News-Record.com

was there any discussion about the policy about limiting access to elementary schools until 6pm? I am on vacation, so haven't seen a paper.

Well we never said Becky was bright, she's an HP Central graduate you know.

Right or wrong, the HPE made an observation today that indicates that the school board lost the public relations battle in High Point by being right. Sometimes when you insist on what you want, you may a price down the road. Think we'll see High Point help out the school board in the future??

OUR VIEW ---
Guilford Schools: Just show us the money
If they made a red-light camera to photograph violators of High Point’s taxpayers, the bulbs would have been flashing wildly Tuesday night during a meeting of the Guilford County Board of Education.
Upon the advice of county schools attorney Jill Wilson, the board of education voted unanimously to reject a compromise proposed by the city of High Point related to settlement of the red-light camera lawsuit. That issue came to an end in June when the N.C. Supreme Court refused to hear the city’s appeal of a lower court ruling. The courts have decided that a state constitutional provision requires the city to pay the schools 90 percent of fines generated during the time that the city’s red-light camera traffic safety program was operational. That computes to about $1.48 million. But the city already has paid 70 percent of the fines collected to the company that installed cameras and ran the program. The city has only about $330,000 left in its red-light camera fund.
High Point officials asked school system leaders Tuesday night to apply toward the $1.48 million nearly $400,000 the city has spent recently on road, sidewalk and other improvements projects that give direct benefit to schools in the city. The school board bluntly rejected that request.
The school board’s action was an insult to and an assault upon the taxpayers of High Point. Innocent people – hardworking people – who live in High Point will be called upon to fund the bulk of the $1.48 million the courts say the school system is due. We’re surprised that school board members and High Point residents Dot Kearns, Walter Childs and Garth Hebert did not ask for the school board to give more consideration to the city’s proposal.
Certainly in the beginning, High Point officials missed the state constitutional provision that became the focus of the lawsuit – which actually was instigated by a private citizen who was protesting more so the red-light program than the school funding matter. But the city of High Point did not start the red-light camera program in an attempt to cheat the county school system out of the money that has been determined now to be due.
The school board has not made a lot of folks in High Point happy in recent years, and this action won’t endear them to many people, either. A fair compromise in this matter, such as was offered by the city, surely would have been in order. However, it has become unquestionably clear that Guilford County schools officials are interested more in grabbing every dollar they can in any way they can than they are concerned about the individual taxpayers.

"Heaven help us if this school board is ever allowed to have taxing authority."

The school board’s action was an insult to and an assault upon the taxpayers of High Point.

When did the HP City Council help them in the past? They have stayed firmly out of education issues. Almost to the point that it seems like they dont care.

Wally World,
If you buy the HPE's logic, should the school board also work out a deal with the city of Greensboro to give them credit toward the funds they owe? This case seems pretty clear cut (but if you want to blame someone, blame the person who brought the original lawsuit which may have gone further than what was intended). As was explained in the board meeting, the city of High Point approached GCS with the site improvements and agreed to do them as part of a broader plan to make the growing number of housing developments in north HP more accessible. So in the end, both entitities profited from the deal. Either way, taxpayers are going to pay this, whether it's the High Point folks or all residents of Guilford County.

Debora,
There was no discussion/decision on the facilities use policy. That is scheduled for Aug. 30.

Morgan,

I said, right or wrong about the HPE editorial. So, I don't necessarily agree with it, but my point is that the way it went down left a bad public relations image for the school board in the High Point community, where there isn't much trust of the school board to begin with. It isn't as though the schools actually did anything to earn the money. High Point and Greensboro spent city monies to operated the program, which they will never recoup. The schools had no investment, or any role in it, but received a windfall. It would have been better for them to have shown good faith in working with the High Point and Greensboro to improve future relations. As it now stands, it is a toxic relationship which will benefit no one. It is my opinion that this matter just reinforced the school board's image is all about money. The school board complained about a lack of trust of the county commissioners, so how does this litigious matter help their relationships with other county governmental governance units? We would all benefit if these people would all play together and share their toys a little better.

So, what good use will the schools put this money when they get it? How will it be used to improve education?

I agree with totally with Statman.

The High Point City Council has made it quite clear in the past that they have nothing to do with "schools", that this is a county issue. High Point didn't do their homework before they put the red light program in place.

They "care" when it affects the economic stability and image of old High Point and Mayor Becky and her friends alma mater.

The schools deserve the red light money. They are following the law.

HP HillBilly, and other ethnocentric, white middle class entitled people that make negative comments and people and our schools.

Your comment about our Honorable Mayor Becky and High Point Central was uncalled for! High Point Central Graduates are among the best in the country. Becky works tirelessly for the betterment of this city. If it weren't for Becky many of you wouldn't have jobs here or parks or industrial growth.

Unfortunately little people like you have to make negative comments about others to make yourself feel better because you are threatened by people who don't look like you or share your backward ideals.

As usual you chalkboard posters show your double standard by not chastising HP Hillbilly for his vile comments.

