrict all of NHP to mixed use industrial and redevelop the property. Why SHOULD the school board waste any more time with NHP. It's fate is sealed, it's going to be the next warehouse for the Hub.

So now that High Point's long awaited diversity bamboozlement is under way, time to stat Greensboro's swap-O-rama!

Where should we start? Dudley?

This is ONE system right? I expect Susan, Dot, Marti, Walter or Deena to motion for a more diverse Greensboro at the next board meeting.

I think most of this board functions as Emerywood realtors instead of REAL school board members. Except for Deena, of course; she has her own reason for voting yes, and she made that perfectly clear!!!!!!!

Anita's face said it all! Backdoor polictics at its best.

And I hope Alan doesn't think we are that stupid!!!!!

You have got to be kidding me! I live across the street from Florence Elementary School, and they want my little girl to ride a bus for 15 minutes to Montlieu Elementary. Has anyone seen what kind of neighborhood that school is in? Has anyone seen some of the pathetic scores put up by its students? It looks like I'll be trying the waiver form approach to get my daughter into Florence. Why should I send my daughter into a school that's already failing? I've got a good school right next to me!

Attention: Erection Committiee

The next holiday is St. Patrick's day!! What a great theme for our site! Get crackin on some great ideas.

We got news, EMMAwould. They do not like you either. You, Walter and the gang are being used to take out of Central what they do not want. You have been duped. Looks like you need a few more stickers for that Volvo.

Notice that Andrews no longer gets the Blairwood neighborhood. Why aren't there any seats left for the "magnet" program at Andrews? Nothing has changed since 1999. What Emorywood wants, it builds seats for. Then, it takes. What it doesn't want, it buses out. They have been trying to get rid of these same "communities" since 1999.

You need to get your facts straight for your next propaganda column.

I think the school board needs to get out of the ice cream business and back to educating the children. A scoop of vanilla and a scoop of chocolate only makes vanilla fudge!!!!!

For those looking at Davidson County or Alamance or Forsythe, consider:

Private School vs moving
Moving - you could increase your home mortgage by about 200,000 with the next tax benefit of deductible mortgage vs private school.

Why do you think North High Point lost 125 graduating 8th graders last year under choice plan. Average house doubles with same effect by moving instead of High Point. Look at Davidson County's big problem, growing too fast for their schools, and they get new Bonds!

I only have 3 families in my neighberhood in Public now, rest are at either Westchester Academy, Wesleyan, Bishop McGinnes, HP Christian, Greensboro Country Day... I must be insane!

I'm actually not even pro-redistricting or anti-redistricting. I think arguments have been made both ways and if I believed the arguments on the pro-side, I don't think I would oppose it.

Here's the problem I have with it... the solution does not address the problem. The problem is underperformance by students at some schools in the district. But whether they stay at their current schools or get moved to a new one in no way addresses the root cause of the problem, the student's ability to learn and perform.

If you're willing to say "well, it won't help these kids, but long term it will make things more equal", I might buy that, but again, the root causes of the problem aren't being addressed: students showing up to high school without the necessary tools due to social promotions and the lack of discipline in the classrooms. All the bussing in the world cannot address these 2 fundamental issues.

Personally, I think it borders on criminal fraud for Terry Grier and the School board to tell any parents at High Point Central or Andrews that they've done anything for their children. At best, they 'may' have done something for their neighbors kids coming in 5 years down the road.

By the way, in terms of diversity, how is the school board measuring this? I see white/minority numbers brought up here a lot, but I thought the school board was using number of free lunches awarded. Does anybody know?

Hey Wise Guy, Yes, I know the neighborhoods around Montlieu well. I use to drive past them while going to High Point University. We weren't too worried though, they had campus police patroling the place 24/7 and call boxes around for emergencies. They also put up an iron fence around most areas as well. Instead of fixing Montlieu up and making it safer, they're going to bus your kid in to do it for them.

