tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26112336817772443062024-03-14T07:35:13.925-07:00 My 3 MinutesThe <b>Wake County Board of Education</b> allows public comment on issues of concern. This is my 3 minutes.Allison Backhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458154818562645156noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611233681777244306.post-42726591594684119242017-05-24T11:27:00.002-07:002017-05-24T11:27:51.581-07:00Stop pretending<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The News & Observer recently ran a <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article149942987.html" target="_blank">series of articles</a> about education in North Carolina and here in Wake County. Many, including Gov. Cooper, state leaders, and even the president of the NC Association of Educators, <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article152232227.html" target="_blank">claimed they were "surprised"</a> and "appalled".</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm not.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I could spend hours writing about the ways WCPSS has and continues to purposefully label and exclude low-income children from an appropriate education. Remember diversity busing?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The N&O won't <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article152365472.html" target="_blank">publish</a> my full response so here it is:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The series of articles by the N&O about the purposeful exclusion of low-income children from appropriately challenging classes should be causing outrage - from parents, from taxpayers, from political leaders, and from the WCPSS School Board and Supt. Merrill.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Just a few years ago, advocacy groups and people who claimed to care about education in Wake County protested to the point of being arrested because they didn't want the Wake County Public School System to stop busing these same low-income children out of their neighborhoods and into the suburbs. They claimed poor Raleigh children would receive a better education in a school that was "not as poor". Their cry in support of diversity busing was "It's what's at the end of the bus ride that matters". </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>And, yet, now we see that the end of this bus ride doesn't matter at all - it's merely a long ride, back and forth, every day under the guise of a better education.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>In reality, and as many of us have known for years, the same low-income children that many fought to keep on a bus are deliberately being withheld and excluded from a proper education, not getting a better one. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>So, if there is a time for disruption, protests, and arrests, now is that time.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Unfortunately, I'm convinced there will be no outrage. We will all merrily skip along and continue to pretend that busing the low-income children for diversity and enticing the rich, white families with magnet school entitlements is actually making a positive impact on education in Wake County. After all, we know know who really matters in our school system - and it's not the poor. </i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">And, if you didn't notice their comments in the article, the WCPSS School Board wants to address this issue with more money.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
Allison Backhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458154818562645156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611233681777244306.post-4252542578188306192015-11-11T18:28:00.000-08:002015-11-11T18:36:16.103-08:00Your children. Not mine.<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Last week, WCPSS Chairwoman <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/latest-news/j2oyx0-keyframecosmo.JPG/ALTERNATES/LANDSCAPE_1140/keyframecosmo.JPG" target="_blank">Christine Kushner</a> wrote an <a href="http://www.moreheadcain.org/idea-opinion/real-crisis-public-education-fix/" target="_blank">article</a> for UNC-Chapel Hill's Morehead-Cain Scholars website. (Yeah, that's a mouthful in itself.)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Her article is titled "<b>The real crisis in public education, and how to fix it</b>".</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">First of all, "The real crisis"? High and mighty much?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Anyway... I wrote a Letter to the Editor to the News & Observer in response to Ms. Kushner's ridiculous and insulting claim that it is the parents of Wake County that cause her and our school system such heartburn.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As it hasn't been published (yet), I thought I would share it with you here. Enjoy.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Submitted Nov. 7, 2015:</span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">WCPSS Chair Christine Kushner has proudly announced that it is the parents of Wake County who are hurting the public school system. Yes, you. And me. And every other caring parent who has chosen to stay with
the public school system yet stands up for their child. According to our
School Board, you are a horrible person and simply messing things up.
</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Kushner condescendingly claims in the article that "individual choice"
is the real crisis in our schools. She berates and belittles parents for
basically being good parents. She hates parents who make decisions that
best serve their own children without considering the "common good".
Hates them.
</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So, it is a little surprising to find out that Ms. Kushner chose to send
her child to one of the most exclusive publicly-funded high schools in
NC. That's right. She made an "individual choice" for her child's
education. A choice that was made, I would assume, based on what was
best her family and her child - because I don't see how sending her
child to a limited enrollment high school with a highly competitive
admission process that is fully funded by the state (including tuition,
room and board) helps the rest of us.
</span></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Apparently, the common good is your problem to solve...with your children
- not hers.</span></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What a patronizing hypocrite.</span></span></b><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><br /></i>
</div>
Allison Backhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458154818562645156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611233681777244306.post-88691030661733283192015-11-04T19:17:00.000-08:002015-11-04T19:18:17.166-08:00You should be outraged.<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">According to <a href="http://www.wral.com/apex-policy-returns-student-to-class-a-year-after-gun-threat-/15061059/" target="_blank">WRAL</a>, a student brought an unloaded gun to Apex Middle School last year. Not only did he threaten other students with the gun, he also "<i>...pointed the gun...and
pulled the trigger</i>".</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then, according to the parent of one of the victims, this student said: "<i>Don't tell. If
you do, I have the bullets in my backpack and you'll be next.</i>"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yes, this happened at Apex Middle School. Yes, last year. And, yes, according to the article, our <a href="http://www.wcpss.net/Page/5472" target="_blank">WCPSS School Board</a> and their "policies" have allowed this student back into the public school system. Worse, they have assigned this student to the <b>same high school</b> that his victims attend.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Do your children attend Apex Friendship High School? Are you aware that this student is lurking your hallways? Will this student be reassigned to another high school in our community? Will our School Board member, <a href="mailto:sevans5@wcpss.net" target="_blank">Susan Evans</a>, ever notify us or our community? Or is she too busy chasing her <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/under-the-dome/article41675778.html" target="_blank">political dreams</a>? </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm outraged. You should be too. Here's my reaction. <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, if you're p<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">issed off like I am, here's<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> the<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ir</span> email addresses: <a href="http://eboard.eboardsolutions.com/AboutUs/AboutUs.aspx?S=920&TID=1#" target="_blank">WCPSS Board of Education</a></span></span> </span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">(<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">And d</span>on't forget t<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">o include the elusive and secretive <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article40529367.html" target="_blank">Supt. Merrill</a>)</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Mrs. Evans, Mrs. Kushner & Supt. Merrill,
</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>
<br />It is absolutely reprehensible to read about this situation that
occurred in my community - and my schools - from WRAL. </i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Considering the climate we live in today and the incidents that have
occurred in schools across the country, it is completely unacceptable
for this information to be withheld from parents. To add insult to
injury, your so-called policies have allowed this student back into the
public school system to attend the very same school as those he
threatened. There is no indication that any other actions by the Board
or the superintendent have or will be taken regarding the safety and
protection of our children from this student. For God's sake, he brought
a gun, PULLED THE TRIGGER, and then threatened to bring bullets the next
time. When is the next time? Are you waiting to react after the fact?
