News-Record.com

Thank you for posting the above. Two weeks ago six members of our board demonstrated unequivocally that their answer for under-achieving schools is an infusion of students from different locales. The High Point NAACP is presenting a series of programs with a Chapel Hill expert that proves uneqivocally that this is the answer.

In light of the above, it is obviously immperative then that Smith and Dudley also receive such infusion ASAP. How the members of the board can withold valuble resources from these schools when there are, as we speak, the resouces up at Grimsley and Page to solve this problem, is a disgrace and unconsionable.
The editorial department should adress this immediately. The board needs to get this done and GET IT DONE NOW!!

"Nero fiddled as Rome burned"

While there was really no real fire at Andrews just a little smoke screen by the local leaders of good old HP......who wanted to change the make-up of Central to their liking.......
seems like there was a raging inferno in Greensboro.

How were these two Greensboro schools missed? Was this a diversion tactic?

I just read the letter. Judge Manning actually refers to these schools as "sorry".

Did anyone notice that Andrews just barely squeaked by with a 55.2% passing rate for the first of the 4 year outlook?

Funny, I didn't see anywhere in the letter where Judge Manning instructed the schools to swap kids, bus some new ones in, bus some others out. He didn't mention this as a recommended strategy.

quest, no one tells Grier how to fix his schools. Busing is the simplest solution he can think of. Who cares if education is not taking place. He just pushes his "easy" button, buys a few more buses and the problem's solved.

In fact, to see this in person, take a ride over to Southwest School Road. LET THE BUSING BEGIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What was it Dot?

High Point is different to Greensboro!!!

Yes its worse. Not only does it not have any school on the judges list both Smith and Dudley are less diverse than any High Point school.

Now lets see what she is made of. She has to show her true "At large" colors.

As a high school teacher, I value and praise every word of Judge Manning's letter and news conference. I had the honor of hearing him speak (to a group of educators and state Department of Public Instruction staff, no less!) about 2 weeks ago.
The trick of it all is that he is only seeing the tip of the iceberg. If he will dig a bit deeper, he will find the shortcuts like busing, test "assistance", and even the practice of using charter schools as a dumping ground for students who the schools don't want to deal with.
Judge Manning is no fool. When the Leandro case was heard, the school systems argued that funding was the problem. As he waited for results from the increased funding, he researched the best and continued to monitor the worst. That's when the CMS schools got attention. The per-pupil spending at those schools is far more than the schools involved in Leandro and also far more than some of the top schools such as Scotland County (Laurinburg), yet the results are equally dismal. One parent was quoted in a Charlotte media story (either TV station or newspaper, I can't remember which) as saying the problem wasn't the leadership of the school! I think something about denial applies here...
Judge Manning is the tip of the spear which I hope will prod school reform in this state. Hopefully, he will not stop with the 50% schools, but instead will keep pushing until all are 99% schools!

Truth,

It's time for Dot to help those Dudley and Smith students just like she helped those Georgia peanut farmers in the 30's. and the poor children of High Point Schools for the last two years.

On the other hand, with the mess that she created in High point, maybe Greensboro would like for her to just do nothing. I do;t know how theose peanut farmers feel about her help. How'd that work out?

Marti Sykes was just heard from about the performance problems at Dudley and Smith. She said "Those kids need diversity".

Now where have I heard that one before, Marti?

Oh what a beautiful mornin'...
Oh what a beautiful day. (SING IT WITH ME!!)
I've got a beautiful feelin'
Everything's goin my way.

News of Dudley closing or at least "diversified" and the news of Mr. Miller's business has put a little spring in my step today.

Sunny day
Sweeping the clouds away
On my way to where the air is sweet......

Oh what tangled web we weave......

"In January, the district commissioned an outside organization to look at what is being done - can can be done - at Dudley, Smith and HIGH POINT CENTRAL high schools. Central is INCLUDED on a larger list of struggling high schools Manning identified earlier.

Results from the audits, which cost roughly $30,000 a piece, are expected within about a week, Grier said." (N & R, March 7, page A7)

Things to consider:

1. Why is Andrews not receiving a $30,000 audit if they need help?

2. A mentor at Dudley is suggesting retired teachers come in to tutor there at $10.00 per hour. Where are the tutors for Andrews that we have been asking about for the past 2+ years?

3. Was the bad PR at Andrews about fighting, cheating on tests, etc. the first year of the choice plan put out there on purpose to draw more students to Central's IB Program? to get more white children at Central?

4. Now beside protecting the property values in Emorywood as stated by EXCELLENT inside sources, was it also to save their school from being the next one to close? protecting their elite IB Program above all else? at all emotional costs to the parents and children of Southwest?

5. In 1999, no students were proposed to be bussed FROM Central in one of the maps on the table. Now in 2006, no students are being BUSED from Central. They have taken an imaginery Clara Cox housing project district which is an empty parking lot into their school; a project that has no public funding in sight any time soon. Should we not take every empty field near Southwest High School, figure how many houses can be put there, the number of potential families and state that based on these proposed houses, SW can hold no more students? It makes just as much sense.

6. In 1999 Central/Emorywood wanted the projects OUT of Central. In 2006, they still want the projects OUT of Central. Nothing has changed.

I can see the rainbow,

Who is Mr. Miller?

Charlotte,

As regards item #5, is this why Doug Clark suggested in a past blog strand that the Clara Cox project shouldn't be rebuilt on its previous site, but rather it should be built in North High Point, near Southwest? His point was that it would be more convenient for the residents to good jobs, but overlooked the question of the lack of public transportaton to get them to those jobs. This tells us a couple of things. One, that he admitted that there weren't any good jobs in Ole High Point (we knew that). And, two, that the students from there would be moved to Southwest from Central attendance zone. Pretty shrewd, but I guess that Dot worked it out in a different manner with redistricting.

