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Does anyone know why Lisa Cooke did not come back. With a salary of $95,148, that's a lot to give up.

Great news.
I am very pleased for the Eastern community!

Take a look at next Tuesdays School Board agenda. Can anyone tell me where there is anything at all to with "education"?

http://www.guilford.k12.nc.us/boe/2007/6_12/memorandum.html

Joe,

Sometimes all the money in the world isn't worth your health or sanity. I would imagine this has been an extremely stressful, tiring year for her.

Over the last 19 meetings, since Jan... there have only been 13 agenda items for education. I will use this as my topic to speak at the board on Tuesday. I know that other things have to be voted on, but REALLY... can we talk about education just a little.

Debora,

You are askibg for the impossible. The board doesn't want to talk about education, as it's a difficult subject to impact. It's easier to spend hours discussing what to name a school or where to draw districting lines.

This letter appeared in the HPE today. The author makes a good point, don't you think Real Truth? The statistics are accurate, and if you doubt it, you can look it up.

" When dealing with the politically charged subject of education in High Point, it’s important to look at the real facts. Too many decisions in the past have ignored the facts and have been decided for rash emotional reasons.
In its recent coverage of the Andrews lower enrollment versus the band size, The High Point Enterprise simply got it wrong. In 2001/2002 Andrews enroll­ment was 940.
In comparison to this year’s num­ber of 952 and the so-called projected 902 for 2007/2008, the difference is so small that you have to conclude if the band had been strong six years ago and it’s not now, then there must be other reasons for it. You must also look at other schools to put it into perspective.

High Point Central’s marching band, for instance, is currently hovering at just below 30.
In conclusion, as an important part of our community, this newspaper must do its homework before rushing out with rash unfounded conclusions."

Un-named Poster,

The issue about the Band at Andrews, isn't about shear numbers its about the decline in middle income students. The letter to the HPE editor is wrong. Andrews isn't the only school heavily impacted with poverty struggling to keep programs like band going. Band requires, transportation, money for instruments and parent involvement. Band is challenging and without parent involvement students will simply take the easier road. Foreign language and other college prep classes also struggle.

That is why I support balanced diversity at our schools. It helps schools like Andrews to offer programs like band (maybe even sports like LaCrosse) foreign language and other challenging programs. Its simply unfair and un-just to put all disadvantaged kids together and give them less opportunitiy.

I'm sure many of you neighborhood school people just don't seem to understand that. Some of you just don't care and some of you have motivations that are just plain ugly.

Anyway I've got to go prepare for Graduation.

The Real Truth

Maybe the true question should be why doesn't GCS support all extra cirricular activities. Parents are way to often expected to go beyond the basics to offer things for their children.
I'm not sure what money is need for foreign language and college prep courses, so your plea for that seems weak.

I do understand that sports/band/chorus/clubs that compete take money. Each school gets a pot of money for these items, perhaps Andrews leadership team has deemed to spend their money on something else. It is certainly worth asking.

Thank you, Debora, for being a sane voice in this discussion. RT will never understand. All she has is harsh words for others who don't see things her way. Be reasonable, do it her way.

As I recall, when the subject first came up the band size issue was about the shrinking number of students at Andrews which was causing the problem. Now, we learn that the problem is really about the decline in middle income students. Unfair and unjust? Well, sometimes life isn't fair, but you don't highjack other people's money and kids to solve your own problems. Life doesn't work that way in a free and democratic society. As Debora suggested, you need to look to your hero, Terry Grier, to provide Andrews with resources, not other parents and taxpayers.

Debra,

Teacher positions are funded by the number of students taking a class (band is a class). Its somewhat out of the BOE's control because the state funds positions that way. A school may want to offer Chinese (band, lacrosse, Spanish, Calculous) but if too few students are taking it, the teachers position is going to be eliminated. Those two students don't get to take Chinese because they go to an impacted school while their more affluent white neighbors get to take Chinese because Garth's Segregation plan forced them to an impacted school because of ther race and income. His segregation plan is unjust, inhumane and shamful. It will be aolished as justice will eventually prevail. In the meantime you can rejoice in knowing that those poor kids won't be rubbing elbows with yours!