The Real Truth

RT,

Regarding your posts on the next strand - I left you a message after you, again, posted inaccurate information. Giving your opinion is one thing; however, disguising your opinion as fact is wrong. Here's the message:

RT,

I must insist that you provide fully referenced data, capable of independent validation and verification, to substantiate your claims.

We both know that you cannot. Lies cannot be proven mathematically.

HP Hillbilly most certainly should be chastised for belittling a Mayor who was popularly elected by a majority of the constituency of High Point.

What party banner did Ms. Smothers run under?

Lord Hear Our Prayers

Bubba Loves Jesus,

High Point city elections are non-partisan.

Numdersgame, just look at the GCS website. Free and reduced lunch numbers. Of course they don't take into account Garth Hebert's segregation plan because the numbers aren't known yet for this coming school year. Nevertheless, SW has an economic advantage no matter how you look at the numbers and Garth's segregation plan will only tilt the numbers in favor of SW. Of course you already know that you just want to slant the data so you can pretend SW isn't segregated and spin Garth's segregation Plan as a choice plan.

The Real Truth

RT,

You're going to have to do better than that. Give me the hyperlink to the data that you reference.

Your assertions are not proven by the data. I've studied the data.

Post the link and I'll take a look.

RT, Here are some facts for you.

Since the start of the choice plan white enrollment in High Point High Schools has been in decline. Comparing last year to the year before the choice plan we have lost 378 (22%)white children out of the system.

The biggest percentage decline was at Andrews where there has been a decrease of 132 children (43% of the total white enrollment of that school).

High Point Central's decline was 111 (20% of that schools enrollment).

Southwest's decline was 133 (18%).

If you look at the numbers for the preceeding years white enrollment was relatively stable. In 2000/2001 the total white enrollment had been 1704. The year before the choice plan 2003/2004 was 1693. Last year we had 1315 (diff of 378) white children enrolled in our High Point High Schools.

To me its obvious that Dot Kearns and Susans Mendenhall's Choice plan segregated High Point schools more than ever. Parents from ALL OVER High Point made their choice and jumped ship.

How do you explain that?

The funny thing is that even with less of the "right" kids (as some would say) going to Central they are improving that school. In fact it has passed AYP this year. How do you explain that?

Statman,

I explain white enrollment declining because of ignorance, lack of tolerance, white supremacy, fear, People like Garth Hebert spreading fear and trashing the reputation of our school leaders for political gain. You are part of the problem not the solution! Garth's segregation plan isn't the answer.

Thats how I explain it.

The Real Trurth

To "The Real Trurth" (whatever that is)

Please provide proof.

I continue to insist that you provide fully referenced data, capable of independent validation and verification, to substantiate your claims.

Provide links to data, newspaper articles, etc.

If you're going to lie all the time, you're going to be called on it.

PROVE WHAT YOU SAY.

RT, Its seems a bit of a waste of time arguing with you but here goes.

It was the school board of that time that basically said the HP High Schools needed radical changes because they werent good enough.

It was this persistant message from the school board that ruined the reputation of our High Point schools. The school board labelled our schools as bad schools. They will say they didnt but they did! As I and others have pointed out its Dudley and Smith that have underscored High Point schools for many years now. Although they still dont have acceptable improvements they still have a community that believes in these schools which I think is a step in the right direction.

So, all those that could, from all areas in HP got this plain and simple message and moved out.

Hopefully we can move forward now and buld on Centrals results, improve Andrews and Southwest and have some years of stability focusing on Education only.

RT, Its seems a bit of a waste of time arguing with you but here goes.

It was the school board of that time that basically said the HP High Schools needed radical changes because they werent good enough.

It was this persistant message from the school board that ruined the reputation of our High Point schools. The school board labelled our schools as bad schools. They will say they didnt but they did! As I and others have pointed out its Dudley and Smith that have underscored High Point schools for many years now. Although they still dont have acceptable improvements they still have a community that believes in these schools which I think is a step in the right direction.

So, all those that could, from all areas in HP got this plain and simple message and moved out.

Hopefully we can move forward now and buld on Centrals results, improve Andrews and Southwest and have some years of stability focusing on Education only.

Well to revisit that issue, here we go again, TWO of the only THREE High Schools in High Point were failing, and agree with the decision or not, a decision was made by the school board to address the problem.

Of course, the outcome as we know it was, terror in the streets of certain neighborhoods in High Point ensued, and fear ran rampant that the Blacks were invading a certain High School (SW) and that life quality would never be the same as a result. A clear overreaction by certain elitists in the High Point community and according to certain sources in that community who prefer to remain anonymous, stirred up by the private schools, namely the Christian ones, God forbid it but they did it, who relished an opportunity to increase their enrollment at the expense of tanquility and love in the HP community.

Well, that experiment failed miserably. The voters spoke quite resoundingly and Garth Hebert, the best accountant that money can buy, rode in to save the day.

Lord Hear Our Prayers

Bubba,

It was never about anyone coming into SW, rather the uproar was due to the fact that kids who previously walked to school were being bused to a much further school.

Until you've been there, done that, keep your mouth shut.