A simple request the School Board should make as the papers don’t seem to want to know is “How many students enrolled in 9th grade in 2000, how many Diplomas were issued in 2005?” The difference would not be actual drop outs, “failed to graduate”, it might be slightly over or understated, but it would be a simple guesstimate much more accurate than what was published. Compare this to 1995 – 2000 span. Yes, there would be more moving in, some moving out, some graduating from prior years and some not graduating for another year or two. But the cumulative average would mitigate many of these fluctuations in this large of a pool.

A good statistician would say garbage, but it would be more useful “garbage” than we now have and more reflective of the real problem and issue. That issue is “how many kids have we failed to educate?” Do we not deserve a simplistic answer? Why can we not face the truth? Is there a cover up or just lack of interest in how we are doing?

Stormy,

Thanks for the reminder. Yes, I think it makes sense to help low-income people live closer to the areas where new jobs -- at Dell and FedEx, for example -- are being created.

High Point's economically depressed areas don't need more public housing developments.

Seeing as things are in High Point, however, Central ALWAYS will have the highest proportion of poor students of any of the high schools. The new plan isn't going to change that.

By the way, celebrating the loss of another 105 jobs with the closing of Miller Desk, as the cowardly anonymous poster does above, is simply repugnant.

The way that elected officials in High Point and Guilford County treat the residents of North High Point is simply repugnant.

If Mr. Miller was a shrewd businessman, he would've saved his company by busing in a furniture savvy person from North High Point to rescue his failing company.

Isn't that how Inner City High Point solves all their problems?

Repugnant? I laugh in the face of regugnancy!

Vegas Baby!!!!!!!!!!!!

High Point doesn't need no stinkin' desks anyway! Heck, most of the kids cain't eeven reed !!

Maybe those 105 employees can work in the Guilford County schools? I heer they need a few good folks.

You're right, Doug. Central always will have the highest proportion of poor people in High Point, a fact that, according to "Doug-Dot Think" forever gives them the god-given right to plunder wherever and whoever they need to, to make ammends for this.

Thanks, for all you do.

Oh Dougie,

Don't get your britches in a wad. I'm sure affordable housing will be built in North High Point before too long, but rather than public housing projects they should just build some cute little cracker box houses like they have over there on Spruce Street.

Everyone,

I hope you enjoyed this absolutely beautiful day!!!

You know Doug,

for a journalist, you have the most pre-concieved notions of anyone I've ever had the opportunity to read. Have you ever thought "outside the box"??? It's sad that all one hads to do is read the topic of which you write to see where you stand. No one needs to actually read what you write, just read the topic.

Do they rent those homes over on Spruce Street for the Market? I have a friend that might be interested. ...

Oh, dern, never mind. My friend hates Rotweillers and has moved to Vegas anyway. Dah!

Charlotte,

I asked Grier why Andrews was not included and he said the school already has a state assistance team assigned there that is doing essentially the same thing.

Garth,

There were 5,528 freshmen enrolled on the 10th day of school in the 2000-01 school year.

But I think that you're looking for the 2001-02 school year, whose freshmen should have graduated in 2005. In that year, there were 5,575 ninth-graders.

In 2005, the district graduated a little more than 3,800 students, I believe.

Celebrating when blue-collar workers in High Point lose their jobs.

Hoping Las Vegas takes the furniture market from High Point.

Just the level of discussion I've come to expect from this crowd (with some exceptions).

Jennifer, Thanks - Either way leaves a "disappearance" of approx 1/3 of all Guilford High School students. If Grier has cut the rate in half since he began, that would mean we had almost 2/3 falling out. A bit of a stretch?

Yes, maybe we need to compare this percentage to the ones prior to his arrival and the ones this year. It may still be a drop in the rate, but saying we have cut it in half is a touch aggressive. That means every year in Guilford County, 1,700 +/- kids give up on education as a way to improve their lives.

What’s your take on this?
Again, Thanks Jennifer.

Doug,
I just finished watching my fifth grader write sentences using her vocabulary words for the week. She asked me what "indignant" meant. I made her look it up in the dictionary.

If you want to understand the bitterness and venom on this chalkboard, just have your children under constant attack by elected officials, highly paid school employees, and newspaper editors, none of whom have ever had to worry about their kids being persecuted for political gain. I believe indignant (anger aroused by something unjust, mean, or unworthy) would be the proper word.

No student from the Central area has EVER been bused or even under the threat of being bused. High Point is truely now a town divided. You and Dot and others have made sure of that.

Perhaps, we are looking in the wrong end of the problem here. Follows is a statement from the National Association of School Psychologists. Perhaps, we should be looking at graduation rates, not drop-outs. It appears that the drop-out rate often only includes kids that quit school during the year. It doens't measure kids that quit over the summer and never go back, so they fall through the cracks. If this statement is accurate, then Jennifer's numbers would be correct. About 1/3 of students that began school just didn't graduate, whether they were counted as drop-outs or not.

"Calculating an accurate dropout rate is nearly impossible, since schools differ in their definitions of a dropout, their counting methods, and their methods of following a student who drops and reenters, or those who leave the district and reenter another one. Even with the discrepancies in data collection methods, it still appears that no less than 15% of all persons aged 16 to 24 are not enrolled in school or have not earned a high school diploma or equivalency certificate. The rate of high school non-completers aged 16 to 24 in many urban areas is as high as 35%. The 1994 U.S. Bureau of the Census indicated that 20% of adults over the age of 25 had not completed high school."

If NHP citizens are SO below your "expectation level" Dougie, then stop using us as your kidnapping pool.

From the looks of your "hood", I now totally understand the envy. But my kids can't fix your problems. Just as I cannot fix Mr. Miller's problems.

Doug,

What good does it do for poor people to live closer to Dell or Fed-Ex if they don't have transportation. It's still a pretty good hike from Southwest to Dell, and no public transportation. In this case, they would benefit from living on a bus line that goes to work areas.