The Real Truth

RT,

PLEASE learn to spell. You can write your post Word, then use the spell check tool. Once you've run the spell check, you can then cut and paste your post into the comment box. Nobody expects you to take a derivative or do an integration, but calculus isn't that hard to spell.

Its expected that the Andrews band will be larger next year. We might have to buy extra uniforms.

RT,

That is the most ridiculous post to date. Does every school offer Hebrew? Latin? Chinese? in the rest of Guilford County??

Does every school offer the various arts courses that Weaver offers?

Every school does not have orchestra or other extras.

There is only so much money to go around. If you want a particular subject at a school, just move.

Garth is one of the most level-headed, logical, kind hearted persons I know. He cares greatly about the poor society in our schools. Dot just can't always have her way to save her alma mater so

GET OVER IT!

RT,

why are you preparing for graduation if in a previous post you said "you didn't have a school"???

which is it?

do you have a school or not? and if so, it must be Andrews from the tone of your posts

Yes, This RT person did contradict himself. While he does not come clean on his "real" motives via his personal situation the arguments have no credibility.

Could it be that RT doesn't have a school now, as her daughter just graduated from Andrews, so technically, she doesn't have a school anymore? She is an attractive young lady, though, and it appears quite the academic achiever.

Notice to All current and future residents of High Point. You think you should have a say in where your children go to school? HAH!!!

I, THE REAL TRUTH, hereby reserve the right to appropriate your children for my purposes and needs and a cause I believe in. If you don't agree, you are shameful bigots-END OF STORY.

Welcome to High Point.

Wait,...where are you going?

Yippee KiAh!

Un-named poster,

As stated before, I'm too busy trying to protect the poor and innocent from middle class entitled white ethnocentric people to use spell check.... get over it.

As stated before, I don't have a particular school because unlike you I care about all children. I celebrate all good news. Even when SW kids do well. After all they are just kids. As for their parents, well your values speak for themselves.

You again miss the point. If you had any empathy or care for others you would understand its about social justice. Its about providing opportunities. Since you mentioned Weaver, I should point out that both Weaver and Penn Griffin are academies and they do not have any attendence zones. They are special programs for gifted children. Every child in Guilford County can choose one of those schools regardless of where they live (Penn Griffin / Greensboro, Weaver / Greensboro. You Sw people can send your kids to Penn Griffin but I doubt you would even consider it because its not in a white neighborhood and that eems to be your biggest about picking schools.

I'm not saying that every school should have the same offerings, I'm saying every child should have the same opportunity. Garth's plan is engineered to keep poor black kids out of SW and concentrated at Andrews so his selfish, unjust, entitled, ethnocentric, afraid of blacks, constituents are happy.

The Real Truth

RT, The latest graduation results are out. Poor African American kids drop out at a higher percentage at Grimsley than at Dudley and Andrews. Imagine that, one of the poster child schools in GC, quite diverse etc cant make an impact for the poor kids. If you look at the 10th grade reading results at Southwest H vs Andrews, its the latter that comes out better. Its not the diverse middle class at SW that are failing! If Grier and Dot had it their way all the schools would be like Grimsley. On the face of it great but in reality if you look at the figures poor kids are doing really badly. Now if all schools were like Grimsley you would not complain would you? I suggest that its much better to have your Andrews, Dudley's and Smiths so we can see the hard factual results and we can work on REAL solutions.

RT, there is more to this than meets the eye.