I agree with Eric being a good guy. He had 12 people pulling at him in different directions - Grier and several board members. Ever been in that situtation?

He has always been helpful and polite when I called. I do feel though that these past few months he looked overworked, tired and truly whipped. He should have been provided the resources, software, staff and PROPER TIME to get the data out there when it was requested. The entire process (that took 2 plus years in 1999) was rushed and sloppy. Eric has to answer to his boss to keep his job too.

I wish him well in his retirement. He definitely deserves it.

and p.s. how Jim Moen whipped out those busing numbers at the last minute is beyond me.

Good luck on the waiver.

They didn't give them before. They won't start now.

Your child's mere presence will improve their school. You can go there every day to volunteer. You can give all your extra cash to build their PTA. That is all they ever wanted.

Don't you know you are probably "white privelege" and born a racist so you can't help it. We are told it is genetic if you are white. It is your duty to use your white privelege to fix that school.

They also need you there to help find some more black contractors. Just hand over some school contracts without bidding. Your tax dollars will go to make things equal. You must pay for the sins of your great grandparents.

We're trying to get the High Point map online and in the paper. Sorry for the long delay.

Some questions have been raised about what the boundaries mean and we need to get them answered before publishing.

Thanks for your patience.

No need to apologize Jennifer. We know this came out literally at the last moment.

Many People wonder why High Point is in such a mess....Here are a few reasons....

Look at our Leadership(or lack of),,,,we have a Mayor, who like those before her, has no real Power to accomplish anything without first consulting the "Money Men" of High Point...

The "Money Men" of High Point have long needed "Slave Labor" for their factories,,,,and this is where our School Board Member, DOT KEARNS has been able to pitch in as a Leader in High Point.

Ever since Dot has been on the School Board she has kept the Poor, Minority Families thinking that as long as they voted for her, that all their neccessities would be taken care of by the Government,,,,,,,Dot also promised them a Degree that would lead them right into a low paying factory job that would make millions for the "Money Men".......

The most recent ASSININE Decision by our school board will continue to evade actually educating the Poor, Minority Student and assure the "Money Men" that their workforce for High Points' next Industry will be left intact.

Another Leader in High Point who is contributing to the Down Fall is Dr. Walter Childs,,,,,Please, Dr. Childs,,,what are you thinking when you allow your People to be manipulated in a way that your ancestors had to fight so hard to escape from??????

Wake Up Walter,,,,,,Dot Kearns is Playing you like Fiddle...

Stand on your own Walter,,,,Educate your Children so as to lift them out of the Grasp of the "Slave Master Kearns"..

Now we come to Susan Mendenhall,,,what a waste,,,,

Bruce Davis and Steve Arnold Can't seem to pay their Taxes on time,,,, how do you expect them to be Leaders???????

High Point is DOOMED unless we as CITIZENS clean House of the Current Leadership.

Many Families from North High Point are PACKING as I type ,,,giving up and relocating to places that are more conducive to Freedom and Democracy.

Keep the Current Leadership, and High Point will quickly DIE!!!!!!

well put general slak

Gotta love the general.

I think most of the county "leadership" couldn't care less what happens to High Point. Given this continuing school fiasco and the inept handling of the furniture market by the "we're not worried about Vegas" crowd, HP could be in for some rough years ahead.

Among other things, the above posts have made frequent references to all the people moving out of High Point.

Simply not true. Even the Lottery plan didn't seem to cause a huge rise in listings over the past couple of years.

Here's a post from January borrowed from the otherwise worthless North High Point blog:

For Sale: High Point

The Greensboro Regional Realtors Association has put out its fourth quarter 2005 report on the High Point housing market. There's some interesting stuff in there.

Among the notables:

High Point houses that are selling are sitting on the market for less time than they did in the fourth quarters of 2003 and 2004, respectively. In 2003 houses sat for 133 days. In '04 that number was 134. Last year it was 92 days.