Doug,

I don't see why the transplants of NHP and Jamestown have to pay for the sins of old money High Point.

There are responsibile for not educating their workforce for the last 50 years. In doing exactly that, they having created generations of illiterates.

And you are, what my dear grandmother Ida Morgenstein would have said, a YENTA. Stay at your own blog please!!!

Stormy brought my name into this discussion.

While I was here, I also chose to comment on the attitude that perceived wrongs done to the north High Point community justify rejoicing at the misfortune of 105 Miller Desk employees who have absolutely nothing to do with the school issue. I'm happy ScottB recognizes the bitterness and venom evident on this blog. Maybe one of you can explain how that entitles you to take pleasure when people lose their jobs.

Doug,

Phil Miller, a resident of Davidson County, stood up at a forum and requested Map C, a map that did not affect him or his daughter's school in any way, only swapped kids from the two other High Point High Schools. He wished misfortune on others knowing that he would not be affected.

Karma is a wonderful thing!!! Who's next?

Though I feel bad for the poor workers that have broken their backs to purchase Mr. Miller's yacht, the closing couldn't have happened to a more deserving fella.

PS...I would have liked Nana Morgenstein.

To hear the status of our schools in this day and age when we are suppose to be so much more "advanced" than we were 20 or even 10 years ago is simply tragic. Has the idea ever occurred to anyone that children just simply do not come into high school and forget how to read and write? These are problems that are developed early on in elementary school and follows these kids their whole lives. The problems that these schools are facing are the same problems that our society as a whole is facing and the general consensus seems to be to look out only for our own kind and to heck with everyone else. We as a community need to come together and help rebuild OUR schools.

Doug,

I think that you stepped into something there and got unintended consequences.

concerned parent,

Am I to conclude from your post that you feel that placing kids on long bus rides to another school will improve their education in any way or rebuild our schools? If so, I would tend to disagree with your conclusion. It does nothing to improve education of the kids or improve the schools, and as a matter of fact it uses resources that could be utilized better in the class room.

By the way, were your children among those that were placed on a yellow bus and sent to another school?

Once again the school board shows their discrimination of the people of High Point.

During the discussion of Smith and Dudley tonight diversity was NOT MENTIONED ONCE!

Dr.Griers solutions were all about education and resource's.

They really make me sick!

I went to Smith - graduated 1987 - and I enjoyed a wonderful education at the school.

It's a shame that it is now so segregated. It was very diverse and the diversity was celebrated when I was there. Where did all the white people go? Did they all move to High Point? or Summerfield? Why?

Do you think that those children with darker colored skin enjoyed having to be bussed to desegregate the schools? Were they allowed to stay in their neighborhood schools? Or were they forced to leave and go into a hostile environment in the name of diversity?

Is it still so bad that we really can't stand to go to school with each other (for very long)?

The whole thing makes me very sad.

So that is who Mister Miller is. I heard about him. Yep, the hard rains a comin just like C Boy said. It is time for bad karma on Old High Point.

Since he wished this hardship on the children of North High Point and Parkview, I am so happy to see that hardship is coming back to him. There is justice after all. It is sad for the workers that have to live in High Point. Mr. Miller probably has his millions squirred away to leave to HPU.

Plainasday, GREAT POINT! Diversity was NEVER mentioned. Remember "High Point is Different". It is truly disgusting. You can see why people hate living hear and are leaving. Guess we don't have Amos, a Dudley alumni, helping us. Guess you have to have Skip in your corner.

JENNIFER, I HEARD TODAY THAT BESIDES CENTRAL, DUDLEY AND SMITH, ANDREWS ALSO HAD A STUDY DONE BY THE PHI DELTA KAPPA GROUP. CAN YOU CONFIRM THIS? IF SO, WHY WAS THIS NOT MENTIONED IN THE PRESS TODAY.

Plainasday,

It is the black leaders of Greensboro who are different. They are intelligent enough to know it doesn't take a white student sitting next to a black student to make them better.

All Smoke and Mirrors in HP!

NEWSFLASH: DIVERSITY HAS DISSAPPEARED.

Diversity never was the issue. EVERYBODY knows it. It was a scam. It's served it's usefulness. It's over. It's yesterday. The most scary and cynical thing is, they aren't even any longer making the effort to try and hide it.

Dot's happy
High Point realtors salivating
Walter's happy
Joe, Vicki and Bruce and rest of HP NAACP happy.

You won't hear another word about it-GUARANTEED!!!

Hi, Stormy, - in response to your question - No, my child is not bused, I drive her to school everyday, and she attends Dudley BY CHOICE. I do not support forced busing at all - I believe that it is ridiculous to bus children clear across the other side of town for a supposed better quality of education, when ideally, they should be able to receive that same quality of education at a school that is down the street from their home. My comment about coming together as a community was simply that - we all need to get together behind these schools, administration and all, and come up with ways/ideas in which some of these problems can be resolved. I know that realistically, we cannot fix every problem that faces our schools but we can do something besides sit back and talk about it. Help behind the scenes is good but for parents/volunteers to actually show up at the schools and encourage the kids to do well in school AND in life could make a great deal of difference. Do you think after all of the negativity directed towards Smith/Dudley/Andrews, that these kids feel good about themselves and their school? According to my child, NO - and that is what I have a big problem with. No child should have to feel ashamed about the school they attend, focus should be on what they are doing in school.

concerned parent,

As a High Point parent, my child has no CHOICE in what school she attends. The school board decides that based on the color of her skin. Until I am treated fairly, I will not embrace any other school as "my own".

I think the school boards actions over the last few years have contributed to the bad reputation Andrews has.
I wasn't really aware that Dudley might be bad. my general opinion from the outside is that Dudley is probably better that Andrews and there is the difference. Amos had me won over that it was a good school. Once again, that is the difference. If you have strong reps it goes a long way.
Amos is quite a guy. A refreshing force on the board.

not too concerned
I certaintly understand your position - I really did not have a clear understanding of the problems going on in High Point until I went on the GSC website & reviewed the redistricting maps and I was absolutely shocked. And there but for the Grace of God, my child could be in the same situation - which is why I truly believe that all schools should offer each and every child the same quality of education, regardless of where they live. That, to me is just common sense.