10th grade reading results.
Guilford County – 57.2 % On or above grade level.
Andrews – 53.6
Bennett Middle College – 60.0
The Early College at Guil­ford 93.3
GTCC Early/Middle College 62.5
High Point Central 50.0
The Academy at HP Central 25.0
HP GTCC Middle College 39.1
NC A&T Middle College 36.4
Ragsdale – 64.2
Southern – 53.6
Southwest – 53.0

RT,

Andrews has (or had) the science academy. It now has one of the best technology academies. Andrews has other programs that SW and Central do not offer. Thousands of dollars were spent on the computer labs at Andrews. As mentioned, GCS does not have moeny to offer all programs, languages, art classes or whatever at all schools. Most schools have something different to offer, Andrews included. Andrews has received plenty of money from the High Point Foundation and other sources.

FYI, for certain technology programs students living in the western part of the county take courses at Andrews that they used to take at Weaver. It was Dot who was worried that her poor Central students would have to stay at Andrews all day and couldn't return to Central that day. Check the school board tapes. It's on there.

To reiterate what Statman says "there is more to this than meets the eye" and you just don't get it.

RT?

Someone wrote the following:
"Since you mentioned Weaver, I should point out that both Weaver and Penn Griffin are academies and they do not have any attendence zones. They are special programs for gifted children. Every child in Guilford County can choose one of those schools regardless of where they live (Penn Griffin / Greensboro, Weaver / Greensboro."

This is not entirely true and I would like to correct the message. There are attendance zones for each of Weaver and Penn-Griffin. Those students living in the southern half of the county who wish to attend a performing arts school must attend Penn-Griffin. Those students are NOT allowed to attend Weaver. This affects students living in the Ragsdale, Southwest, Andrews, Central, etc. areas of the county.

The northern half of the county may attend Weaver.

It is not true that any child can choose either school.

Numbersgame,

You are correct. I was trying to make that point in the parenthesis but wrote Greensboro twice and didn't list High Point. Thanks for correcting. Nevertheless, the point I'm trying to make is they don't have any kids that go to either of those schools just because of where they live. The students have to apply, audition and be accepted. There is no attendance zone with the exception of Southern kids at Penn Griffin and Northern at Weaver. The purpose of that is simply logistics. The courses offered at both schools are similar.

Nevertheless, despite the fact that those programs are exceptional you Sw people will ignore Penn Griffin because its in a black neighborhhod and that scares you!

The Real Truth

The Real Truth

Morgan,

FYI - the first 3 strands on this blog do not allow comments.

I would like to comment on the first strand, but will have to do so here.

Can you post links to the 2 sets of AP data? You have probably already done so previously, but if you could post both again, I would appreciate it.

Thanks.

RT (aka Real BS)

Who is this "you people"? It sure must be nice to know every parent in the SW district.

Penn Griffin has an awesome auditorium. Anyone is the SW, Central, Welborn or Andrews area who truly wishes the "arts" experience for their child would want to go there. However, Penn Griffin is a fairly new program compared to a very established program at Weaver. The upper grades have just recently been added so the arts magnet is still evolving.

The majority of people in GC choose a traditional, neighborhood school for their children. They do not want a bunch of bells & whistles. Children need the basics first of read, writing and math. Parents don't want their children wasting countless educational hours sitting on a bus. It's wonderful to have a TRUE CHOICE for magnet schools in this county whether it be the arts, Spanish, Early College, Murphy traditional, whatever. The key here is choice, not forced, illegal bussing.

Garth's TRUE CHOICE PLAN offers a true choice to all. Students can choose to attend their own original school or be bussed across town. It is the parents' choice, not the school board, not Terry Grier's, not a lottery of chance for only SW while the rest of the county enjoys a neighborhood school or a choice magnet.

No matter how you perceive the SW people in your warped opinion we know the REAL TRUTH.

TRUE CHOICE IS THE ONLY REAL CHOICE

RT

I though your daughter graduated or are you the one who is moving to Texas real soon.

Penn-Griffin does NOT require auditions, Weaver does. These are not equivalent performing arts programs.