The number of houses sold dropped 9 percent compared with 2005's third quarter, when 321 houses sold, and 23 percent from fourth quarter of 2004, when 381 homes sold. In the last quarter of '05, 291 homes sold.

Most of the houses sold in High Point were in North High Point. The 27265 zip code saw 137 home sales. Next best was the 27282 zip code, which includes Jamestown, at 67 homes sold. It also had the highest average home price, just under $199,000.

With that done, let's get back the name calling and personal attacks.

Reality Realtor,

Here's some real data for you:

High Point has the highest per capita private school enrollment of any place in the state of North Carolina. The largest private school in Guilford County is in High Point. The private school having the greatest increase in enrollment is in High Point.

There's more than one way to skin a cat - you can move or you can go private. Most folks have chosen to go private.

Guest,

You have a source you can cite on that.

Reality Realtor,

It's quest, not guest.

Yes - ask to speak to the demographer at the State of North Carolina Office of Administration - non-public school division.

Reality Realtor,

That is wonderful news for those people that are trying to decide whether moving from this mess is possible. Now that they know that there is actually a market for their house, it will accelerate their decision to get outta there. Unfortunately, some new suckers will move in there and learn what is in store for them, because the realtors will never tell them the truth. I wonder what the housing market looks like in Forsyth County?

RR,

If I put my house on the market now, will it sell before school starts again in the fall?

RR,

One other question: Would I get my asking price or would I have to settle for low ball offers because of the schools?

House,

You'll be pleased to know that prices rose quite nicely this year. According to the High Point Housing Report, the adjusted average price was $162, 205 in the fourth quarter, up 7.4 percent from the same period a year earlier.

Sorry to disappoint all of you who've been predicting a decline in High Point's fortunes, but the housing picture doesn't seem to be support assertions that people are fleeing.

Reality Realtor,

Please see post above.

Private Schools are booming in High Point. That's a fact.

The houses in my neighborhood sell - but they're being sold to families without children.

Okay, Gospel, that may be the most creative post we've ever received! Ever considered Broadway?

Bruce,

Yes, it just might rival Superstar. Perhaps, we could get Andrew Lloyd Webber to do the music score. Of course, I don't think that it'll play outside of High Point. No one would really believe it is real. They'd say it was only a fantasy play.

They say that I won't last too long on Broadway.
They say I'll take the yellow bus to Andrews they all say.
But they're just wrong, I know they are.
Cause, I'll just go get in my car.
And I won't stop, 'til I'm a star
Up Bishop Mac Way.

Admit it Bruce, you're going to miss this.

I propose that we ban "redistricting" from our lexicon. Redistricting has to do with elective offices. We should call them "Student Assignment Plans". Any takers?

Sign me up to defend Eric. He is dancing as fast as he can, he has NO ONE to help him, he has tried the best he can to do what he is asked, which constantly changes and he has NO HELP.

I am surprised he has not had health problems with all the pressure we have put on him.

He came out to Summerfield in September after working all day and spent 2 hours answering parent questions. He has always been patient and responsive when I call to ask him a question.

It would be too easy and flat wrong to make Eric the "scapegoat". None of this is Eric's fault.

I say we give him a basket of herbal tea and a case of tequila as a parting gift!

Do you think he will miss us?

I agree with Terrina. Eric found himslf thrust into this. You could see that due to the mass confusion, leadership vacuum and the sheer stupidity generated by absurd partisan political agendas he was trying to accomodate that had nothing to do with education, he was often asked questions he was never meant to answer, but yet nobody else could answer either(or didn't want to answer). I agree with the above. Let's not make Eric a scapegoat. The Board's already done that and we all know too well how it is to be caught in political pincer movements.

Much as I hate to admit it, and I'm just as guilty as anyone, this time I think Paris is right. Eric, sincerely, I apologize. Tying to cover the asses of these morons is something nobody deserves.

Former High Point bureau reporter Eric Swensen, who now covers Greensboro city politics, wrote this piece on private schools in High Point in March 2005.