Plainasday,

So right about Amos. The past representative for
Andrews would not even send his own kid there. His kid went to a private school in Greensboro. What does that tell you about the school?

And I agree with "not too concerned". Parents and children in High Point DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE. It has been a set-up from the get go. They have to spend their time and energy protecting their own children from all the ugliness that has been allowed to occur in High Point. They have to educate their own now and look out for their children's emotional health which has suffered immensely these past two years.

Concerned parent, how do you think those Parkview parents feel about their kids school being taken from them, their sports, their community? How do you expect them to get "involved". They can't even get to school to be involved if they wanted to. Their OWN BLACK LEADERS did this to them. They should all be ashamed!

It is time for everyone to start writing Judge Manning about the pretense of "diversity" in High Point and its real purpose. He needs to know the whole story.

Concerned Parent,

Do you think the North High Point kids feel good about themselves when people have lied and called them and their families racists?

All lies. They are sick of it.

concerned parent,

If your child attends Dudley by choice, then it sounds as though your child is enrolled in a magnet school. I salute you that Dudley has such an attractive program that encourages your child to attend there.

I agree that these schools are in a bad need of a "fix", but my idea of what that means is probably different than yours. Parents can back the schools all day long, and that will certainly help, but these schools are never going to be quality as long as we have the current leadership on Eugene St. My idea for school improvement is to clean house on Eugene St., and replace the executives that are currently driving this district into the ground, starting with Terry Grier. Let's get some professionals that really want to educate students, rather than play games and draw a big, fat salary. Getting a few new board members wouldn't be a bad idea either.

I agree that the students at Dudley, Smith, and Andrews have not deserved to be treated in the manner that they have over the past few years, but I feel that fault lies at the feet of the superintendent and certain board members. They created the environment for that to suit their own purposes. It is they that have failed the kids. Judsge Manning knows who is responsible for poorly performing schools - the leadership; principals and the superintendent.

Stormy:
I totally agree with you on that point. Something has definately got to give ...

No, Stormy, not unintended at all. Karma and Who confirmed the point I was making.

They profess to feel sorry for the Miller Desk workers but also express delight that they're losing their jobs because their boss stood up at a public hearing and stated a position they didn't like.

Does anyone else want to defend that kind of thinking?

Doug, you have made your point.

Well, Doug, if the Miller Desk really cared about their workers they would n't have put kept them down for the last 50 years.

At least one guy on the news had a plan to go to trucking school! What about the rest of them? A lot of them don't have many options and that is the real crime here. People lose their jobs everyday but have other options. HOw would you like to be middle aged with a second grade reading level? So don't blame us for the REAL crime in High Point!!!!

I gotta go; I am feeling very faclept! You sir are not like butta!!!!

Where's debra?

Jennifer has been found. She was at BOE meeting last night.

....and speaking of putting schools down, Central celebrates "Dis Andrews Day" where the students put down their rival school with signs, home-made t-shirts, etc. They even dedicate a yearbook page to it. I wonder how Dot feels about this? I'm sure Doug's boys NEVER participated in this event!!!

I do hate that employees of Miller Desk have lost their jobs. Even more, I hate that they had to endure the attitude of the Miller family for as long as they did.

It's OK, the Emerywood crowd has convinced me that change is good. Embrace it and move on. Something better awaits these employees and it's just around the corner. I'm sure some good people of North High Point would hire them.

As for the Millers, I sure hope they don't have to go out and find a REAL job. Will they still be able to afford the docking fee for their yacht in Bermuda? I have a feeling they will be fine.

Oh what a beautiful morning,
Oh what a beautiful day,
I've got a wonderful feeling,
Everything's going my way.

Oak Ridge Runner had a great comment on one of the letter to ed comment sections. He mentioned that the four high schools: Smith, Andrews, Dudley and Central had Title I status removed. As you know, many felt this was to avoid NCLB sanctions and allow Andrews to be an opt out school when the lotto game was in place. The other part of this is federal dollars could have been used to help these schools.

Now we are paying $30,000 each or $120,000 to some independent educational organization to tell us what is wrong with these schools?

We have know by test scores and other indicators for a long time that they were in jeopardy. Why are we just doing something now as Darlene and Amos stated in a similar manner?

Why was Andrews not mentioned yesterday in the News & Record that they were getting a $30,000 study too? Was it because it would make the High Point parents even madder that they were being swapped to a failing school, a school that over a year ago could have been an Opt out school with NCLB sanctions taking place.

Walter Childs keeps saying it has changed and how great it is. If this is the case why does Andrews need a $30,000 study to see what is wrong with it and why not mention it??

We should all contact Judge Manning to see if children can legally be assigned to a school that is on his watch list or that already has turnaround teams at work. Make sure you tell him that Grier said on live TV last night that the judge is "just trying to make a name for himself".

Does anybody have any contact information?

FAN

you could start by calling NCCARE in Raleigh, North Carolina Community Advocates for Revitalized Education. They have information on their web site about the Leandro case.

you could also just call Raleigh government direct and obtain the contact information.

Perhaps Jennifer can give all of us that information. Jennifer??

WE NEED TO PULL TOGETHER!

The Board has alienated a majority of High Point and Jamestown by redistricting and siphoning funds from two promised projects that the voters funded with bond money. They tried to mislead County Commissioners into thinking siphoning was for voter approved projects when some was for “new” pets projects of TG.

They have created a whirlpool of media backlash for trying to mislead public with great success on drop out rates, but press was first to question it. Now they are told by judge they have a sorry state of affairs at Smith and Dudley and are under the gun. There is so much anti bond sentiment and anti tax increase sentiment that primaries will be difficult for those voting tax increase on the commissioners’ race that our schools as a whole need public support like never before.