<br />
<br />I demand answers as to why we, as parents and as members of the Apex
community, were not notified of this when it occurred last year. I
demand to know why this dangerous student is allowed back into our
schools after, as School Board member Keith Sutton says, "they have
served their time" with a one year suspension. I truly empathize for the
parents of these victims who have been ignored and lied to by this
School Board. I am outraged and ashamed at each and every one of you.
<br />
<br />Allison Backhouse
<br />Apex, NC
<br />
</i><br />
<br />
<br />
</span></span></div>
Allison Backhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458154818562645156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611233681777244306.post-33181505062580573502015-08-24T18:30:00.001-07:002015-11-05T05:36:42.020-08:00What's the question; what's the answer?<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">In 2009, the parents of Wake County spoke. They elected a
majority on theWCPSS School Board who supported the end to the mindless
reassignment of their children. These School Board members bravely broke the
mold after decades of diversity busing. Busing that not only adversely affected
the education of suburban students but was eventually proven by WCPSS itself to
have no positive impact on the education of the poor students targeted for
those long distance assignments. After a few immediate and key resignations and
retirements, many doors were opened to the changes needed in our school system.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The assignment policy was amended. Diversity goals were
removed. An emphasis was placed on the educational needs of students and the
involvement of parents. After years of mandatory year-round assignments and
families split by school calendars, choice was resurrected. The ’09 School
Board members ran on a platform of providing the necessary resources to
students – not busing students for diversity under the guise of a better
education. Their policies promoted stability, community involvement, and
predictability in assignment in their attempt to create a school system that
was responsive not critical.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">But that didn’t last long.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Some were outraged at the very thought of removing diversity
as a goal in assignment. They did all they could to create and spread fear
around our community of what could happen. They painted their own message in
the media of resegregation and the isolation of minorities. In 2011, a new
majority-Democratic Board was elected to save and restore diversity. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">So how is it that just last week the N&O published in an
article that states the number of high-poverty schools has more than doubled
under the direction of the new School Board? Let that sink in….more than
doubled – from 18 to 46. Twelve WCPSS schools now have populations of more than
70% low-income students. There were none under the ’09 Board. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The current School Board has had five years to undo the
changes they deemed as “destructive” and “racist” and yet have chosen to do
absolutely nothing. Not only have they not taken any action on the changes made
back in ’09, their inaction and apathy have done more to make their fears a
reality than anything else. And their friends - who raised a ruckus and feigned
concern about the “loss” of diversity - are now silent and uninterested because
their Democratic friends are faithfully leading the charge. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Or are they?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">The <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/opinion/editorials/article31823946.html" target="_blank">N&O editorial</a> this past weekend addresses this
issue. It questions these numbers but it totally misses the mark. The question
we should be asking is not “Do we pursue diversity or do we let segregation
return?” That is a lazy, simple-minded question and only serves to create the
same fearful rhetoric we heard years ago. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">What we should be asking is “What can we do to improve
education for every child in Wake County?” It’s a tough question with many
answers and just as many opinions. I agree that we are at a crossroads as a
county and community. But diversity is not it. There are so many others ways to
improve education and address the needs of our students than assignment. There
are better conversations to have. Our crossroads is ensuring we don’t go back
to the way it was. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Although our current School Board has managed to
create a school system that reflects exactly what they claimed they were
against, we simply can’t let the diversity pendulum swing completely back.</span>Allison Backhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458154818562645156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611233681777244306.post-29997869670597773192015-03-09T17:57:00.000-07:002015-03-09T18:15:19.607-07:00Snow JobSpring Break is gone. Well, most of it. Families were blindsided by WCPSS with a complete reversal decision <a href="http://www.wcpss.net/site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=12&ModuleInstanceID=4225&ViewID=047E6BE3-6D87-4130-8424-D8E4E9ED6C2A&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=8671&PageID=16" target="_blank">announcement</a> on Saturday about the winter weather make up days.<br />
<br />
Parents are angry. So far, over 7,500 parents, teachers, and students have signed a <a href="https://www.change.org/p/wake-county-public-school-system-bring-back-spring-break-2k15?recruiter=245913591&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=share_twitter_responsive" target="_blank">petition</a> to show how angry they are. Many families have long-standing nonrefundable travel plans. Many were looking forward to this one of very few opportunities to be together for the week.<br />
<br />
I understand their anger. And their frustration. But let's make sure we understand what we really should be angry about. It's not about Spring Break. It's about why and how we lost Spring Break.<br />
<br />
In a nutshell, this is the epitome of bad governance.<br />
<br />
Let's begin by understanding that the 2014-2015 school calendar has built-in make up days. According to the <a href="http://www.wcpss.net/calendars" target="_blank">WCPSS website</a>: March 23, June 9, June 10, and June 11 are the Teacher Work Days "Available for Weather Make up". <br />
<br />
Board Chair Christine Kushner and Supt. Merrill first told us that June wouldn't be used and our children would be attending school on Good Friday and two Saturdays in order to provide "<a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article12508139.html" target="_blank">quality instructional time</a>".<br />
<br />
What a load. Last Friday was originally planned as an early-release day. It was extended 2 1/2 hours to a full day to make up for one of the missed snow days. But then... it was delayed 2 hours again due to ice that didn't happen. Where did that "quality instruction time" go?<br />
<br />
And what about the day WCPSS waited to <a href="http://abc11.com/education/local-schools-announce-snow-make-up-days/541365/" target="_blank">cancel school</a> until after a few buses hit the road? That "quality instruction" isn't being made up at all.<br />