To the above poster.
I think Bubba is agreeing that it failed miserably. Our school was not great but it was stable. The publicity around the choice plan definitely drove people away even if we did get a few people from the North bussed in. Now we have a really good principal who is doing a great job. I think if we had not of had the choice plan we would be in an even better position today than we are now.
I would ask that if any school board members read this and if they feel like messing about with our school again I say keep away!

Its Dudley and Smiths turn.

to 8/21/07 5:42 p.m poster DITTO

The Not-Real-Choice Fixed Lottery Plan (Not the True Choice Garth Solution Plan) caused such an uproar because it split families, friends and communities. Sorry Bubba you had to live it, breath it and sleep it every day to "get it" and you don't get it because you weren't there.

I wonder what would happen if the BOE tried to split up the Page, Grimsley or Dudley sports teams and alumni support and bus these students to other schools much further away.

It's never just been about being bused to another school. It's about splitting communities, families and friends that have grown to support each other and their children. No one from Andrews or Central was ever asked to make that sacrifice in the Not Real Choice Lottery Plan. That was the downward spiral of the High Point Schools. Finally, a man of sense, Garth has come up with a fair, equitable solutionf or all and one that can help restore some long needed peace and stability to High Point schools.

And to Mayor Becky and friends, thanks for paying for those guardrails and improvements near SW schools. We sure appreciate it and so does the BOE. It's about time the City of High Point did something for High Point Schools instead of spending all their money on the beloved furniture market.

Wrong RT about HP jobs. Most of us don't work in the furniture industry.

Right on HP Central parent. It's time for Dudley and Smith to have a turn!

No Bubba, one of the high schools in High Point, i.e. Mayor Becky's and Susan's alma mater wasn't the right mix they wanted. It was just a complex plan to scare people from being bused to Andrews into choosing Central's IB program. In that way Central could become not only the whitest and brightest but promoted to outside businesses coming into the area as the greatest high school in High Point. You weren't involved Bubba and don't know what was going on behind the scenes. It took much time, research and hard work but was truly worth it all. North High Pointers, unlike those on the school board who had their political careers to loose, had nothing left to loose. They would NEVER quit and never will. Once you destroy someone's peaceful communities, screw with their children's futures, and screw with their property values, there's not much left you can do to them.

Welcome 2008 elections.

Ms. Glover:

You said "No physical person got the boot from employment and Superintendent Terry Grier even gave up a few central office positions." That's not how it sounded last week during the public comment time.

How do you know for sure that nobody will "get the boot"? The public doesn't know yet because hardly anybody has mentioned the plan to replace a bunch of art and music teachers with Spanish in 21 elementary schools (most of which are poor and/or not making AYP). Not until last Thursday, that is.

The budget is online, and it tells that 21 schools will have Spanish twice a week. It says "To support the process of increased planning time, elementary schools will be provided sufficient allotments to accommodate four planning periods per teacher per week for an average of 40 minutes per period." Now, think about it - your school gets 4 periods per week - 2 for Spanish, and 1 for PE, what does that leave? You can't fit 2 subjects (Art and Music) into the 1 period that's left. So they'll have to cut Art and Music in half.

It lists the schools that have to do this: Alderman, Archer, Cone, Fairview, Foust, Gillespie Park, General Greene, Hunter, Irving Park, Jesse Wharton, Joyner, Lindley, Morehead, Murphey, Oak Hill, Oak View, Peck, Sedgefield, Shadybrook, Sternberger and Wiley.

Why not look into that for us?

Oops – when I mentioned the school board meeting, I said “last Thursday” by mistake. I was referring to the one on Aug. 14th, which was actually a Tuesday night, not Thursday. Sorry for the confusion.

Bubba, Its called democracy.

The Lord heard our prayers.

Bubba Loves Jesus,

Well said.

SW parent and un-named poster,

I didn't like the old Choice Plan either, but I don't support segregation either and I would have dealt with the problem by redrawing lines rather than the choice plan. Neither solution would have been acceptable by many of you because your overall mission was to segregate your children out of irrational fear of others not like yourself. Tim Mann one of your leaders lives as close to Andrews as SW but he became involved simply because he wanted his kid segregated just like Dr. Quack, Garth and others. Its not about fairness, whats best for the community for you it was about fear of poor black children. Ignorance and fear disturbed your peace and only you can look inside yourselves to recapture it.

There wasn't a conspiracy by Beck Smothers or any one else to bolster one school at the expense of others, it was about trying to fairly balance diversity and Becky had nothing to do with it. She's the Mayor not the school board! You want to end her political career though because she wouldn't sign on to your campaign to destroy our schools unless SW remained segregated. You people are so blinded by hate and fear you throw everyone under the bus who didn't carry a protest sign to re-segregate SW schools. What you should blame Becky for is uncontrolled growth of residential housing in North High Point. Of course that would be hard because without that growth many of us wouldn't be here.

Now you have your leader Garth (THE GREAT WHITE HOPE) on the School Board. He's been successful so far re-segregating your school but he hasn't been abble to get rid of your cheif nemisis Dr. Grier! And Dot will get re-elected as long as she wants her seat. How long before you turn on Garth or is he ok now because it was always about segregation? You don't really care about the quality of life in High Point as long as your kids don't have to go to school with poor black children and remain segregated.

