Do you remember when Susan Evans was questioned about her continued involvement with GSIW? In this email, she claimed:
"I am neither actively involved in their [GSIW's] activities, nor am I given any advance notice of the content or distribution of their press releases."
Hmmm. Really?
So, how does GSIW already know what is going to happen at the June 5th Board meeting?
Here's an email I just received:
--- On Sat, 5/19/12, yevonne brannon <ybrannon@gmail.com> wrote:
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that either Evans or Kushner (maybe both?) are continuing to guide the direction of GSIW and giving insider tips to what they believe are the necessary next steps in stopping the new assignment plan.
"I am neither actively involved in their [GSIW's] activities, nor am I given any advance notice of the content or distribution of their press releases."
Hmmm. Really?
So, how does GSIW already know what is going to happen at the June 5th Board meeting?
Here's an email I just received:
From: Calla Wright <ccaac_aacca@yahoo.com>
Subject: [CoalitionofConcernedCitizensforAfricanAmericanChildren] Fw: May Meeting Notes, YOUR HELP NEEDED
Date: May 20, 2012 4:25:20 PM EDT
--- On Sat, 5/19/12, yevonne brannon <ybrannon@gmail.com> wrote:
From: yevonne brannon <ybrannon@gmail.com>
Subject: May Meeting Notes, YOUR HELP NEEDED
To:
Date: Saturday, May 19, 2012, 11:11 AM
I am very sorry that you missed our meeting on Tuesday. Your help is needed!!Here are the meeting notes. Please review and let us know how you can help. ACTIVATE your friends to join you! It is very important NOT to stand down in the month of June!! We still have many opportunities to make a difference! Some of the critical decisions facing the board in June---from the magnet study results, the results of round one and two of assignment plan, to voting on the budget, and directives needed NOW for the 2013 Student assignment plan—let’s make sure we have a strong voice at the June 5 and June 19 board meetings.Work to DO:1. JUNE 5 Board Meeting: We are going ALL out to get a lot of speakers at this meeting. We are still working to get the board to at least direct the staff for the 2013 assignment PLAN. We need everyone to show up and speak. We can help you with speeches. PLEASE talk to Amy W and Lynn and coordinate this effort. Here’s the bottom line: June 5 will be the last board meeting before school is out. We need to let the BOE know how well they did this school year!! GIVE them their Grade for the school year, did they pass?? Did they make appropriate progress in a year? Come on, this could be fun!!!! (other topics include the budget, the transportation mess, the horrid behavior of the feeble four, the horrid CHOICE plan in summary, the need for NEW PLAN directive for staff to start working on now!)2. Research:1) Amy Lee is working on the update on Round Two of the student assignment results. Patty is working on the web site update and on various fact sheets. Please contact Patty if you can help with the fact sheets.2) Call/email Amy Lee and Sharon if you can help with the IMPACT of the Choice Plan on our schools. This is critical research and will help us in other legal actions.3. Letters to the Editor: Please consider drafting a ton of LTES right away on the following three topics:1) Lack of transportation for those assigned without transportation. This is just as wrong as the Unassigned. If you were an unassigned, then you will especially understand this issue. Use the I contact today to draft a short LTE.2) Let’s find a better way: NEED a lot of push as the next school board meeting (JUNE 5) to MAKE A NEW PLAN for 2013. Start by getting a lot of LTEs on asking for a directive that stops using the CHOICE proximity model and starts using a RESIDENCEY based assignment plan. We need to set the stage for the June 5 meeting with LTEs. If you draft, send to Patty who will edits and give to Amy W and Lynn to get published.3) VALUE of magnet schools. Clearly, magnet schools are under attack. PLEASE take the survey and write an LTE supporting the many important objectives of the magnet program. See I contact you received for points to make.4. TAKE THE SURVEY on Magnets:1) Yes, this is not appropriate to have a thrown together –shallow survey—only online!! But we need to make sure it is balanced in the responses. Please get your pta to print copies or your church/synagogue and get those mailed in to central office.2) Make sure you add in the comments how unfair and hasty this approach to magnet reviews is and how it is not ethical to continue to attack one of our best options at attempting to keep our schools well utilized and balanced.5. Let’s Find a Better way.org : Please keep putting in your stories here—this is our way to document the tragedy of the Choice Plan. Let your contacts know of this web site.September 29, 2012 FORUM: We are planning a statewide forum for this date. Working title: Protecting the Public in Public Education, or Public Education is the Better Way or something positive but urgent about how we need to fight against the attacks on Public Education (lack of funding, charter schools, vouchers/tax credits for private schools, revitalization of schools services, the reformers etc.) If you have suggestions for focus of workshop, speakers etc. please let Patty or me know ASAP. We have started a planning committee---are you interested in helping? This will be done with GSNC (now Public Education First).6. UPDATES:Great Schools in NC has changed to a new name due to issues with domain names/searches etc. We will now be called Public Education First. We have new web site, Public Education First.orgMore details later. We will have work to do in changing out our current web and face book page. We are still seeking funding. We had a great one day retreat this week and hope to see more progress on this statewide effort soon. If you want to work on this project, let me know. Also, please nominate names or organizations of folks across the state who should be involved in this coalition of individuals and groups to advocate for public education. Here is revised draft of the GSNC=PEF mission: Public Education First mobilizes citizens to advocate for a system of high-quality, equitable, and diverse public schools for all North Carolina students.Lots of work to do, let me know how you can be a part of our important work.Peace and love, Y
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that either Evans or Kushner (maybe both?) are continuing to guide the direction of GSIW and giving insider tips to what they believe are the necessary next steps in stopping the new assignment plan.
Some of these statements are quite particular -- and some use definitive terms.
"We are still working to get the board to at least direct the staff for the 2013 assignment PLAN."
"We need to set the stage for the June 5 meeting with LTEs."
Still working? The 2013 assignment plan? Set the stage?
Sounds to me like there's been some improper discussions going on. How else would
Brannon know how to "set the stage" for the next Board meeting?
Since when is there a 2013 assignment plan?
Does this mean that the Board majority really is going to completely ignore the cries from parents for a neighborhood school (and choice and stability and predictability) and move back to node-based assignments because that's what GSIW wants? (See my last post.)
Does this mean that the Board majority really is going to completely ignore the cries from parents for a neighborhood school (and choice and stability and predictability) and move back to node-based assignments because that's what GSIW wants? (See my last post.)
Brannon know how to "set the stage" for the next Board meeting?
I think Supt. Tata apologized to these two way too soon.