True Choice,

Interesting how you always define your neighborhood around middle class kids. You know that many of you SW families live as close to Andrews as you o Sw but you say SW is your neighborhood school because its mostly white. You define your neighborhood by color. Garth's plan is to segregate our schools. He will be remembered in history with the likes of George Wallace and other segregationsts and Grand Dragons.

The Real Truth

"Penn-Griffin does NOT require auditions, Weaver does. These are not equivalent performing arts programs."

From the Penn-Griffin magnet brochure under "How am I selected for Penn-Griffin" (http://www.gcsnc.com/magnet/pdfs/2007brochures/Penn-Griffin.pdf):
"...High school students must audition to attend Penn-Griffin..."

For some reason The Chalkboard is not letting readers comment on our two most recent posts. We are trying to correct that so please be patient with us. Thank you.

there was alot of discussion about auditioning to Penn Griffen. If you audition then the Federal Government will not help with any grants. All magnet grants have to be open enrollment. I don't think that Penn Griffen had auditions for the middle school kids. Now that they are expanding they seem to be using auditions for qualifications

Like I said THE TRUE CHOICE PLAN offers a true choice to all (not a lottery of chance). Students can stay in their original districted school OR stay at the school they were bussed to across town. It is truly BUSSING when you pass your previous school to go several miles across town to another school much further away. It is definitely NOT about overcrowding when it's a swap for color plan.

Everyone now has a TRUE CHOICE. Everyone wins. Dot and Susie can't fix this lottery. I noticed at the last school board meeting Dotty is slowly losing her support. Gone are the prerehearsed tag team days of the Dotty/Susie team. Alan isn't falling for Dot's old High Point stories and neither is anyone else.

An airport high school just makes good sense.

Bussing students past their previous school several miles across town is BUSSING. A swapping plan that had absolutely nothing to do with decreasing the crowding at SW but everything to do with color is BUSSING.

The number results of Garth's plan have happened close to what was predicted. Notice that since the "Choice Plan" all the high schools have gone down. What good did all this constant social engineering do for our students? Check out the scores for yourself.

I really noticed after watching the last school board meeting the absence of the Dot/Susie tag team. Alan D isn't listening to Dot's bs anymore; neither are the other board members. They are tired of hearing about fixing downtown High Point. High Point has to fix itself and it will never be from the North HP people they have p_ _ _ed off. The school board members have many other problems to worry about, not just Dot's school. Times are truly changing for the better.

RT (aka Real BS)

I define "bussing" as having the Andrews/Welborn neighborhood that is in walking distance to their schools bussed several miles daily past their previous school to go across town to SW for the sake of social engineering. I define bs as saying redistricting was necessary as SW was overcrowded when the lates Map C Swap Plan made SW more overcrowded. I define "neighborhood" as children who have gone to school since kindergarten wanting to remain with their friends as most others do in the rest of the county. I define "screwed" as North High Point always being the target of redistricting to save the old High Point regime and business community.

I noticed that the Dot/Susan tag team is really gone after watching the last school board meeting. Sure doesn't seem like Alan or any of the others are listening to Dot's rambling anymore about High Point. I believe they finally realize that their are many other problems in Guilford County beside fixing High Point Central.

RT (aka Real bs)

I define "bussing" as people that live within walking distance to the Welborn/Andrews schools being bussed past their neighborhood across town to receive an education. I define political "bs" as people getting bussed under the guise that SW schools are overcrowded and establishing a Swap Plan known as Map C something or other. I define "screwed" as North High Point/Jamestown areas constantly being targeted year after year for redistricting to help make Central be whiter.

I define "gone" as in the Dot/Susan tag team after watching the last school board meeting. Sure seems like Alan D and the other board members are tired of hearing about old High Point. They realize there are other pressing problems in Guilford COUNTY Schools other than saving HP Central only.

Websters

Sorry the post happened twice. I thought the first one didn't go through.

You get the point.