The Real Truth

RT,

Prove your assertions. Provide the data. You cannot.

New readers of this blog may give you the benefit of the doubt, but I do not.

Your statements are inaccurate, and I will say it - deliberate lies to perpetuate your view.

The data shows that SW is among the least segregated high schools in the county. It clearly reflects the overall demographic composition of the county's total student enrollment.

Put up or shut up.

Not to be dragged into a brawl, but to set record straight:

City of High Point wanted to issue bond to improve poorer parts of High Point and attract new business investment in these areas, using common sense they realized that to get taxpayer support from the whole city they needed to offer something for everyone. The widening of Barrow Rd. was a small bone to the north end and allowed for the thousands of new homes they were approving to get to work somewhat safer. They needed valuable school land for the road widening and asked for it to be donated to the city for $1.00. There is no more land for school growth there and the school is growing thanks mostly to huge housing developments being permitted there, requiring the wider road. I did not like the idea of four lanes next to a school without sidewalks, crosswalks, guardrails and stoplights.

The short guardrail next to the softball field along with a sidewalk was not much concession on City's part considering the public safety factor. They sure put in sidewalks for the Mall area and Walmart. I abstained on the vote to accept these concessions in exchange for the land as I could not support the give-away for what was already approved and funded by my tax dollars on the bond. (Turns out they spent other money and were looking for a bail-out from schools) I also found myself unable to vote against a safety improvement no matter the string attached.

On the City's defense, they at least recognize a gang problem that is growing and are trying to address it, wish I could say the same for the School Board and Dr. Grier. I'd sure like to get some final numbers on our test scores for the year, the stuff we were fed at the board meeting left me thinking about the old TV add "Where's the beef!".

School environment is the next great frontier/wasteland that we should be addressing and begging for more dollars may not be the answer. Enforcement of the rules and a set of standards for behavior and personal responsibility is seriously lacking in our schools. Throwing money at unproven programs that might just make sense still does not replace good old fashioned discipline!

We also have a terribly overcrowded building at HP central that could easily be accommodated by using academy seats for the regular school. We are so busy "cooking" the academic books we forgot to make room for kids to sit! It's time for us to get our heads out of the sand and deal with the real issues. Please, don't get me started on the budget, I want a few months to cool down before I say things I will regret. We can do better for our kids, we must!

Garth,

Discipline, the BOE wants to talk about it when they need to do something about it. The BOE has to exert some leadership. Leaving that to Dr. Grier is a bad thing. One person can't do it. The BOE neither supervises Dr. Grier or supports him. The Board must do better.

Joe, you are correct.

Question: What has eleven brains and no mind, forty four limbs and no might, twenty two eyes and no sight?

Yes, I realize eleven brains might be a stretch.

Numbers Game ie Statman,

Since you called me a liar let me give you the stats from the NC Report Card 2006:
http://ayp.ncpublicschools.org

Free and reduced Lunch statistics 10th graders (didn't calculate other grades because of limited time but I'm sure these numbers are representative of the entire school poopulation within a percent or two:

Southwest 30%

Andrews 54%

HPC 52%

Hardly an equitable situation. With Garth's Segregation Plan the scale will tilt further favoring SW. Now Garth wants to lockup all the poor black children in a penal school. Anything to keep them away from his entitled priveldeged kids. Shameful and disgusting! The public deserves better!

The Real Truth

RT,

I’m going to try to keep this simple for you.

Your data is inappropriate for several reasons: 1. It’s old data (2005-2006).
2. It only measures 10th grade data because that’s the only data that is measured for AYP,
3. You CANNOT statistically extrapolate a fair percentage based upon these 2 flaws.

Yet, if we were to assume that we were only interested in the demographics for the 10th grade population during the 2005-2006 school year, then the following is true:

There were 5006 10th graders during 2005-2006 in Guilford County Schools.

There were 1767 10th grade students in 2005-2006 in Guilford County Schools who characterized themselves as qualifying for Free and Reduced Lunch.

The overall demographic data of all 10 graders during the 2005-2006 school year in Guilford County schools shows that 35.3% are Free and Reduced Lunch eligible.

The norm, then, for this data is 35.3% free and reduced lunch.

Now, take the deviation of each school’s free and reduced lunch population (again, 10th grade only 2005-2006 school year) and rank order the schools.

A deviation of 0 means that the school exactly matches the norm and the higher the deviation number, the more “segregated” (to use your word) the school is.

Now, here’s how all the traditional schools rank:

School Deviation from norm

Southern 1.38%
Page 1.96%
Northeast 4.08%
Southwest 5.47%
Grimsley 7.40%
Ragsdale 9.30%
Eastern 13.62%
Southeast 14.92%
Western 15.45%
Central 16.84%
Andrews 18.58%
Dudley 25.07%
Smith 28.72%
Northwest 29.35%

There are 14 traditional high schools in Guilford County and Southwest is the 4th best matched school demographically according to free and reduced lunch percentages among 10th graders in the 2005-2006 school year.