Yes, the School Board needs the public more than ever before, and now they face alienating more. I wonder if they would consider redistricting High Point more along neighborhood lines, quite bussing kids needlessly past their neighborhood school and admit a mistake may have been made, and in order to save money, the busing will have to be scaled back. All Guilford should be treated the same. I wonder if they did this, maybe the new neighborhood groups forming to fight them over the summer might stop. Maybe the public might be more helpful to their cause? One would think about it anyways.

This would allow smaller classes at Andrews and Central. The parents at Southwest wouldn’t mind a bit of crowding and trailers, we have them already. Save Money, Fix PR problem, improve education, might work. A new High School for Colfax would garner heavy support from Jamestown, High Point and Colfax area as well as Northern and Northwest. Building Jamestown middle a bit larger and a new Colfax middle would solve the problems of a large geographic area and endear the Board and Commissioners to a large portion of the population as well.

Just Thinking,

Judge Manning can be reached at the clerk of courts office at 919-755-4100. He might still be working out of the Orange County courts to fill in for a judge there. That number is 919-245-2241.

I couldn't find anything about the advocates for revitalized education group mentioned above.

A few people have asked why we didn't report that Andrews received a $30,000 audit.

That's because they didn't, according to Grier.

Only Dudley, Smith and Central have been audited at this point. He said Andrews has a state assistance team working there that is doing essentially the same thing, so no audit was needed.

I personally dont think they should close my school down and i hope the dont close it down my reason being is where are we going to go?, how are we going to get to and from school? Some students here at Dudley High really dont understand the language of english that well and yeah the teachers are teaching them but we should not be held accountable for that i think that these students should not take the test and if this happens see how the test scores improve then.

Joe,
I am here. My dear mother-in-law passed away on Friday so I am out of the loop. There were many schools are the border in this study, including Easter, Southern, Middle school at Bennet (20% passing), Middle School at A&T as well as the four mentioned. Our schools are in a terrible mess, but the mess doesn't start in HS! Social promotion has caught up with us. A child's ego is harmed if they are held back... what about their ego, the school's reputation, the taxpayers pocketbook etc when they are passed without being able to do the basic minimums. Please remember that a 3 on a EOG means they passed 30% of the questions... that is really nothing to celebrate.

One thing I didn't hear last night on the BOE, was that the judge said it was leadership, not money spent that was the problem. Title 1 taken away= less money=less federal accountability. Looks like the state is stepping up to make the schools have accountablity.

I hate to say this and have never said it before, but I pray I can make it 5 more years until my son is outta here!

Debra,

My deepest sympathy on your loss. The fact that noone filed against any of the incumbants has put me and others in depression or something close to it. I have trouble seeing light at the end of the tunnel. The atmosphere for improvment does not seem to present. I hope I feel better in a few days. Best regards,

I too was surprised about the lack of people running, and never heard of Jeff Belton. I hope he is a well informed and open minded individual (Marti's seat)--

I think it is a matter of money for many people. To unseat an incumbent would be expensive and hard. And if you aren't devoted to public education and children, why would you even try? Several people spoke to me about the possiblity of running at-large, but I think Nancy does a good job, although we don't agree on everything. She is an educator with a long background and has a good feel for our county.
I would never run against Dot, as she is intrenched with a large political (if unknowing) machine and votes behind her. That would leave my area, which everyone knows has the best representative on the board, Darlene.. So I am out. Wish others had taken the plunge and it is not good for the democratic process not to have a choice :))
Thanks to all for your condolences

Did you see this recent Decision
Supreme Court Rules Against Schools in Military Recruiting Case

Amos is correct. The kids at the schools being referred to as "bad" schools are not "bad" kids. If hope is taken away from them, they will stop trying. With that said, what is the school systen doing to help them? I have read on this blog several times a parent (perhaps Tim Mann?) repeatedly say that the impoverished schools need smaller class sizes, teacher pay differentials, and experienced leadership. Now Grier and followers are mentioning these possible solutions as revelations to success? Why don't these people listen to voices of reason before they get into crisis mode? Why are these solutions good for the Greensboro schools but never mentioned during the discussions of Andrews and Central? My child has another year at Southwest High School. Her brother will not use sibling preference to stay. We are Davidson County bound. I still believe in public schools, just not this one!

To the Student of Dudley High,

Put on your seatbelt. To fix the schools in High Point, the school board voted to bus white children to the struggling school and bus some of the black children out of that school. The black children will now pass their closest 2 schools and have to travel 10+ miles to Southwest High School. Many of the parents don't have transportation and there is no bus or taxi service that goes to SW so these children will probably not be able to play sports or participate in ANY after school activities because they will not have a ride home. I can't think they would treat Greensboro differently. Call Dot Kearns, your at-large rep, and ask her to explain her reasoning on this one. Her number is: 887-6177

You should get your friends to call too. She's a real night owl so don't worry about calling too late.

Sad Mom,

My daughter is a junior too and I am so glad she won't around to see the downfall of SW. Her education has been fine because of Honors and AP classes, but it has to start at home too and at a very young age. Many of us have written to the school board for over 2 years now about small classrooms at Andrews. In fact this was part of a Solutons Proposal that myself and two others wrote before the "Choice Plan" was voted in on Black Tuesday. Small learning classrooms was the criteria for a $847,000 magnet grand for all 3 HP high schools that was received in Fall of 04. These small classes are supposed to be in place based on the grant parameters.

Many have asked Dr. Grier and others about pay differentials at Andrews, long ago. Many have talked to board members about same. One parent was told by a board member it wouldn't be enough pay for anyone to go to Andrews (now this was over a year ago). Things are changing according to Dr. Childs. But according to Judge Manning, he isn't too happy about the tested results.

