The Charlotte NAACP has come out against an effort launched last week to split Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools into three districts, calling it a racist ploy to separate urban and suburban schools (read the statement here).
A group of north and south suburban residents launched a petition drive last week, hoping to persuade state legislators to create three new school districts. Their proposed "central district" would encompass the territory inside the I-485 loop, which includes a swath of schools where most students are from African American or Hispanic low-income families.
"Public education is designed to uplift and to help all of our children not just a chosen few but all," the NAACP statement says. "Splitting up CMS will only guarantee one thing that is the poor will be more
neglected and more thoroughly disenfranchised."
As of Wednesday evening, the online petition had 235 signatures, with a goal of 10,000.
***
Update on the battle of the bells: Vice Chair Mary McCray says she and Amelia Stinson-Wesley, the newly appointed District 6 representative, are trying to set up a meeting between CMS transportation staff and parents unhappy with late hours. It's unclear, though, whether McCray is willing to ask interim Superintendent Hugh Hattabaugh to revise the 2012-13 schedule of opening and dismissal times he announced recently.
Parents have been lobbying the board for a change, saying the later bell schedule introduced this year cut into time for homework, after-school activities and family togetherness. Hattabaugh has said the later hours let buses make an extra run, saving hundreds of thousands of dollars.
"I don't understand all the intricacies that go along with the bell schedule and feeder areas," said McCray, who was elected in November. "My hope is we can come to some amicable agreement and a better understanding of why the district has done this."
Showing posts with label CMS bell schedule. Show all posts
Showing posts with label CMS bell schedule. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Friday, February 10, 2012
Bells may be below the line
Parents from Crestdale Middle School are petitioning the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board to revisit the 2012-13 bell schedule announced last month. Interim Superintendent Hugh Hattabaugh signed off on changing the start and dismissal times for 10 schools; Crestdale's moved 30 minutes later, to a 9-4 school day. The move is designed to save more than $600,000 on busing costs.
Parents are upset that CMS made changes that affect their family life and students' after-school opportunities without giving them a chance to weigh in. Those who have older kids in high school, with a 7:15 a.m. start time, say the change is especially stressful.
Katy Ridnouer, one of the parents urging CMS to reconsider, says she's heard nothing specific from board members. I emailed board members on Wednesday, asking them to let me know if they plan to propose revising the bell schedule. I've gotten no replies.
It's possible that someone could ask Hattabaugh to try again. The board is likely to discuss transportation costs as part of ongoing budget talks. But this is a classic example of a dilemma that faces this school board and others: The temptation to micromanage.
At their recent retreat, CMS board members said they're committed to sticking to their role as policy-makers. Setting school hours is "below the line" for board intervention, but it's also the kind of decision that affects people's lives and inspires pleas for help.
Boards that try to do the superintendent's job are generally studies in bad leadership, writes Gene Maeroff, an education researcher and New Jersey school board member, in "School Boards in America: A Flawed Exercise in Democracy."
"Democracy does not mean that the people's representatives -- the school board -- take over and operate the schools any more than it means that the board members of a symphony play the violins," he writes.
Parents are upset that CMS made changes that affect their family life and students' after-school opportunities without giving them a chance to weigh in. Those who have older kids in high school, with a 7:15 a.m. start time, say the change is especially stressful.
Katy Ridnouer, one of the parents urging CMS to reconsider, says she's heard nothing specific from board members. I emailed board members on Wednesday, asking them to let me know if they plan to propose revising the bell schedule. I've gotten no replies.
It's possible that someone could ask Hattabaugh to try again. The board is likely to discuss transportation costs as part of ongoing budget talks. But this is a classic example of a dilemma that faces this school board and others: The temptation to micromanage.
At their recent retreat, CMS board members said they're committed to sticking to their role as policy-makers. Setting school hours is "below the line" for board intervention, but it's also the kind of decision that affects people's lives and inspires pleas for help.
Boards that try to do the superintendent's job are generally studies in bad leadership, writes Gene Maeroff, an education researcher and New Jersey school board member, in "School Boards in America: A Flawed Exercise in Democracy."
"Democracy does not mean that the people's representatives -- the school board -- take over and operate the schools any more than it means that the board members of a symphony play the violins," he writes.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Battle of the bells continues
Parents who don't like the later school day that debuted this year will take their case to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school board tonight.
Families from middle schools with a 9:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. schedule have formed a Bell Schedule Committee and surveyed faculty, parents and students at 10 schools. A majority of all groups opposed the later day, saying it interferes with extracurricular activities and homework. They also said students are tired, unproductive and badly behaved after 3 p.m.
The group plans to present a detailed PowerPoint during the board's public comment period. They hope to persuade the board that the ideal school day runs from 8 to 3.
The later schedule was introduced to save money by letting buses make an extra run after picking up or dropping off students from schools with earlier schedules. CMS spokeswoman Tahira Stalberte said Monday evening that interim Superintendent Hugh Hattabaugh is reviewing bell schedules, but she had no details about what he's considering and when he'll bring a plan to the school board. She said she doesn't know if Hattabaugh will announce next year's bell schedule before the magnet application period closes Feb. 13.
Families from middle schools with a 9:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. schedule have formed a Bell Schedule Committee and surveyed faculty, parents and students at 10 schools. A majority of all groups opposed the later day, saying it interferes with extracurricular activities and homework. They also said students are tired, unproductive and badly behaved after 3 p.m.
The group plans to present a detailed PowerPoint during the board's public comment period. They hope to persuade the board that the ideal school day runs from 8 to 3.
The later schedule was introduced to save money by letting buses make an extra run after picking up or dropping off students from schools with earlier schedules. CMS spokeswoman Tahira Stalberte said Monday evening that interim Superintendent Hugh Hattabaugh is reviewing bell schedules, but she had no details about what he's considering and when he'll bring a plan to the school board. She said she doesn't know if Hattabaugh will announce next year's bell schedule before the magnet application period closes Feb. 13.
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