You should also note that Dudley, Smith, and Northwest are the “most segregated” (to use your term) in the entire school system.

Thus – you’re wasting your time with Southwest – you really need to concentrate on affecting change at those 3 schools.

That link does not get me to those numbers.

RT, you have changed your tune now. You kept calling Southwest an all white school.

The facts are that Southwest was 51% minority last year and contrary to what you might think in two years time it will closer to 54%.

Guilford County is 54% minority. That is very, very close to Southwest's numbers.

Andrews is not last but not worse than Weaver, Northwest, Smith and Dudley.

Your self interest is obvious and alarming. If you really cared about diversity and all children in the County then you would be shouting from the roof tops about the other schools mentioned above.

RT,

You say "Now Garth wants to lockup all the poor black children in a penal school."

I'll state it as someone else did

PROVE IT.

PROVIDE THE EVIDENCE.

You can't - you're lying again.

The school Board made their decisions in the past based on rash non factual information similar to Real Truth's.

Some of their latest decisions have been based on "real numbers". Thank god!

RT

Equitable for who? We are GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS not High Point Schools. Per the 6:57 pm poster above please concentrate your efforts on the schools in Guilford County that need help and leave Southwest alone if you are truly concerned about diversity.

RT

FYI the intention was not to get rid of Dr. Grier but to have a school board who makes wise decisions based on programs presented, does not waste the taxpayers money. It is the board who has the final say of GCS, not Dr. Grier. It is the voters who elect the board. One by one, the school board will be replaced.

As he has said many times, "I work at the pleasure of the school board."

RT the real effectiveness the last few months is how the dollar flow has been restricted to the School Board. The only win for the School Board has been the bungling Mayor Smothers.

The behind the scenes manuevering on the State level to prevent local School Boards from obtaining taxing authority would make you forget all about your friends in north High Point.

Garth,

Thanks for your honesty in your recent post. I wish that I was optimistic about your and a few others on the school board's ability to influence this school district to do the right things for the students and citizens of the county, but frankly, I do not. Grier and the majority have a different agenda that is going to make it very difficult. They are too ingrained and self-invested. At best it will take years and votes for new board members to ever see any positive movement in this county in our public schools.

Also, why is it that I see so many stories about our schools now that relate to Jill Wilson's influence on policy-making? I thought that she was just a paid-for legal adviser.

RT,

Just FYI - I am not Statman. I am familiar with his/her postings, but we are not the same person.

As I can see from above, there appears to be several mathematically talented individuals who are attempting to assist you in understanding data analysis.

If you would leave some contact information, I would be happy to schedule some time on my calendar to help you with some mathematical fundamentals so that you, too, can be more informed.

If you're not comfortable with that, I suggest that you contact Dr. Gongshu Zhang at 370-8323. Perhaps he could help you to more clearly understand.

I hate to see you continue to appear ignorant in front of the readers of this blog.

Numbers Game, Your condesending post is just condesending garbage. You seem to think a lot of yourself. The numbers are simple you simply take the number of children on Free and Reduced Lunch and divide it by the total number of students to get a percentage. Its simple elementary math.

Statman,

The data is there, I cannot help it that you are unable to find it on the website I linked you to. You have to look around and piece it together. Try harder!

The proof is there only for those who care about the truth. As for the rash uneducated decision you are referring to, I assume you are talking about Garth Hebert's Segregation plan that keeps your children segregated from poor black children. I agree with you it was a rash ignorant decision by the school board lead by Garth Hebert that only served the interests of segregationists not education. Garth actually used slanted truth to confuse Board Members who didn't take the time to really understand what they were doing when they voted for his Segregation Plan. Just like you do when you talk about neighborhood schools when many of you live as close to Andrews as SW. Many of you have propgated myths, spewing garbage about long bus rides and other baloney. I know the facts and I know who tells lies.

The numbers are 10th graders 2006:

School Total Students FRL %
Andrews 284 153 54%
HPC 328 171 52%
SW 295 88 30%

With Garth's Segregation Plan Andrews will become even more impacted with poverty while SW will have even less. Sorry if you cannot understand this simple math Numbers Game, try using a calculater and divide 88 by 295 = 29.8% of the total (I rounded it to 30).

If you cannot understand these numbers then there is nothing else I can do to prove my point. We could aregue about the true motivation but as far as I and many others are concerned fear of poor black children is your motivation. Your comments and actions prove it. I don't need to.

The Real Truth

RT,

What the heck are you talking about?

First you want to talk about "poor" children, then you want to talk about "black" children.

Let me tell you something - just because you're poor doesn't mean you're black. Just because you're black doesn't mean you're poor.

You CANNOT interchange those subgroups as if they are one and the same.

You provide numbers related to children in the 10th grade during the 2005-2006 school year who were eligible for free and reduced lunch. In NO way can you interpret how many of those children are also black.

Your remarks are offensive. You make generalizations without any basis of truth or fact.