Since you all were talking about it, I thought this story might interest you.

Thanks for the private school link Jennifer, by the way Mr. Hardee of HPCA is the man. Put him in Dr. Grier's shoes and watch things improve. No non-sense, just results.

This article needs to be updated.

I found it interesting that all of these schools are in the same quadrant of the county that Susan Mendenhall stated was a problem last night. I know that they can draw from the neighboring counties and HP Central and Andrews cannot, however here is a little secret...

If you build it and it is high quality they will come.

I also know of families in the NW district and the NE district that are at HPCA.

Oh yeah, Mr. Hardee would only be effective if he was allowed to bring his entire School Board with him.

Those 6 clowns who voted this redistricting plan in last night along with Alan Duncan would have to go.

As a teacher with GCS, I am used to these surprise moves by the school board. Almost every month there is a new plan, some type of paper work, or other such nonsense that seems to come out of nowhere. Even the administration is often clueless and simply says, "It came from Downtown." People really shouldn't be too surprised by all of this. Nothing will change until the politics of our school board change.

After receiving a few interesting e-mails today and seeing the news on Fox 8, the results of the Midnight Hour Map have become even more apparent. I guess it was dubbed the Map THREE C because 3 elementary schools zones now have split feeder zones to fix Shadybrook how certain board members wanted it. (Of course most of us know they have just wanted all of Blairwood for Central since 1999.) That's right: Southwest Elementary, Florence Elementary and Parkview Elementary now have split feeder zones. Did the school board think of this when they voted for 3C? Who is looking out for these the families and kids of these THREE schools?

Finally got to watch the taped meeting today and hear all the comments. Great point by Darlene, what about transportation for the parents in public housing? (Public housing is put in urban areas for a reason: schools, health clinics, social services, public transportation, etc. Many do not have transportation.) Saw Fox 8 reporting how these parents feel about all this. THEY ARE NOT HAPPY. They don't have transportation to participate in sports practice now or have a way for the parents to get to school.

What department in the school system is going to make sure that THESE parents know their rights about sibling preference and grandfather? Who will communicate this to them? How will this be done? By phones? E-email? Some of these people don't have these. All of these parents need to be notified in simple terms about the school policies regarding same.

When kids were previously bused to SW Elementary from Montlieu and became sick at school, they had to stay at school all day throwing up because their parents had no transporation to get them. Do you know what a child feels like when he is sick at school all day and no one comes? Did anyone who voted for 3C think of "their" people when they voted to put "their" people on a long bus ride across town?

Now let's talk about "neighborhood schools". I learned a lot about "Brown v Board of Education of Topeka 1954" from Stormy on another blog site several weeks ago. That man sure knows his history. Now I find this recent reassignment redistricting swap plan ironic being this is Black history month.

As Stormy related so well Brown v Board of Education was about a 3rd grader, Linda Brown, who had to walk a mile through a railroad shipyard to her black school. She could not attend the white elementary school that was a few blocks away. All she wanted was a neighborhood school she could attend. Most of the parents in Guilford County, black and white, have been saying is they want to go to their closest school. Now, with last night's vote, the School Board is doing the same thing to the people in public housing -putting them on a long bus ride - away from their communities, their churches, away from the SPORTS at their closest school that they loved. How do you expect these parents to go to PTA functions, school meetings, sports? You took away their community school.

Is Guilford County going to provide buses or rides for parents and children who don't have transporation? These costs need to be figured into the cost formula also if this comes to be. Can the county afford this? It puts up barriers for these children to participate. They have been shut off from becoming involved in their reassigned school.

Just a few thoughts for starters.

Barbara Ann,

Thanks for recounting the Linda Brown story. It's amazing how convoluted our school board has gotten with trying to find diversity, and they've recreated the very scenario for many parents in High Point that existed for Linda Brown. You see, her father initiated the lawsuit against the Topeka Board of Education because he wanted his daughter to be able to attend a neighborhood school just a few blocks away from her house. Yes,he wanted his daughter to attend a neighborhood school, rather than one miles away.