<br />
Enough of that, let's talk about the governance issue.<br />
<br />
On Tuesday, March 3rd's work session, WCPSS staff recommended using Good Friday and two Saturdays. Go to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV7WGIqOxWI" target="_blank">46:55 mark</a> of their work session. <br />
<br />
At the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV7WGIqOxWI" target="_blank">55:25 mark</a> of the Board work session, Supt. Merrill clearly supports use of this option as a way to protect Spring Break for families.<br />
<br />
At the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV7WGIqOxWI" target="_blank">58:00 mark</a>, Cathy Moore asks for support of this staff recommendation and Chair Kushner responds "You have consensus support of that recommendation."<br />
<br />
YOU HAVE CONSENSUS SUPPORT OF THAT RECOMMENDATION.<br />
<br />
Even the so loved WCPSS Twitter account tweeted:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGR5qQNhsamFnSdLlmX0PVj-mxN8ARQBNkmgNs7GCiYcCNpGVV4oS3vstb5Qw7qoAP8fUPFl1AdnzZqdMbSccEH6OUVB6yLsG_kAvTvwi138PTghrOMDDrpBscLrQdssbPfWEcGhDiIKGV/s1600/wcpssspringbreak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGR5qQNhsamFnSdLlmX0PVj-mxN8ARQBNkmgNs7GCiYcCNpGVV4oS3vstb5Qw7qoAP8fUPFl1AdnzZqdMbSccEH6OUVB6yLsG_kAvTvwi138PTghrOMDDrpBscLrQdssbPfWEcGhDiIKGV/s1600/wcpssspringbreak.jpg" height="135" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
(They're not so<a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/jonathancoby/16-sassy-tweets-from-the-nations-16th-largest-sch-afb2" target="_blank"> sassy</a> anymore, are they?) <br />
<br />
<br />
So, what could possibly have happened between Tuesday and Saturday? That's the big question.<br />
<br />
An even bigger and more concerning question is... why the quiet announcement on a Saturday? Since the Board wasn't scheduled to meet, who made this decision to use Spring Break days?<br />
<br />
What's the point of having a public discussion and "consensus approval" from the Board about the make up days if they're not going to follow it? <br />
<br />
Why include input from staff and communicate this to the public if they are just going to run roughshod and make up their own rules without any transparent discussion?<br />
<br />
I understand staff met again on Friday and Saturday to discuss this. What influenced them to convene again to discuss a different option? Who was at that meeting? Was the Board involved? If so, how? I've asked for minutes from this meeting but there are no minutes taken at staff meetings.<br />
<br />
Did WCPSS violate the public records law by deleting records from Twitter and Facebook about previous discussions and decisions?<br />
<br />
And where in the world is Supt. Merrill? <a href="http://www.wcpss.net/superintendent" target="_blank">Mr. Mustache</a> didn't even show up to defend this decision in <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/education/article13127789.html" target="_blank">today's press conference</a>. Instead, he sent Deputy Superintendent<a href="http://www.wcpss.net/Page/237" target="_blank"> Cathy Moore</a> to do his dirty work. Coward.<br />
<br />
So many questions...<br />
<br />
But, again, this isn't really about Spring Break. Losing Spring Break is simply the result of bad governance, a lack of transparency, and a Board that does what it wants to do, regardless of policy.<br />
<br />
I'm just hoping those 7,500 people will remember this next election. <br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />Allison Backhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458154818562645156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611233681777244306.post-29434306047780647822014-12-21T18:31:00.001-08:002014-12-21T18:31:26.322-08:00Tomorrow is YesterdayWell, well, well. It really is true. <br />
<br />
The Democratic-led WCPSS School Board is clearly rebranding the vision of the '09 Republican-led School Board and calling it their own.<br />
<br />
You read that right. <br />
<br />
The Democrats have not brought back diversity busing as their supporters elected them to do. In fact, according to WCPSS staff, they have <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/12/07/4382510/wake-county-citing-poiltical-challenges.html" target="_blank">no intention</a> of using diversity assignments anymore.<br />
<br />
Yes, yes. I know. Even after all those <a href="http://www.wral.com/news/education/video/7791023/#/vid7791023" target="_blank">protests</a>, disruptions, and <a href="http://www.wral.com/news/education/video/8001839/" target="_blank">arrests</a> back in 2010; even after all the media play over how removing the long-standing diversity policy would <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mbJhjCbwo8" target="_blank">destroy our school system </a>and our community; even after watching <a href="http://www.wral.com/news/local/image_gallery/8002367/" target="_blank">Rev. Barber</a> and his uber-liberal <a href="http://www.greatschoolsinwake.org/" target="_blank">GSIW</a> crew disrupt meeting after meeting with dancing, praying, singing, and name-calling over the end to diversity busing. Yup, even after all that, the Democratic Board isn't going to do it.<br />
<br />
Instead, they are continuing the vision of the Margiotta-led Board and the work by Supt. Tata. <br />
<br />
But, how can that be? How can <a href="http://my-3-minutes.blogspot.com/2013/06/a-thousand-words.html" target="_blank">Susan Evans, Jim Martin, Christine Kushner</a>, the 3 current Board members who were part of the GSIW leadership team and who have stood side-by-side with Rev. Barber at protests and Moral Mondays, now see things MY way?<br />
<br />
Bizarro world, indeed.<br />
<br />
And think about it. Putting an end to diversity assignments back in '09 was an outrage. The liberals lashed out and decried the policy change as "resegregation" and said we were heading back to the days of Jim Crow. They then caused enough ruckus and created enough fear across our county to regain control in the next election. <br />
<br />
Geez, guys. What was the big deal?<br />
<br />
This School Board is doing exactly what the <a href="http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/ron-margiotta/Content?oid=2661277" target="_blank">Margiotta-led</a> Board was trying to do: End the
long bus rides for poor and minority students and bring the resources to the students and schools that
need them the most.<br />
<br />
Did anyone <a href="http://thewaytosayit.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/judge-judy.jpg" target="_blank">hear</a> that message back then?<br />
<br />
When Supt. Tata was leading the charge, it was called <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/12/15/4405213/wake-county-school-system-may.html" target="_blank">Managed Performance Empowerment</a> (MPE) and was part of his 2012 strategic plan. High-needs schools were identified and given more funding to improve academics. I <a href="http://my-3-minutes.blogspot.com/2014/06/d-before-e.html" target="_blank">blogged</a> about the ending of this program - the Renaissance schools - and their funding back in June.<br />
<br />
And, yet, lo and behold, the WCPSS staff <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/12/21/4420638/wake-county-to-provide-millions.html?sp=/99/102/110/112/" target="_blank">announced</a> last week that, rather than busing, they too will be using the MPE model and provide extra resources to high-needs schools.<br />