When Cassandra-B-Carr was brought in, many parents at Andrews wanted her out. They had had a strong principal prior to her. We wrote about this too. Next came the guy from Virginia hoping to find a "world class" technology program. He left. So now they do have a new, young principal. Many say she is doing fine there. I guess time will tell.

The system has failed many children of all races. It has to start in elementary school. To continue "social passing" so as not to hurt self-esteem only hurts the children in the long run. Why do we even have Gateways and benchmarks and EOG's if we just continue to pass kids on. Kids get to 6th grade and don't even know their multiplication tables. Check out the number of kids failing Algebra I. This is at SW too. It's hard for kids to grasp math if they don't know enough when they get to that point. We are short on good Math teachers too.

Many kids in middle school can't write or spell. It's many factors. Some kids are in school that have bad behavior and need alternative settings. But children who want to succeed need and deserve all the help they can get. They need mentors to build them up, not tear them down or transport them on a bus 11 miles down the road. A CP class is a CP class is a CP class. If you can't read at Andrews, you won't be reading on a bus to SW.

RAINBOW, "Dis Andrews Day" at Central. Unbelievable. Talk about rude. What happened to "we are all one happy, big school district in High Point under the Choice Plan. Let's all work together and make ALL our schools great." Central elite (Envywood) will eat those words. It ties hand in hand with the recent "kiss and make up" letters in the News & Record. "Now that we have what we have always wanted, took all your smart white kids for our IB Program, picked up many in the choice plan, moved the projects out of our school, can't we forget the past. We made up the rules to our game, please come back and play with us."

I suppose busing Parkview students to Southwest was the ultimate DIS.

I guess now that Central got their school over the tipping point to tip SW, they are happy. The page in the yearbook this year will be "SWH - THE ULTIMATE DIS".

Folks

Kids at Central, Andrews, SW, Dudley and Smith all face the same problems. SW was almost passing, but many kids there were left behind, now no school is passing, but they are at least looking for a real solution for once. I wish they would reconsider High Point as part of the solution and quite spending on buses and tearing apart our communities. HYPOCRACY on the school board is one thing, but we as parents should stand on higher ground.

All kids deserve the right to have a good education and to feel they are equal to others. School Board, TG, myself, are fair game, but please, kids are our (communities) responsibility. Leave them on High Ground. I am for Tough Love and kids need bounds, especially teens, but they cannot control their schools and teachers and that is as it should be. Is one school better than another, yes, especially in our county. It is Boards and Grier’s responsibility to rectify that problem and frustration must be directed where problem comes from. Most Central Parents, Andrews Parents etc. are normal, working folks trying to live life and provide a future. I fear in mocking kids from particular schools we do great damage, and hurting just one child in such a way…

Yes, we all hurt and I pray nightly for the wisdom and ability and opportunities to fix these problems. But I also pray for the children that they may grow up unmarred by these idiotic games.

Garth,
I agree with you and Amos regarding the labeling of kids. My point remains though. Why don't logical solutions that could apply to Greensboro also have application to High Point. I went to a lot of ABC meetings where Tim Mann said, "Logic plays no role." Why can't we apply the same logic or strategy equally across the county. I'm so frustrated I could scream. I hate that we're planning to move because of people's personal politics. I hate politics!

By the way, has Tim moved away? I haven't heard from him or seen him in many months. I hope it's not health related. Do you or anybody know?

He has not moved that I know of. Saw him about a month ago I believe, at a meeting. Hope he is doing well. Too many good people have moved away, but I am meeting with a new group of parents forming Monday night. Seems they have pushed too hard again. Tim's legacy of group involvement will grow thanks to TG and friends.

We all have friends moving because of this, I have had several very tempting offers from people wanting to start up new businesses at the coast. I do not plan on taking any as I have a commitment here to fix this mess if I can.

Garth,
Is the meeting open or is this a private group?

I saw Tim last week also. I just think he's given up or doesn't care because Guilford area isn't affected.

New group asked me to speak and advise, I am not forming it. If interested email and I will pass it along.

interested,

clearly you don't get it. we're all affected. period.

Interested,
Where have you been? EVERYONE in the Southwest, Andrews and Central schools are SCREWED!!!!!!! Southwest will NOT be the same school that your kids attend today, INCLUDING the MIDDLE SCHOOL!!!! Bussing will create a new mix of kids and a hostile environment for ALL involved. Particularly effected are Southwest Middle School, Southwest High School, Andrews High School, and Welborn Middle School.
NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO IMPROVE THE EDUCATION OF THE KIDS WHO NEED HELP AND ARE FAILING!!!!!!
I will make a not-so-bold prediction. Southwest test scores will drop significantly next year, particularly in grades 6,7,9,& 10. The same will happen at Andrews and Welborn. Central's will stay the same or dip slightly.
Your remark regarding Tim Mann is way off base. He has said all along that either Map A or Map C are the death of High Point and ALL of the High Point schools. Jamesford Meadows got screwed as bad as White's Mill Rd with Map C. Unfortunately, I believe he is correct.

Ben There Before & my wife- Don't Want to Do This Again

Interested was refering to a gentleman whose chilren will be out of the system in a year. Therefore he is probably unaffected. He was heroic in his time and efforts in trying to find a workable solution, but was Grier-ended so to speak. He fought for years and saw worse than imaginable. He is still involved though and I doubt has given up.

Just for what it's worth

What is so special about Irving Park Kris?

Southwest will not be the same school but it won't be immediately. With grandfathering and sibling preference some students will remain. You will definitely notice some change. Also they will pick up new students from new development off Barrow Road.

I think you will see more of a change at SW Middle where you have been seeing it.

Central did NOT get screwed at all! Dot, Susan and Mayor Becky got just what they wanted.
Nothing happened to Central. No one is busing OUT of there. Oh, I forgot. They get Clara Cox and EMPTY parking lot. They racked in all of Blairwood like they always wanted. They picked up tons of kids for their IB program in two years of High Point lotto, kids who were avoiding Andrews after all the bad PR. MANY kids are now choosing the IB program again so they won't have to go to Andrews. NOW Central is becoming a traditional school, NOT BLOCK. Many consider this another plus. Central is a WIN-WIN-WIN. The IB coordinator is thrilled that the Choice Plan is gone.