Now, one has to really look at the High Point attendance maps to really understand what the board did last night. When one talks of a gerrymandered district, they would display the Southwest attendance zone as a poster child for it. There are students that will be assigned to Southwest that live near Business I-85, far south of Andrews. How can that be? The only answer that I can find is that someone had gone one drink too far when they drew this map. This is the rediculous item of the day, no doubt. This would be laughable, if it wasn't so serious for some of those families whose children have to travel so far to attend school. Linda Brown would not be pleased with the handiwork of the Guilford County BOE.

"North High Point hasn't been able to toss anyone off the school board nor have they been able to put their favored candidate in." Emorywould

Run Rabbit Run Rabbit Run Run Run

We don't toss anyone off. We just make them run away. See Susie Run. See Smarti Run. Run, Run, Run. See them hide. Funny Susie. Funny Smarti. Funny Funny Emorywould.

See Garth win. Go Garth go. Go Go Go.

See Garth make the school boards' heads spin. See their heads turn. Turn turn turn. To everything there is a season.

Turn turn turn.

BYOD

Time to rent the billbaords for the welcome to market people. Start getting the rates early.

Reality Realtor--

If you're still on the C-board, I was wondering if you could answer two questions for me.

1. When potential buyers want to purchase a home in a given neighborhood and they ask about the schools, what's their reaction when you tell them that their assigned high school is across town, notwithstanding the fact that one is less than two miles away?

2. I assume that you are a member of the High Point Realtors Association--where was the High Point Realtors Association during all of this mess and why were they so strangely silent?

Just curious.

Thanks.

HP Resident,

Great questions.

Re. Question 2 - why were they also so silent during the forced IT Plan when SW kids were in a forced lottery?

Of course, we do know many of them lied in their literature and said SW High was the school for the 3 school "zone".

It is always "follow the money".

Barbara Ann-
You seem to be the voice of reason on this board. Is there an email address where I can ask you a question?

Quest,

It may surprise you, but most of the people who buy large three and four bedroom homes in North High Point are actually families with children.

As for the perceived silence of the local real estate community--I'd venture to say it'd be tough to sell the new subdivisions that are pushing a certain school well beyond its capacity while acknowledging that it's precisely those developments that are the root cause of the problem.

Do that, and pretty soon people start talking about impact fees and how developers ought to provide funding for the new schools they're creating the need for. Why give anti-capitalists and Communists ammunition that is going to take money out of the hands of developers and home sellers?

In their silence, the developers can allow the School Board to take 100 percent of the heat. Parents become so focused on the board that they never hold the Planning Commission and City Council accountable for ensuring that adequate facilities--or even plans for classroom space--are provided for the scores of new school children moving into new North High Point homes every year.

If you ask me, the Grier-ended crowd should have been running for City Council, not just the School Board. Considering your numbers up there, you could have gotten close to a majority on City Council in the three years you've been carping about the Board.

Realtors have to absolutely love the Map 3 redistricting. Those 800 homes off Barrow and the others right on top of SW will sell like hotcakes now at much higher prices. Many probably to screwed people south of skeet club. They are all lovin' this. This is a travesty. This is DIRTY.

We all have to be aware, there are many people who thrive on this upheaval because it makes money for someone. Lawyers and realtors and land speculators. Alan Duncan and Dot Kearns could care less if people go to private school. they still get your tax dollars, they no longer have to worry about you, plus they know the new developments around SW will quickly replace any white kids that leave.

All about the Benjamins.

It should be illegal to send students that are dependent on public transportation to schools that have no means of public transportation to them.

By the way, this has been happening at Eastern,
Northeast, and Southeast all year..........

The funny thing is that the board recognized the
problems created by sending students from downtown Greensboro(Rankin with public transpo) to Gibsonville (Eastern with no transpo) and the hardships that is has caused yet they turn around and create the same problem for kids from Central.