Do you think that I'm impressed because you divided 2 numbers for 3 schools? Think again.

We know your game - get over the fact that the redistricting didn't work like you wanted.

Perhaps you can figure out a way to have the kids from Northwest bused to your school.

Way to go RT, remember it's not a lie if you believe in it.

Now get back up here to New York because the Clintons miss how you put a spin on everything.

Numbersgame,

You really think a lot of yourself are you in fact Garth? You call me a liar even though I state facts. The conclusion I draw from those facts are my opinion. You state irrelevant facts and draw a completely different conclusions. Its not complicated except you try to make it that way because its easier to confuse people. Southwest is predominately middle class 72% and the other two high Schools adjacent to it are heavily impacted with poverty. Most of those poverty students are black or non-white. Its not as much about race from my point of view its about income. You have tried to confuse the issue citing long bus rides and can't walk to school anymore when very few actuaslly can walk to school and many of you live as close to Andrews as SW. HPC for that matter is not much further. You have talked about fear of violence at schools like Central while at the same time you claim many SW parents send their kids to school there for the IB program (another slant). You try to compare SW to Greensboro schools but they aren't close enough to be alternatives for school districting because they are so far away. Using your slanted logic you might as well compare SW to schools in Utah or Idaho.

Here is the data for all students not just 10th grade:

Andrews 63% Free and Reduced Lunch
High Point Central 56% Free and Reduced Lunch
Southwest 28% Free and reduced lunch.

A reasonable person can only draw the conclusion that you and your cohorts lead by Garth Hebert the Great Segregationist are simply manipulating the system to keep your kids segregated from poor black and non-white children. Its not a lie, its obvious. If anyone is trying to confuse facts and slant the truth it is you. Its been the game plan of you Segregationist all along. It started with confusing the school board and public about neighborhood schools and long bus rides then you want to claim SW is not segregated citing race numbers when I'm citing poverty numbers. You should be ashamed of yourself. Most people who read this will see whos's being reasonable and who is manipulating the truth to hide their real agenda. Segregation!

The Real Truth

Numbersgame,

You really think a lot of yourself are you in fact Garth? You call me a liar even though I state facts. The conclusion I draw from those facts are my opinion. You state irrelevant facts and draw a completely different conclusions. Its not complicated except you try to make it that way because its easier to confuse people. Southwest is predominately middle class 72% and the other two high Schools adjacent to it are heavily impacted with poverty. Most of those poverty students are black or non-white. Its not as much about race from my point of view its about income. You have tried to confuse the issue citing long bus rides and can't walk to school anymore when very few actuaslly can walk to school and many of you live as close to Andrews as SW. HPC for that matter is not much further. You have talked about fear of violence at schools like Central while at the same time you claim many SW parents send their kids to school there for the IB program (another slant). You try to compare SW to Greensboro schools but they aren't close enough to be alternatives for school districting because they are so far away. Using your slanted logic you might as well compare SW to schools in Utah or Idaho.

Here is the data for all students not just 10th grade:

Andrews 63% Free and Reduced Lunch
High Point Central 56% Free and Reduced Lunch
Southwest 28% Free and reduced lunch.

A reasonable person can only draw the conclusion that you and your cohorts lead by Garth Hebert the Great Segregationist are simply manipulating the system to keep your kids segregated from poor black and non-white children. Its not a lie, its obvious. If anyone is trying to confuse facts and slant the truth it is you. Its been the game plan of you Segregationist all along. It started with confusing the school board and public about neighborhood schools and long bus rides then you want to claim SW is not segregated citing race numbers when I'm citing poverty numbers. You should be ashamed of yourself. Most people who read this will see whos's being reasonable and who is manipulating the truth to hide their real agenda. Segregation!

The Real Truth

Numbersgame,

You really think a lot of yourself are you in fact Garth? You call me a liar even though I state facts. The conclusion I draw from those facts are my opinion. You state irrelevant facts and draw a completely different conclusions. Its not complicated except you try to make it that way because its easier to confuse people. Southwest is predominately middle class 72% and the other two high Schools adjacent to it are heavily impacted with poverty. Most of those poverty students are black or non-white. Its not as much about race from my point of view its about income. You have tried to confuse the issue citing long bus rides and can't walk to school anymore when very few actuaslly can walk to school and many of you live as close to Andrews as SW. HPC for that matter is not much further. You have talked about fear of violence at schools like Central while at the same time you claim many SW parents send their kids to school there for the IB program (another slant). You try to compare SW to Greensboro schools but they aren't close enough to be alternatives for school districting because they are so far away. Using your slanted logic you might as well compare SW to schools in Utah or Idaho.

Here is the data for all students not just 10th grade:

Andrews 63% Free and Reduced Lunch
High Point Central 56% Free and Reduced Lunch
Southwest 28% Free and reduced lunch.