<br />
Hmm, oddly familiar and eerily quiet.<br />
<br />
I was hesitant to believe that Supt. Merrill and this Board were going to simply <a href="http://my-3-minutes.blogspot.com/2014/03/repackaging-tatas-vision.html" target="_blank">repackage Tata's work</a> and the vision of the '09 Board when they came out with a new academic formula earlier this year - one that didn't place a priority on diversity assignments.<br />
<br />
Today, I'm glad to see things playing out as they should have in 2009.<br />
<br />
And without all the noise.Allison Backhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458154818562645156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611233681777244306.post-54865565195806237562014-12-07T16:53:00.000-08:002014-12-07T17:51:16.333-08:00Irrational NumbersA <a href="http://scholar.harvard.edu/files/joshuagoodman/files/accelerationfirststage.pdf" target="_blank">research paper</a> about WCPSS was released this past June. It's titled "<i>Middle School Math Acceleration and Equitable Access to 8th Grade Algebra: Evidence from the Wake County Public School System"</i> and speaks very highly of WCPSS' math placement policy. And yet it has received no media attention, no mention of it by the School Board, and not a peep about it from Supt. Merrill.<br />
<br />
But, why? Why would such an important document - one that shows that a simple change in policy has resulted in academic success for many minority and low-income students - not be lauded by the Wake County Public School System?<br />
<br />
Let's go back to 2009 so you understand the whole story.<br />
<br />
In 2009, a scathing <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/content/media/2010/1/11/SASreport.pdf" target="_blank">report</a> was released by <a href="http://www.sas.com/en_us/industry/k-12-education/evaas.html" target="_blank">SAS</a> that accused WCPSS and their data reporting of "<i>hiding an inequitable situation for students in schools serving more FRPL [free reduced price lunch] students</i>." Under the leadership of then-Supt. Burns (the coward that <a href="http://www.wral.com/news/education/story/7047266/" target="_blank">left</a> when he couldn't stand the heat), WCPSS had been purposefully withholding minority and economically-disadvantaged (ED) students from being placed in Algebra 1, even though they were academically ready.<br />
<br />
Shameful, right? Even worse, Supt. Burns had the nerve to <a href="http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/sas-and-wakes-achievement-gap#new" target="_blank">suppress this report</a> for months - with no intention of releasing it to the public. No wonder he hightailed it out of town.<br />
<br />
Fortunately, the then-School Board (you know, the ones that were painted as <a href="http://abc11.com/archive/7564312/" target="_blank">evil</a> and <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/11/17/809491/federal-government-to-probe-claims.html" target="_blank">racist</a>) immediately worked to address this educationally-damaging practice that was restricting access to Hispanic and Black middle school students. Yes, that's right. They focused on academics; not diversity. <br />
<br />
But this wasn't without strong opposition from the "diversity lover" Democrats.<br />
<br />
School Board member Kevin Hill and newly-elected Jim Martin <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/11/22/1662758/board-faces-math-debate.html" target="_blank">fought against allowing access</a> to these children. Even though Hill acknowledged that some students had been wrongly held back, the Democratic Board members still believed that these minority children weren't capable of achieving. <br />
<br />
Ironic, isn't it? The very people that were supported by the <a href="http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/william-barber-on-tonights-wake-county-school-board-election-results" target="_blank">NAACP and Rev. Barber,</a> the very people who stood arm in arm at <a href="http://www.wral.com/news/education/story/7999211/" target="_blank">protests</a> and <a href="http://www.wral.com/news/education/story/7282686/" target="_blank">candlelight vigils</a>, the very people who were elected to "protect diversity" were completely against implementing a policy that provided minority students opportunities to succeed. <br />
<br />
Passing this policy was a huge step forward. Enforcing this new policy and unwinding years of a <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/08/31/656092/guidelines-encourage-minorities.html" target="_blank">culture of low expectations</a> was daunting. As the paper points out, "..<i>compliance with the policy appeared more modest in its first few years.</i>" However, after a "<i>powerful directive</i>" from Supt. Tata, "...<i>compliance with the policy became stronger over time</i>".<br />
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The result? Enrollment in Algebra 1 <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/11/22/1662758/board-faces-math-debate.html" target="_blank">nearly doubled from 2009 to 2011</a>. <br />
<br />
(Side note: let's not forget that Kevin Hill and his fellow Board members hated <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/10/06/2392782/kevin-hill-says-tony-tatas-leadership.html" target="_blank">Tata's leadership style</a>. Maybe because Tata demanded and expected results. Unlike Supt. Merrill, who does...what?)<br />
<br />
And it wasn't just enrollment that increased. After the policy had been
in effect for a full year and thousands of students were added to
Algebra 1, much to the dismay of the Democrat School Board members,
overall performance for all students in Algebra I went up 1.1%. <br />
<br />
So, read the <a href="http://scholar.harvard.edu/files/joshuagoodman/files/accelerationfirststage.pdf" target="_blank">paper</a>. It's a lot to digest but here are some important facts about the policy change:<br />
<ul>
<li>We know from the End-of-Course (EOC) data that >95% of students placed are successful. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>The inclusion of ED and minority students in 8th grade Algebra I has significantly increased.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Providing access to higher-level math exposed ED and minority students to teachers who were of average or greater than average effectiveness. Historically, these children have not had access to highly-effective teachers.</li>
</ul>
<br /><ul>
</ul>
This is all great news but, under our current leadership, some very important questions and concerns remain:<br />
<ul>
<li>Has inclusion remained a goal of the system?</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Do students stay on an accelerated track once in high school?</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>As the paper points out, this policy had to be mandated by Supt. Tata. What is Supt. Merrill's mandate? </li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
</ul>
The <a href="http://wake-ms-math.weebly.com/rising-8th-grade-information.html" target="_blank">math placement guidelines</a> may be the same in writing as they were in 2010 but compliance to the policy is now unknown. Transparency is something this Board has lacked since <a href="http://my-3-minutes.blogspot.com/2012/06/were-you-even-awake.html" target="_blank">day one</a>. Are all qualified children, regardless of socioeconomic status or race, still given access to the proper math class? Supt. Tata demanded that the data regarding placement be transparent. Supt Merrill? Not so much.<br />