When are they going to realize that they are not addressing education, they are acting like accountants. They are trying to balance the pass/fail rates without addressing educating the kids.

hillbilly,

I don't know you but my phone number is in the directory.

Frank,

Maybe it's about future land development for you too? Who is doing the new developments? Who profits from hew home sales? What lawyers, developers, bankes? What school do new residents get to attend?

We tried to get him for today's story, but we weren't able to, C.Boy. We'll keep trying, though. I'm wondering the same thing myself.

Geez, wonder why not. Thanks for trying.
I would just like to say Duncan's fake "no" vote the other night is the single most disgusting, cowardly public act I have ever seen from a politician anywhere. It speaks volumes about the chartacter of these individuals, the astounding degree of corrupt deception, and inspires absolute horror that my children are at the whim of these people.

Bruce , Jennifer,

Who is Jocelyn Becoats? I noticed that she was hired as a INSTR IMPROVEMENT OFFICER in the ACADEMIC IMPROVEMENT department effective July 1.

This was on the Personnel Report approved Tuesday night. See http://www.gcsnc.com/boe/2006/2_21/personnel_report.pdf

Maybe she is the wife of Becoats from Charlotte, can't place his first name, is it Eric? I too noticed that. Maybe that was the reason the personel reports was taken on the agenda and talked about in closed session? Thoughts anyone

Interesting article for News Paper would be follow up to High Point article:

How many Middle and High School Students were in private 3 years ago and how many now in the High Point City and Westchester Acadamy (most wealthy in High Point at Westchester, also a stellar performer in SAT)

Academy - typo - tax season

Yeah, she is Eric Becoats' wife.

I do not believe his vote was fake. This was the move of a rogue, retribution oriented group, leading a couple of weak(er) minds. Alan appears to be working on reviving some credibility for the Board and a sense of community and is being sabotaged. He would have no trouble with reelection were he to choose to run again and he is well aware of this.

It may be a move by TG to get Alan so fed up someone else would replace him. (Alan may have let slip he might not run and power-play is underway) This would give TG a stronger control over the Board. I believe it best for all, (no I have not lost marbles – well not all marbles, but quite a few screws) if Alan were to ante up for another four years of misery with me. Though our philosophies may be ideologically opposed on many fronts, I now concede that he does provide public with insurance TG doesn’t take over the dictatorship.

FYI, I believe Allen would have proposed modification on Map C or B had he not been sideswiped by a stronger player. This means he and I are still on opposite ends of issue as this redistricting accomplishes little to nothing while price will be terrible.

and the war rages on........

Hopefully the black children being bused past their neighborhood school, strictly because of the color of their skin, will remember it was their "duly elected representatives" that did this to them and will vote accordingly during the next election.

Garth, you think Kris Cooke would join a rogue mvt. on the board and go against Alan. Surely you can't be serious.

Serious as the stench in H. Point

Kris is Dot's good friend.

I think Alan is tired of High Point politics. I think he may be aware of some of the political shaningans of many others behind the scenes. I believe he did not see Map C3 until that night. I think they had a majority vote for a Map after their OPEN work session Monday.

The problem is for any board rep in Greensboro they have paid the political price, the extra hours and aggravation they have had to endure because of the High Point shaningans.

You heard Anita say "they don't want magnets in High Point. They get them and they don't promote them. Heck they don't even allow seats.

Krissy gone bad? The Irving Park Riot Grrrrrllll.
Next she'll be getting piercings and riding Harleys.

You can't see me but I am giving that one a standing ovation!

Next year Aycock and others need some help in socioeconomic integration and believe me when I say that I am just the pain in the...

oops, that would be similar to what happened to H. Point.

Sick sense of humor?

So difficult to guess what the "new kid on the block" will do. I have been called a bull in a china shop before and I do believe that some businesses have to be torn apart before they can be fixed.