A reasonable person can only draw the conclusion that you and your cohorts lead by Garth Hebert the Great Segregationist are simply manipulating the system to keep your kids segregated from poor black and non-white children. Its not a lie, its obvious. If anyone is trying to confuse facts and slant the truth it is you. Its been the game plan of you Segregationist all along. It started with confusing the school board and public about neighborhood schools and long bus rides then you want to claim SW is not segregated citing race numbers when I'm citing poverty numbers. You should be ashamed of yourself. Most people who read this will see whos's being reasonable and who is manipulating the truth to hide their real agenda. Segregation!

The Real Truth

Southwest is 51% minority. Help me here but doesnt minority mean Black and Non-white?

How can you can that segregated?

Stop confusing people RT.

Hey folks, Thought I would give my opinion on this dialogue. It seems a little pointless to me. The Westerns, Pages, Grimsleys, Centrals, Andrews and Southwests of this world do seem to not that bad to me diversity wise.
If there should be any discussion we should be discussing whether the situations of Northwest, Dudley and Smith in our County are healthy or not. I personally am grateful that my children go to our diverse school and although we live fairly close to the Northwest lines i would not like them to go there.

Paul,

In my studies of the subject of diversity the numbers show quite clearly that an African American child has a better chance of graduating from Andrews or Dudley than Grimsley.
Prompting me to question the real benefits of diversity for diversity's sake.

RT,

PROVIDE A LINK TO THE DATA - you're using 2 year data - it's of no relevance.

CITE YOUR REFERENCES - you should know by now that you can't just make up stuff and expect that we will believe it.

YOUR NUMBERS ARE WRONG - AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!

Statman,

RT liked to talk about segregation in terms of race until he knew he had lost the battle of facts.

Now she wants to use 2 year old data of a subset of students to illustrate her thinking.

I think if she had her way, she would run HP like the Gestapo - she would tattoo numbers on the arms of the "undesirable" students in her opinion and send them to Southwest. In turn she would kidnap the "desirable" students from North High Point and bus them to Andrews.

She's very, very pathetic.

Statman,

I went to the Southwest/Ragsdale football game last night, and guess what I saw? I saw football players, cheerleaders, and fans, in both black and white, in equal numbers, enjoying the game together. To my eye it appeared that your 51% minority SWH stat is right on-target. Think that we could ever get Real Truth to a game to see for once and all teh "real truth" and how wrong he/she is? Segregation? I don't think so. How can a school that is racially balanced be segregated? Real Truth just seems confused.

Statman, Oak Ridge Runner, Paul (Western Parent),

The source is the NC DPI, You can do your own research. For the last time, I'm talking about socio-economic diversity and race. They go hand in hand. To say that SW is diverse when it has only 28% Free and Reduced Lunch compared to over 50% at adjacent schools is absurd. Western Parent of course you would agree with Sw because your school has very little diversity too and like SW you want to keep it segregated.

Statman,

Did you actually say that you want to segregate poor black children because they have a better chance of graduating at a school like Andrews than SW? Why do you think that is? Is it because they aren't welcome at SW? Is it because you exclude them?

I'm not confused. I know exactly what you are and what your motivation is!

The Real Truth

RT (aka Racist Tirade),

For pete's sake - you cannot provide the link because it DOES NOT EXIST.

For high schools, AYP is based upon 10th grade scores. And, you're basing your posts on 2 year old data.

PUT UP OR SHUT UP.

And - a final question - why do you hate these kids so bad that you want them removed from your school - Andrews?

I believe that Western High has more AYP catagories than any school in our district. That would support their diversity.

I post as myself only, a fair target to the public whom I serve at their pleasure. While I won at an almost 2/3 majority vote, it is the poor, fatherless (motherless as well) and most vulnerable that I have the strongest feelings of responsibility towards.

I believe in public schools, paid for and supported by the public who benefits most from quality, safe schools. I seldom look at the blog lately as time has been at a premium, but quality public input is still my most cherished input.

Sorry but I do not know who stat and numbers are, but their data is pretty clean as far as I can see and compare to. It is at least as good as what I get from staff, but that is another issue.

"For the last time, I'm talking about socio-economic diversity and race. They go hand in hand."

So, Real Truth, if socio-economic diversity and race are one and the same, then the fact that SW is 51% minority makes it diverse and not segregated. As a matter of fact, at 51%, it is perfectly diverse.

You're right, you are not confused, you know exactly what you are doing, don't you? And, you know what? We know exactly what you are and what your motivation is! You have nothing to support your allegations and you have no answers, other than your racial-baiting rants. Get a life.

ORR, I too was at the game last night and I agree with your comments. Maybe we should all meet up there with RT one day. She can meet some of the kids that she deosn't want in her school. These are kids that want to be there are doing fine and we are proud of them!

I hope that RT welcomes the ones that want to at Andrews in the same way!

Garth, Thanks for the compliment. If you need any help with "Real" Stats just say the word.

RT, I read Statman saying that if you are African American you have dont have as good a chance of graduating at Grimsley as compared to Andrews or Dudley. To me this brings up some interesting questions.

I wonder what children who are bused away from a local school to another school really think? What message as a society are we giving them? Are they doomed from the start?

I think that everyone commenting here understands Garth's plan except RT. Everyone else can see how fair and compassionate a plan it is.