<br />
So, now you know. Acknowledgement of this success by the <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/06/16/3941538/allison-backhouse-business-as.html" target="_blank">Tata-hating School Board</a> would be extolling the virtues of Tata's leadership and
decisions. That will simply never happen.<br />
<br />
And, considering Board members haven't changed their opinion on the capabilities of poor and minority children, don't hold your breath on any mention of this paper any time soon.<br />
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Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/08/19/1422077/hell-be-a-teacher-at-131000-a.html#storylink=cpy</div>
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Read more here: http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/sas-and-wakes-achievement-gap#new#storylink=cpy</div>
<br />Allison Backhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458154818562645156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611233681777244306.post-23121689832256414422014-06-22T08:38:00.000-07:002014-06-22T08:38:06.338-07:00D before E<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Have you ever wondered if diversity <u>really</u> trumps education in Wake County? I mean, honestly... you can read my posts from the past two years and listen to my opinion but I'm sure you've thought: </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"Yeah, yeah. You're just political and hate this School Board" or </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"My kids are fine. Diversity is a good thing (<span style="font-size: x-small;">as long as we don't get reassigned</span>)." or </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">(<i>in a whisper...</i>) "That woman is crazy."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Well, I feel your pain. This School Board has not made it easy. In the past 3 years, they have made many damaging decisions (like going through 4 superintendents in 2 years) and many non-decisions (uh, after 3 years and whole lotta talking, still no assignment plan?).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But, are they really so focused on creating diversity in our schools that the educational needs of our students run a far second?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Here's some clarity. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Last week, the N&O had an <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/06/14/3934031/five-wake-low-income-schools-to.html" target="_blank">article</a> about the WCPSS School Board ending a successful and effective program that was running at 5 low-income schools in Wake County. While Mr. Literal, aka School Board Jim Martin, tried to berate the N&O and claim that the Board never canceled this program, the reality is the funding has ended and this program, one that has helped thousands of low-income children, is over. Don't let Mr. Martin's patronizing twist on the truth make you believe otherwise. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In the end, the program was ended because this Board doesn't like helping all sorts of poor kids together in one school. In the Board's opinion, it's wrong for poor families to choose to attend school together and then have the school system provide extra resources to help their children. The success of that program isn't what's important to them. The diversity of that school is important. Diversity over education.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But, do you care? After all, not my children.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So, let's talk about something that you might care about. Something that really speaks to the Board's one and only concern: diversity.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">At their last <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvOpweA6ugo&list=UUEXyH78eAd9JcCWmmI8GLzg&index=2" target="_blank">work session</a> (the meeting before the official Board meeting), there was a discussion about the placement of the new schools that will be built from the 2013 bond money. You know, the bond you voted for last year because "it's for the children".</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">WCPSS staff has been working to identify areas to build schools around the county in order to best serve the growing population of Wake County. To make it easy, I'll recap that discussion for those of you who live in SW Wake. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Here's what your unsympathetic and magnet-focused School Board member Susan Evans had to say:</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"<i>We've been having various other conversations about student assignment
and the magnet program and I think this is probably a good time for us to
put it out there on the table. We have to be forward thinking about
all of that stuff and I don't know what the decent answers are but, I've
said this before and I'll say it again.</i>"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Here it comes, people...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"<i>While I understand that the
density of new neighborhoods is strong along that Western corridor and
will be strong along the most Southern corridor, so that looks like
that's our immediate need, I have a concern from a long-term perspective
that, in 20 years when those neighborhoods have aged up and we've got a
bazillion schools around the perimeter of the county, is that going to
serve us well? We need to think globally about the positioning of
schools with long-term in mind and build more towards the center of [the county]</i>."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Globally? Uh, ok. So, even though we have been recognized as the fastest growing area of the county... And, even though you have been told by Susan Evans that you matter and she will work for your family and your children... And, even though you honestly believed that your support of the 2013 school bond would result in new schools in your crowded neighborhood... Even though there is an "immediate need" (her words, not mine) for schools in our district, we're not going to get them.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">As quoted in the N&O, <i>"It’s easier to assign children to schools in the central areas of the
county to balance population and diversity than to send them to schools
farther away.</i>"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Let me say that in plain English. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Schools will be built closer to Raleigh so diversity will be easier to achieve. And your kids are the next pawns in that system.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So, the joke's on you. Do you care now?</span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />Read
more here:
http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/06/21/3954206/wake-county-leaders-debate-where.html?sp=/99/102/110/112/#storylink=cpy</span></div>
Allison Backhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458154818562645156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611233681777244306.post-91057431229504887972014-06-09T19:16:00.000-07:002014-06-09T19:17:05.888-07:00The Suburban Imbeciles<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I just watched the WCPSS Strategic Plan meeting...aka #wakevision.