Jamesford Meadows did not get screwed like Whites Mill and Penny Road. They aren't scrambling to find private schools so their kids won't have to go to Andrews or Welborn. SW will see change but JM people aren't rushing to throw up for sale signs just yet.

Map A, B or C screwed many families. The only real solution was D which didn't happen.

High Point is the death of High Point. You can blame their leaders.

Bye bye schools. Bye bye Furniture Market.

I had not heard that Central was going back to traditional scheduling, I know Page and Western are going back to traditional. I am glad to see that people have realized that although having more options is nice, if you don't have the time to teach the basics that is a problem. Many teachers used the block for 60 minutes of teaching and 30 minutes of homework time, which cut into the limited teaching time!!!

I realize that many of my thoughts are old fashioned, but 180 hours of teaching time verses 135 seems to me to be a no brainer.

WARNING - long blog - read at your convenience - I just sent to the School Board and Dr. Grier.

Title of E-mail BOARD OF CONTRADICTIONS

I find it interesting that the Education Summit that was mentioned in today’s News & Record stressed a report that American students are falling being their international peers in math, science and technology. On a similar note, the HPE Sam Houston added that “curricula must change form a ‘nice-to-know’ (Shakespeare) to a ‘need-to-know’ (math and science). The changing work force is less rooted in ‘creative’ jobs like inventors, writers and musicians, and has moved into highly skilled jobs”. Jim Morgan, Chairman of the Guilford Education Alliance added that “we are aware of the dramatic changes in the workforce happening every day.” On a similar note the Worked Preparedness Study conducted by the city leaders of High Point confirms that our students are not ready for today’s work force. Add to that fact the recent, depressing report that came out on our county’s math scores.

I find this timing and presentation of all these reports very fascinating. About a month or so ago, there was a seemingly well orchestrated PR campaign to push for the Arts in our schools. We all read several articles about our children and the importance of the “Arts” in the papers; how beneficial they are. We even heard our young musicians and singers perform around that time at a School Board meeting. I must add, I did immensely enjoy watching these talented children perform. It sure beat the recent board meetings as seen on TV.

What is the focus now Arts OR Math & Technology?

I would tend to agree that the latter is of utmost importance in today’s real world. The Arts is the icing on the cake. Why then did the High Point Lottery Reassignment Plan put all lots of money, time and effort into making Southwest High School and Arts magnet. Several months ago a school board member from High Point told me “if these kids want these programs (dance) we have to give it to them. Well my kid might want to eat chip and dip every day for breakfast, but she doesn’t. It would not be healthy. It is your duty as public servants elected by the community to provide our children – ALL of our children with the educations they need to make it in the real world in a safe, violent free learning environment.

Another recent document by the Guilford Education Alliance stressed the importance of sports, music and after school clubs to help children struggling in poverty. They even suggested that academic requirements to get into some clubs be eliminated. Now I read in today’s Rhino “School Violence and Gangs, No Relation” page 9, in an article where county officials spoke to some parents at Ragsdale recently about the gangs in our schools. Article ends “Some suggestions that the officials gave to parents are……participate in family activities, involved children in SPORTS, scouts, CLUBS or dance, establish and enforce home rules, and spend QUALITY TIME with children.

Now I ask this questions how are the Parkview students who are being bused 11 miles to SWH and have not public transportation going to be able to participate in sports, clubs or have time with their families? This has been stripped from them. Six of you voted to take this away. GEA said how important extracurricular activities are. We have law enforcement agencies who deal with gangs saying what important prevention tools these are, so why did you knowingly vote to take these activities away from these children?

We have heard in High Point the past several months that children cannot be educated in “isolation” that they need “diversity”. Yet when it comes to Greensboro, Dudley and Smith, there is absolutely no mention of this. We hear “education, tutors, resources” as it should be for ALL students, not just Greensboro.

We all heard over and over how High Point is “different”. At Penn-G forum a High Point City council member even said how High Point was “different” from Greensboro in reference to not dropping the “Choice Plan” while addressing Mr. Quick.

High Point finally gets the point. We are different. Our families, children and our schools are treated quite differently when it comes to solutions for education. Why is that? What happened to the goal of ONE COUNTY MOVEMENT?

The discussions at the last board meeting and the ongoing trends with redistricting and other issues these past several months, point to the biggest contradiction of all ONE COUNTY for GREENSBORO; HIGH POINT is DIFFERENT.

Barbara
Our kids learn better on buses. It's simple, High Point manufactures buses, thus our kids must learn better on the bus. Dot, Susan and Walter must get campaign contributions from Thomas Built. And you thought there was a double standard.

Them too r brite bard mambars afta aw. An youins thunk em dum.

Members of the Board can decide to stop being HYPOCRITS and vote to restore old attendance zones to High Point, allow open choice plan without forced lottery, make improvements like smaller classes at Andrews and Central and other remediation like they say will help Dudley and Smith treating High Point the same as the rest of the county and then get on with helping the rest of the district as well as getting bonds and budget money without fighting activist parents.

SIMPLE, DO ABLE and EASY…

Try it.

Add a larger Jamestown Middle and Colfax High and we will fight tooth and nail to support new bonds as well. What do you say?

Garth,

The problem with supporting bonds referendums with this board is that they bait and switch. They may offer new schools for Jamestown and Colfax, but when they get the bonds approved, you have no assurance that they will use the funds as promised. Something new will arise that they hadn't considered. Duh.

No, the problem with bond approvals is that there is no contract with the board to use the funds honestly. No trust. As for myself, I will not support them. I voted for the last one because I thought that Southwest and Jamestown would be benefit, but they were dissed after approval.