Wonder if it was Susan that helped Kris ruin the socioeconomic integration plan for Aycock. I have a special place in my heart for their Drum line and if I can help that school I feel obligated to see it through.

Do you think anyone is counting votes with the next Board yet, I mean besides me?

fyi - Anita was quoted out of context in the newspaper. She asked that I post this on the Chalkboard for her:

"Those People" in todays News and Record do not refer to the parents.  Those people are the elected officials in High Point (all of them).  When the parents pull their kids out and put them in private school, this issue will be back again."  Anita

THANK YOU, ANITA, and AMEN!

GARTH

You certainly do have a special place in your heart for Aycock Drum Line. MANY of us certainly know that. Apparently some of the Aycock parents just don't understand some things. They are not aware of who really does like to help kids.

My e-mail to the school board today.
#############################################

The Parkview parents interviewed on Fox 8 VALIDATED all my previous comments via
e-mail/forums and at SB meetings. They had not asked you to bus them across town.
They do not want to be bussed!

I told you that this was not a solution that people wanted. People, all people want
a top class education AT THEIR LOCAL SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!!

WE ASKED YOU TO TALK TO THOSE PARENTS. DR. CHILDS, I DONT KNOW WHO WROTE THAT SPEECH
FOR YOU AT THE SCHOOL BOARD MEETING THE OTHER WEEK BUT IT WAS NOT A PARKVIEW PARENT!

You have betrayed those people.

Now many will not be able to participate in sports, many will not be able get their
children from school when they are sick. Many others will sell their houses and
leave or go to private school.

SCHOOL BOARD, HOW FAR NORTH WILL YOU GO WHEN THIS DOES NOT WORK?

For those of the board who voted for this solution you should be ashamed of yourselves
for labeling those children and for your perpetuation/contribution to the "self
fulfilling prophecy".

I know about Central. I see the good teachers that are assigned to my daughter's
classes along with her Emorywood classmates. I see that the school is missing good
teachers for the majority inspite of an excellent principal. Nothing you have done
will change its real problem of a lack of resources.
I would guess that this is the same at Andrews. Once again, nothing that you have
done will change or take care of the real issues.

As I predicted none of those that asked for diversity are being bussed. They continue
to enjoy the comfort of their local school.

One more thing School Board. If you think this is over, don't think it. It has only
just begun.

Poor High Point!

Martin Phillips.
North High Point (in the SW school zone)

TheBeatGoesOn,

Wrong, Hoggard knows, and he doesn't care or think that it makes any difference. He still holds disdain.

Stormy

I would say he hates to be proved wrong. Me sees a little jealousy perhaps. Susie gone. Check. Smarti gone. Check.

If the previous comments about Garth and Aycock's drum line were directed at me....?

I am well aware of Garth's efforts toward the Aycock Drum Line, and since I haven't expressed my appreciation publicly before now (I thought it was to be an anonymous gesture)... Thank you Garth. Your kind contribution made a profoud impact on many, many children's lives.

Aycock's drum line is currently in need of funds to purchase drum heads and drum sticks because most of them are broken due to the heavy practice/performance schedule of the Line.

If anyone can spare a few extra dollars, I am trying to get them $1000.00 for continuing expenses. Send to:

Checks payable to Aycock Middle School and send to:

Aycock Drum Line
811 Cypress Street
Greensboro, NC 27405
c/o Tammy Littleton

Barbara Ann: I KNEW Anita's comments were taken out of context. After listening to her Tuesday night, I knew she was fed up with the politicians and NOT the parents. She is one of the few on the BOE.... who actually cares about kids and EDUCATION! She does listen to parents. She has to me. Unfortunately, she's only one vote.

Hillbilly,

You may have known and so did a few others, but some others did not. She had received some emails regarding same. She wanted to make it CLEAR that she was not referring to parents and asked that we put the clear message out there on the CB. Still waiting for your phone call too.

