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January 17, 2006

School Redistricting

There's quite a discussion going on over at The Chalkboard about these proposed redistricting maps.

I realize most of the folks who are interested in this know more than me about what's going on, but I wanted to make sure it was up on this blog as well, because, well, North High Point and Jamestown look to me like they're the areas with the most at stake in the decision. In fact four of the five maps are identical except for the High Point area.

The forums are this week, including one tonight and one Thursday. I have no doubt that forum in High Point is going to be interesting.

So if you want to go, here are the times and places:

PAGE HIGH SCHOOL
201 Alma Pinnix Drive, Greensboro
7-9 p.m. Tuesday

PROVIDENCE PLACE
1727 Westchester Drive, High Point
7-9 p.m. Thursday

Posted by Jonathan Jones at January 17, 2006 1:42 PM

Comments

Well Jonathan you are in for a treat if you have never been to one of these. You'll get to see 100's of angry people screaming at 7 people in particular named Alan, Marti, Amos, Deena, Dot, Walter, and Susan who could care less about any kids. Then there is there is the double talking goofy looking guy named Terry who is just looking for his next paycheck.

The magnificent 7 as I refer to them includes a guy who specializes in legal double-talk, another guy who sleeps through anything, 2 people who try to tie minority contracts into the education of children, and finally 3 angry white women who are simply out of their minds.

I'll be a little late, but I wouldn't miss it for anything. I'm just thankful that these 7 people no longer hold the fate of my daughter in their hands any more, she goes to a private school now that is just up the road from Providence Place.

Posted by: Buckmtn at January 17, 2006 7:50 PM

Buck, I plan on being there. I'm sure Jennifer and/or Bruce will be assigned to cover it. I'll just be there to watch.

Posted by: Jonathan Jones at January 17, 2006 8:08 PM

Jonathan did you make it to the forum and if so, what did you think? Better than you thought? Worse?

Posted by: wonderer at January 20, 2006 10:07 PM

Wonderer, I'm sorry I didn't get back to you earlier. I didn't see your comment until I got into work this morning.

I did make it to the redistricting forum. I was sitting along the front row of the seats on the steep rise. I was surrounded by a fairly boisterous group in favor of Map D.

The forum was about what I expected. The crowd was a little smaller than I thought it would be. And I was amazed at the waving hands routine instead of applauding. I can't tell you how many times I've been in forums where the powers that be ask for applause to be held and that rule just gets ignored. There was plenty of clapping, but I've never really seen people abide by attempts to keep it down, such as the hand waving, in big groups. I actually thought that was kind of nice.

I was glad that there were folks willing to speak on multiple ideas about how the redistricting should be accomplished -- not because I favor one side over the other but because I think it's a healthy part of decision making to consider different opinions.

I did feel a little frustrated at the end of the night though over some of the comments made in favor of 'neighborhood schools' that seemed to me to carry implicit classism.

Wanting your kid to go to a school close to home is something I understand. Wanting your kid to go to the school you thought they'd be going to when you bought your home is something I understand. Not wanting your kid to have long bus rides to and from school is something I understand. Wanting your kid to have stability in which school they will attend, is something I understand.

Not wanting your kid to sit next to a particular type of kid, or not wanting a particular type of kid in a school, well, I just don't get those ideas. I didn't take notes and at this point can't recite the exact words, but I remember feeling that was the point of a couple comments during the forum. Even though there are only two out of the 70 or so people who spoke that stick in my mind, what they said bothered me a bit.

And like so many others, I had trouble making sense of the maps. I'm pretty sure I understand them, but GCS can do a much better job of presenting readable copies.

I don't envy the school board. That's for sure. School redistricting is one of, if not the, most difficult things a government body can be tasked with doing. And I don't think there's any issue as guaranteed to incite passionate debate as Little Johnny's future.

Posted by: Jonathan Jones at January 23, 2006 10:55 AM