<br />
<br />(If you want to waste 2 hours of your time, you can watch it <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-DOCmS-oh8&list=UUEXyH78eAd9JcCWmmI8GLzg" target="_blank">here</a>.)<br />
<br />This meeting was held at Memorial Hall on May 30th to kickoff the
development "<i>of a five-year strategic plan that will guide the school
system moving forward</i>." (BTW, this meeting cost you at least $2,422.85.)
(And...the last five year strategic plan was done just two years ago. But, whatever.)<br />
<br />The speaker hired by WCPSS, some guy who calls himself a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Futurist" target="_blank">futurist</a>, was actually okay. Engaging, sounded pretty knowledgeable, had some interesting ideas. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">A little nutty but tolerable, I guess. </span></span>In a nutshell, his message was </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">that we need to be teaching for our kids' future, and not from our own past. And how important this is - now more than ever - because the world is changing at a
faster rate than it ever has. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Good message. But, considering this crowd and that <a href="http://bluntcard.com/launch/880.php" target="_blank">School Board members</a> and Supt. Merrill were in the room, it probably floated over their heads and right out the door.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But, the absolute best part of this meeting (and well worth watching at 1:51:55) was when one parent, Becky, stood up to ask a question. Little ol' Becky was pretty confident in her question...as if she already knew the answer. Here's what she said:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"<i>I am the parent of two students at Martin Middle School. One of the stronger points of the Wake County Public School System has been the long-time commitment to having diverse schools. What do you say to parents, and I think this is part of the visioning process, guys - who are <u>so adamant</u> that the worst thing that can happen to their kid is that they could be reassigned to a different school the next year?</i>"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Good grief. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Could Becky possibly be any more condescending while gnashing her teeth? </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Uh, yes, she could. And she was:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"<i>I'm sorry - but if my child is going to have 5 to 10 different careers, God forbid that they should have to go to 4 or 5 elementary schools. I mean, it seems like preparation for living to me.</i>"</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">OMG. 4 or 5 elementary schools?! </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Becky is either the worst kind of parent or she represents the epitome of a smug, patronizing, and arrogant magnet parent who thinks us "suburban" parents are idiots. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Maybe that choice is one and the same. :)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />And Becky didn't stop there:</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"<i>We don't close our schools because the population shifts; we shift the kids around. And it has worked really well - except that parents get <u>so</u> irate because their children, in spite of the fact that they are all digitally connected, that they are losing that connection.</i>" </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Fortunately, the futurist stopped Becky from babbling and making herself look even more foolish. His response, however, was brilliant. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">He said:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"<i>I will say that if all the schools in the district are equal quality, there shouldn't be a problem. So, that's the first thing. If the school system can stand up and say "You're gonna get the same education", that's a true statement.</i>"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And we all know WCPSS isn't about educational equality. If it was, Becky and her buddies would be very upset over losing their magnet goodies and sharing them with the rest of us imbeciles in the suburbs.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
<br />And then the futurist said something incredible:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"<i>The other thing is... the word 'diversity'... Diversity is a loaded, social, emotional word of about 50 years standing that, if you want diversity, you have to let go of the legacy thinking of what the word diversity means and create what is diversity in this school district in 2014. Whatever that is... face that diversity, rather than some formulaic thing. But, the first thing is to make all schools good. Then, it doesn't matter.</i>"</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, was it worth the $2300 for the venue and god-knows-how-much for Mr. Futurist to tell the irate parents of Wake County what we already know? </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For those last two minutes, yes. Yes, it was.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Do you think Becky, her magnet friends, and the WCPSS School Board actually listened to those comments? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not in a million years. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Understanding this simple concept would require parents like Becky to change. Parents like Becky have it too good in the magnet system. Parents like Becky have absolutely no understanding of the effect of reassignment on a child - not to mention 4 or 5 of them. Parents like Becky may understand that the reassignment of our children allows her magnet children to remain safe, secure, and untouched at their school. Parents like Becky are ignorant and offensive. Sadly, there are plenty of them in Wake County.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Even worse, they are also on our <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeJB2U7-pNU" target="_blank">School Board</a>. </span></span><br />
<br />Allison Backhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458154818562645156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611233681777244306.post-77514624441707835512014-03-30T16:10:00.003-07:002014-03-30T18:52:36.453-07:00Repackaging Tata's vision<span style="font-size: small;">What we are witnessing today on the Wake County School Board is politics at its best.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">In 2009, the School Board removed quotas for diversity in the WCPSS assignment policy. After all, there was decades of data that showed the busing scheme in Wake County - that is, using the assignment of poor children to fill quotas at each school - did not work. It did not improve academic outcomes.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">However, as a result of that simple change, the liberals went wild. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;">They packed the Board meetings, protested anywhere they could, chanted and sang, encouraged students to get arrested, and proudly crossed the security barriers to physically take over the School Board seats. C'mon, we all remember it. </span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Overly-dramatic candlelight vigils. Yelling, singing, and praying during Board meetings. Years</span> of hateful statements, speeches, and name-calling. </span><br />
<br />
Fast forward to this past week...<br />
<br />
New Superintendent Merrill and WCPSS staff presented a new <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2014/03/27/3737831/wake-county-school-administrators.html?sp=/99/102/110/112/" target="_blank">academic formula </a>to the School Board. This formula could be used to better identify the needs of struggling schools - how to place resources properly - rather than simply using diversity busing to address educational problems. Sadly, it does include the ability to reassign students to "improve" performance. But, it's no longer the be-all and end-all as this Board and their liberal friends so desired.<br />
<br />
This new formula is divided into 5 areas - yet "diversity" is no longer