David,

Thanks for posting this information. It is a very worthy cause.

BA

Well, looks like what's done is done, for better or for worse.

Life will go on, our kids will adjust fairly easy to just about anything (parents won't anytime soon) and in a few years down the road we'll all look back at this point in time and say to ourselves, "What was the fuss all about?"

Well....see y'all....and God Bless everyone of you.

We've let a lot of comments slide the past few months, thinking that you all would self-police yourselves. Some of you have, some of you haven't.

You may have noticed some comments have disappeared from the Chalkboard. I deleted them. I talked to my boss about this to make sure it was all right. This is why I deleted the posts:

*They were derogatory to average citizens who were named, or easily identifiable
*They used profanity

I really hate having to spend the extra time to police the blog for these comments, which have no place here anyway.

Private citizens are not fair game for saying whatever you want about them. Public and elected figures, such as the superintendent and school board, are a different matter all together. Say what you want about them. However ...

I will delete profanity (or attempts to disguise profanity) as I come across it - that includes sign on names.

Just wanted to give you a heads up to the new rules. I've gone back only through the past few strands to clean them out. If I missed a post, let me know. I'll delete it. The new rules apply from here on out.

I want you all to continue debating the issues. There are some good discussions going on at the Chalkboard. But we don't need profanity to make a point. And we don't need to drag an average citizen's name through the mud.

Thanks,

Jennifer

A comment on Fernandez censorship -
Notice that one of the first entries to fall victim to scrutinization was the wonderful parody by Gospel. It was described by Bruce Buchanan as "may be the most creative post we've ever received!"
Such a sell out by a journalist! This post was in opposition to the powerful of Guilford County who are in bed with the News and Record. Follow the money - law firms and civic groups. Oops, this comment may be too "suggestive" to the innocent eyes of the readers - or it might be too close to the truth. Regardless, burn the books and censor the comments.

Gee whiz, Jennifer, you've just about eliminated 50% of the active participants of this blog with this new censorious policy.

Half of these people can't express themselves unless they incorporate a little barroom language and personal assassination in their posts, and they wonder why the BOE never took them seriously.

BubbaLJ

First MANY people are involved who never post here. Many have gone "underground".

Other...if the school board didn't take us seriously:

1. Susie would not be quitting
2. Marti would not be quitting
3. They would not invite many of us to meet with them.
4. They would not read this blog and pretend they didn't.
5. There would not have been the major cat fight at the last school board meeting. 6-5 votes are some SERIOUS problems. You can see the body language of several school board members when Dot speaks. They can't take her anymore. "A house divided...." and that is what itnow is.
6. They wouldn't be trying to sway many of us to support future bonds. WE are the VOTES.
7. The mayor and her friends would not be scrambling now wondering about market.
8. The mayor would not have issued her defensive report about secret meetings.

It has nothing to do with taking a group serious. It has to do with dirty, rotten politics, secret meetings, and last minute maps appearing. It has to do with the outgoing board members making their last stand. The problem is they still have to live with the other board members until December.

We can't wait until Garth gets in. We are reserving front row seats and bringing popcorn.

When the lawsuits start and they are coming, you will see Bubbie Boy how serious they take parents they have wronged.

SYBet,

What makes you think Garth is gonna win this time? He got creamed big time last go around for a seat at the BOE. And who wants a bean counter on the Board...stuffy....one dimensional...typically introverted and non-social. We need someone dynamic and able to inspire like Barbara Ann.

Anyway just electing our guy/gal to the BOE won't necessarily turn the tables. Remember there's 10(11?) other members who've already voted one way or another for this redistricting thing and quite frankly I don't think they want to revisit it again. They'll probably treat this decision like stare decisis (it's settled matter, learned that from the Alito hearing).

I always wanted Barbara Ann to run for the BOE and her husband's refusal to let her was both selfish and sexist. I think a Mother Figure on the Board to make educational decisions for our kids is more effective than a masculine type, wouldn't you agree?