RT is obviously not one of the families given a choice because if he were he would see it differently. If his children were being forced to take a bus ride across town when they could go to school within a couple miles of their house he would get it.

The only way this plan affects RT is that it puts more black children in his school (by THEIR choice - not Garth's) and he doesn't like it. Though he makes it sound like he is angry that the white children went back to SW, I think he is really angry that some black children went back to Andrews...his school.

I can't tell if RT is black or white, male or female, an adult or a child but I can tell 100% that he does not like black children at his school and that is a shame.

Mr. Hebert,

If you are still here, I would like to personally thank you for the choice to attend my closest school. It shouldn't matter but since RT actls like it is a racial issue, I will tell you that I am an African American woman who was able to benefit from given a choice. I chose my closest school, SWMS.

I do hope that you can get some help to Welborn and Andrews but my fear is that there are more RTs in those schools who think the only help they need or want is warm, white bodies. We all know that is not the answer and it is shameful that someone would think it, let alone say it.

Mr. Hebert,

Thank you so much for providing a true choice plan for our children. The long bus ride was such a waste of my child's study time. Thank you for serving on our school board.

This is for Debora:

You said “I believe that Western High has more AYP catagories than any school in our district. That would support their diversity.”

Did you even bother to look up the info at the “School Report Card” site? I looked up the 15 regular high schools (meaning those that are not middle colleges or early colleges, or whatever.) Assuming those stats are correct, here’s what I found:

Western had 17 subgroups, as did 5 other schools: Dudley, Eastern, Ragsdale, Southern, and Southwest.

Only two had a lower number than that – Northwest with 13 subgroups, and Weaver with 9.

There were, however, 7 that had MORE than 17 groups:

Grimsley and Northeast - 19
Andrews - 20
Southeast, Page, and HP Central - 21
Smith - 29

I think that the School Report Card has data from the 2005-2006 school year since the 2006-2007 data isn't "official" until September 6. Based upon the report released by Guilford County schools this week, Southwest High School has the most subgroups of any high school at 25.

Here are the traditional schools and their subgroups:

25 - Southwest High

21 - Grimsley, Page, Smith

19 - Southeast, Western

18 - Northwest

17 - Dudley, Eastern, High Point Central, Northeast, Ragsdale, Southern

13 - Andrews

From this list it appears that Southwest is the most diverse - having by far the greatest number of subgroups.

RT, Y0ur turn.

Drove by Southwest today. The City is really investing in sidewalks around the school. Are they going to do a "Reedy Fork" type promotion of that area?

Life on the Cowboy ranch eh.... Not bad.

DIVERSE LIFE on the Cowboy ranch eh.....Not bad at all

Where's your FACTS RT. That's right. You don't have any.

Un-named poster,

I gave you the source of my data, its not my fault you cann't find it. Its not obvious you have to dig. Of course Garth is going to think that Statman and Numbers Game's numbers are valid because they help him to feel good about his segregation plan! Again you keep quoting statistics only about race and ignoring socio-economic diversity. Again you compare SW to schools in other parts of Guilford County rather than your adjacent schools. Again you try to mislead people about long bus rides when very few of your children are riding a bus and when they do the other schools are as close. You are misleading people to support your Segregation Plan. Garth wants tax payers to spend $59 Million to enlarge SW High School just so his segregationists don't have to sit in a classroom with poor black children! Shameful.

The Real Truth

To the Racist Tirade (aka RT)

I called DPI last week and I called GCS - the data that you quote is NOT public knowledge. The breakdown of free and reduced lunch children via ethnic subcategories is protected data.

There is no digging for the information - IT IS NOT AVAILABLE.

Again, please provide data that is referenced and can be independently validated and verified. Otherwise your posts mean nothing.

Also, please provide the source of your information that Garth wants to spend $59M on SWH.

That, too, is your imagination at work.

There is no basis of truth in it either.

RT, have you also figured out how to blame Garth for the drought we are having? I certainly hope the next inch of rain comes down evenly over all of HP or you'll be saying that specially constructed windmills obviously influenced cloud patterns and the resulting rain.

I also don't think Garth was driving the truck of cheese and mayo that overturned at 68 & Mkt St. this morning so please save the keystrokes.

I tried to find the data whre I read about Western's catagories. A few years ago it was 33 or 35 sub catagories. It could have been the middle school. I see now that the HS is much lower. I have been busy with open houses and will try to find time to go back and look through old papers.

My mistake

Real Truth,
I have deleted your last comment and banned you from The Chalkboard. I have received one too many complaints about your comments and if you can't abide by rules of decency (including not making callous and libelous comments about individuals), then your commenting privileges will be taken away.

The same goes for the rest of you. Please keep your comments on subject and in good taste. Do not say anything under a pseudonym that you would not say out in the open (unless it is a story tip that would risk your job, etc). Thank you.

Thank you Morgan.

I usually only read this blog and I never commment. I hope now we can see some reasonable discussions without people calling eachother names.

I usually only read this blog and I never commment. I hope now we can see some reasonable discussions without people calling eachother names.

It's about time, Morgan. THANK YOU SO MUCH!