the most important factor. In fact, "demographics" (which it is named
under this formula) is similarly weighted to 3 of the other 5 factors. <br />
<br />
And, shockingly, the left remains silent. No outrage. Silence. Crickets.<br />
<br />
Let's not forget... the end result of all that hubbub from the liberals
was the buyout of the contract of a very effective and very successful
superintendent. With the support of the 2009 Board, Tata managed to
change the conversation in Wake County. Not an easy feat.<br />
<br />
So, I can only believe that either Merrill is treading on very thin ice with this Board by basically dismissing diversity busing as a solution in education. Or this School Board is filled with a bunch of liars and hypocrites.<br />
<br />
In a nutshell...<br />
<br />
A vision and leadership from a superintendent hired by a Republican-majority board?<br />
Bad, bad, bad.<br />
<br />
The same vision from a superintendent hired by a Democratic-majority board?<br />
Hmmm... seems OK.<br />
<br />
Now, don't get me wrong. This isn't set in stone. The Board has to approve this new formula that puts little emphasis on diversity busing. And, in the long shot that they will vote in favor of it, I wonder if the outrage will return.<br />
<br />
I'm not betting on it. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Allison Backhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458154818562645156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611233681777244306.post-34291472966923900812013-12-23T19:25:00.000-08:002013-12-24T08:56:18.021-08:00The Year of the Snake(s)<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">As a new year approaches, I thought it would be good to reflect on all the great things our School Board has done to improve education in Wake County.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But... I couldn't come up with any. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Instead, here's a recap of the woeful 2013 highlights:</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">WCPSS hired its 3rd superintendent in three years. (Well, 4th really. They had to replace their <a href="http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/stephen-gainey-named-interim-wake-county-schools-superintendent" target="_blank">interim</a> with <a href="http://www.wcpss.net/blog/2013/06/board-of-education-appoints-cathy-moore-as-interim-superintendent/" target="_blank">another interim</a> when the <a href="http://www.wcpss.net/blog/2013/04/interim-superintendent-stephen-gainey-announces-new-role/" target="_blank">first interim left</a>.)</span> </li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After an expensive and completely unnecessary <a href="http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/a-5000-bill-for-the-wake-county-superintendent-forum" target="_blank">dog and pony show</a>, they hired a "veteran administrator" - aka Board lapdog - who used to work at WCPSS back in the "good ol' days". You know, the days Kevin Hill and Co. have been <a href="http://my-3-minutes.blogspot.com/2012/12/happy-holidays-you-dont-matter.html" target="_blank">dragging us back</a> to. (BTW, where is the new superintendent? Has <u>anyone</u> heard <u>anything</u> worthwhile from him yet?)</span> </li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">After moving back to base assignments, the School Board voted to <a href="http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/wake-county-school-board-approves-enrollment-caps-at-17-schools-for-2013-14-school-year" target="_blank">cap 17 schools</a> for this school year. Yes, 17. A new list of capped schools for 2014-15 will be released next month. (Hint, hint: Reassignments are coming as well.)</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nf5LSlg9t1Y" target="_blank">video</a> was released and no one at WCPSS cared.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> </span> <br />
<ul>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">WCPSS Board members attended <a href="http://my-3-minutes.blogspot.com/2013/06/a-thousand-words.html" target="_blank">Moral Monday protests</a> - along with their partners...er, friends at Great Schools in Wake (GSIW - </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">aka <a href="https://www.facebook.com/publicschoolsfirstnc" target="_blank">Public Schools First NC</a></span>). Do you remember the <a href="http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/superintendent-tony-tata-questioning-school-board-members-susan-evans-and-christine-kushner-a" target="_blank">infamous words</a> of our now School Board Chairwoman Christine Kushner ? </span></li>
</ul>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">"<i>...since joining the Board, I have not maintained my affiliations with GSIW</i>"? <a href="http://my-3-minutes.blogspot.com/2013/06/a-thousand-words.html" target="_blank">Liar</a>.</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">WCPSS Board members attended <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/11/04/3336980/wake-county-school-connection.html" target="_blank">walk in/walk out</a> events - again, sponsored by the extreme left-leaning political group, Public Schools First NC. Let's not forget the <a href="http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/superintendent-tony-tata-questioning-school-board-members-susan-evans-and-christine-kushner-a" target="_blank">whopper</a> from School Board member Susan Evans' mouth in 2012: </span></li>
</ul>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">"<i>...I am neither actively involved in their [GSIW] activities, nor am I given any advance notice of the content or distribution of their press releases.</i>" (<a href="http://my-3-minutes.blogspot.com/2013/06/a-thousand-words.html" target="_blank">Another liar</a>.)</span></blockquote>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">School Board members Susan Evans and Jim Martin tag-teamed to verbally <a href="http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/more-fallout-over-confrontation-between-wake-county-school-board-member-jim-martin-and-sen-ne" target="_blank">assault and threaten</a> Sen. Neal Hunt in the Legislative building. Classy. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">GSIW was <a href="http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/talking-about-what-the-new-wake-county-school-board-may-be-like" target="_blank">successful in taking over</a> our School Board and now have a complete stranglehold. </span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And the cherry on top? The School Board <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/12/03/3429651/wake-county-school-board-replaces.html" target="_blank">shamelessly ousted</a> Keith Sutton as Chairman (the only one on this Board with some common sense, imo) - even though it is customary to allow two one-year terms as Chair. <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/12/05/3435141/cash-michaels-charges-that-wake.html" target="_blank">Some people</a> are mad. <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/12/12/3454897/rwca-warns-it-wont-forget-wake.html" target="_blank">Some people</a> are really mad. Plain and simple, these Board members exploited Sutton -- and then dumped him. A brazen slap in the face to Mr. Sutton and his supporters.</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Sadly, 2014 isn't looking to <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/12/02/3421403/wake-county-schools-gearing-up.html" target="_blank">pan out very well</a> either. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And, to think - just two short years ago, I was <a href="http://my-3-minutes.blogspot.com/2012/01/good-morning-really-good-morning_17.html" target="_blank">optimistic</a>. </span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Allison Backhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458154818562645156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611233681777244306.post-20998191936252386762013-10-06T17:22:00.001-07:002013-10-06T17:30:20.301-07:00Did she really say that?<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What does Zora Felton have to say? </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here are some of the most ridiculous quotes from her campaign:</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When speaking at the League of Womens Voters (GSIW) forum about busing:</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #ffd966;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></i></span></span>