Although some actions may seem hypocritical, that does not make the Board members hypocrits.
I honestly believe, you have to outsmart the BOE and point out the deficiencies in their thinking and ideas. I have hurled a lot of harsh words at the BOE. However, personal attacks like yours will only isolate you. We want them to listen to you. Why not go along when the others are right and voice your opinion loud and clear when they are wrong. Better yet, you need your own agenda to sell to the others. It is going to be a long 4 years if you expect to change very much. Small accomplishments lead to large goals. Best regards,

Joe,

Since you know how to work the BOE, how much would you charge the NHP parents to speak on behalf of them?

Joe,

Been there, done that. There are just too many hidden agendas and politics that you are not aware off. Everything you mentioned has been tried.

Greensboro is "different" from High Point. Also you must remember that even if one has the best representation in High Point on the BOE, High Point will ALWAYS have the minority voice. Their votes will only be 2 swing votes politically on anything once Dot is replaced by an at-large board member from Greensboro.

You are making judgments of an entire population of North High Point and Jamestown by some of the posts you see here. Many, many parents who never post on this blog have spoken at board meeting, e-mail, talk with board members on a personal basis, have lunch with them, etc. Some people who do post calm post here have done the same. Some of us have a great rapport with several of the commissioners and personal ties. Some of us have helped on their campaigns and they remember that.

You are correct about small goals leading to bigger ones. And there is no time limit. Marti is quitting. Susan is quitting. Johny Hodges has been gone. They key is persistance. You are a fine example for that. One day I am convinced you will get your Murrow school. So is Debora Mauser. She attends most every board meeting.

On the other hand, look at the red brigade from NW/Colfax a month or so ago coming out for teacher assistants. Did it do any good? The BOE had their chance. Money came back from the State. They voted to use it for "sports".

Dr. Grier and the BOE have proven over and over again that they don't listen to parents most of the time. There is much more here than meets the eye. "Follow the money trail" can be said for some of these board members.

"Why not go along when the others are right and voice your opinion...." Joe S

Close votes of 6-5 lately is not a board in agreement.

Sometimes there are various ways to expose the truth. You had the Gilboard ads in the Rhino, all verifiable data. Then there were the SOS ads during the 2004 elections. You have the group who puts out the seasonal displays on Southwest Road near the schools. You have some crazy blogs. It makes people think.

Political satire and cartoons have proven through the years to be very effective tools. I disagree with the isolation part. Why then all the positive feedback from this means of exposure. "The Truth" is not always "comfortable". Neither is looking in a mirror all the time. If bothers the person who has to face the truth. It is certainly not the same version of "the truth" from a well financed PR campaign put out by the schools. Remember the book "The Emperor has No Clothes". There is truth and there is "truth".

There has to be a balance. Many times, you just have to sift through the minutia and cut to the chase. In that way, intelligent people can form their own opinions and be the judge.

I don't see much difference between "hypocritical" and "hypocrit" except one is an adjective, the other a noun. Board members, in the end, will be judged in the Court of Public Opinion. It's not always a comfortable court to sit in.

I agree that the BOE has made a lot of awful decisions. I see no sign they are sorry or that they have made mistakes. I have never heard them admit to a mistake. They comfort themselves by saying that they represent those without a voice who do not or are not inclined to speak out. It appears that they are incapable of developing a plan and sticking with it to improve education in Guilford County. Notice, they are reluctant to fix problems at Smith and Andrews. They keep their distance. D. Hayes is right, many of the Board Members, don't have a clue at what is happened in high impact schools. I know for a fact that the Supt. has been told to stay out of some areas. What does that mean? Can he make recommendations? We have never had a BOE that has given staff so little support. They have no idea what will fly and what will not. You can see it is best to keep quiet and that is what they do. I regret DR. Grier does not want to have a confrontation with the BOE on anything. I want him to push harder. He says he is pushing behind the scenes. I think he could do more without losing his job.

Joe,

Did you read the article by Jennifer in today's paper?

Seems to me like there were a lot of "those without a voice" that still have no voice.

I agree with the N&R editorial "Manning's ultimatum" on one thing. “It would be unfair and premature to change principals at either Smith or Dudley, both of whom have barely warmed their office chairs”.

The editorial ignores on thing however. History! In the last five years Smith’s passing rate has actually decreased. They are passing fewer children today than five years ago. Dudley is marginally better than five years ago but both are below 55%.

In SAT scores Smith’s average three years ago was 828. Last year it was 793. Over the same period Dudley had gone from 857 to 830.

Most of our counties High School’s passing rates have decreased as well over the same time. If we compare our SAT averages to our neighboring counties we are the only county with a decrease over three years.
It is right that these principle’s not lose their jobs and they should be given a fair chance but Grier has been here all the way along. Surely in the words of the judge “the grace period has run out”.

It's "good cop/bad cop". Joe, for $200+ a year many would play the "bad cop" role. He has an extended contract. Others have to worry about getting re-elected. I too have heard about a lot of the politics that come into play when it gets down to certain issues. Grier has to be an ace politician to keep his job.

We need to push for order, discipline and responsibility in our schools. I agree wholeheartedly with one thing Dr. Grier said at the last board meeting when the subject of teacher training came up. If you have the SAME teachers that are receiving training after training after training, and there are no positive results, then maybe it is time for a major overhaul of the these teachers. I know teachers that are popular with students, but they simply aren't good teachers.

There ARE many good teachers. Then there are those who are just counting the days to retirement, collecting their checks. It is a two part contract though. Students MUST be held accountable for their behavior, whether they are white, black, purple, polka dot....They need boundaries, expectations, and positive reinforcement. Those students who are continually disruptive need to be removed from the equation.

More responsbility to delegate needs to be given to the principals. Allow them to do their jobs.

Deenha Hayes has open;y admitted to meetings behind closed doors. Probably not with Parkview parents though!