<b><span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"People are bused -- but that's a mode of transportation." </span></span></i></span></b><br />
<b><span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Busing is a mode of transportation."</span></span></i></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">When speaking about ways to address student discipline:</span></span><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">"I have a little philosophy. </span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><b>I think that children around the age of 12 need to either work in a factory or the farm."</b></span></span></i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">In her Indy Weekly <a href="http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/zora-felton/Content?oid=3719128" target="_blank">questionnaire</a>, Zora clearly supports assignments based on how much money you make - and the reassignment of your children if "imbalance" occurs at your school - or another school, or another school, or another school...</span></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /><b>"I support policies that lead to diverse student populations in terms of family income."</b></span> </i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>"</b></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>While sometimes a (low-income) percentage can be arbitrary, nonetheless, it is good
to be vigilant in making sure that adjustments are made when the
school's ability to help every child becomes overwhelming"</b></span></i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></span><b> </b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When asked about her support for year-round schools:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>"Folks, it's just not that much fun to find something to do in August...or July. OK? It's hot." </b></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">(I'm surprised she didn't just throw out the insulting "It's so much cheaper to travel during track out.")</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But - here's my favorite from Zora... and the one that should give you pause...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>"</b></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>I wish I had enough name recognition and enough money to run for the Legislature. Ok? But, I don't."</b></span></i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Clearly, Zora has bigger ideas for her political career. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And the School Board is just a stepping-stone to her aspirations for higher office.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We need commitment. Not a GSIW-backed politician wannabe. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Vote for Prickett on October 8th.</span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>Allison Backhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458154818562645156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611233681777244306.post-69500622436641925862013-09-29T11:36:00.000-07:002013-10-01T16:35:48.129-07:00The Rat in the Hat<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrMtO8SLLs8DWiG3KuFmAPjJK2uUPwm7R-jLpnlNo3IdaH3LiaidkzArVLaGfblC2EeZw-eHTPP7TCmmwoU84ZXmkpr5-q-27MkgrNmKwhWNOrdQg_77K4cuisPFg11BuX5FGOnlWj_q2/s1600/fletcherhat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizrMtO8SLLs8DWiG3KuFmAPjJK2uUPwm7R-jLpnlNo3IdaH3LiaidkzArVLaGfblC2EeZw-eHTPP7TCmmwoU84ZXmkpr5-q-27MkgrNmKwhWNOrdQg_77K4cuisPFg11BuX5FGOnlWj_q2/s1600/fletcherhat.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Look at me! Look at me! Look at me now!</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> It is fun to have fun but you have to know how.</span></i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Very fitting for Bill Fletcher. Full of trickery and lies.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">(Yes, that's his goofy picture on the left.)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Back in 1993, when Fletcher first ran for School Board, he ran as a critic of diversity busing. Like any sane person, he was against the reassignment of children over and over again simply to meet a diversity quota. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Well, that was his first (and probably most damaging) trick on the citizens of Wake County. Once in office, Fletcher's true intent became very clear. He voted in favor of EVERY SINGLE REASSIGNMENT PLAN from 1993 to 2005. Twelve years of deeply-entrenched <a href="http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/101710/" target="_blank">diversity busing plans</a> - and Fletcher voted for every one of them.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Is it any wonder that Fletcher came in 3rd place the last time he ran in 2005? Yup, didn't even make it into a runoff. The citizens of Cary were sick and tired of him, his lies, and being yanked around and ignored by a system that Fletcher happily created. (Then, like a knife in the back, the current majority <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/03/09/2737473/bill-fletcher-appointed-to-wake.html" target="_blank">appointed him back </a>to the School Board this year.)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, why does Fletcher think he can fool us again? Well, you can thank his cousin, <a href="http://blogs.newsobserver.com/category/tags/Jim-Goodmon" target="_blank">Jim Goodmon</a>. Goodmon is a mouthpiece in Wake County (He is the CEO of <a href="http://www.cbc-raleigh.com/history/jfg.asp" target="_blank">Capital Broadcasting</a>) and has the media at his fingertips. He is <a href="http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/gsiw-forum-promotes-diverse-schools" target="_blank">active with</a> Great Schools in Wake and has very deep pockets. There is no way that Fletcher will vote against anything his cousin wants. Goodmon has funded and continues to fund all the 'pro-diversity' candidates because, well, busing the poor out of Raleigh makes Jim happy. And Fletcher will use his cousin's influence and money to continue to lie and hope you don't remember the truth. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another little tidbit about Fletcher. He used to sit as a member of the Board for Big Brothers Big Sisters - the place John Tedesco used to work. Fletcher, as this article implies, was <a href="http://www.carolinajournal.com/articles/display_story.html?id=6277" target="_blank">instrumental in pushing</a> Tedesco out of his job. Of course, Fletcher won't tell you the truth about that - but it certainly explains why Tedesco <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/03/09/2737473/bill-fletcher-appointed-to-wake.html" target="_blank">voted for a member of GSIW </a>rather than Fletcher when filling this School Board seat. </span></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></i>
<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And this mess is so big</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And so deep and so tall,</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We cannot pick it up</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There is no way at all!</span></span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yup, pretty much sums up what Fletcher will do to this county and our children.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Vote for Caggia on October 8th. </span></span>Allison Backhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458154818562645156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611233681777244306.post-28492073833561008572013-06-30T08:12:00.001-07:002013-06-30T08:12:02.688-07:00A Thousand Words<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnr2KfTVeOR_pup5rcpLrfXsTP3lv5Tif2QsSU0A1kSCQxVKl-_X1_gimjyCBwvDkIGyYimb1uz3MfVIhgmi7UF0jMChaF6_TU9aVR7pBdMQXi90SFkAamHPIboNuCvAH4QxdXzopggPJK/s960/1044825_588966217792708_494990205_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnr2KfTVeOR_pup5rcpLrfXsTP3lv5Tif2QsSU0A1kSCQxVKl-_X1_gimjyCBwvDkIGyYimb1uz3MfVIhgmi7UF0jMChaF6_TU9aVR7pBdMQXi90SFkAamHPIboNuCvAH4QxdXzopggPJK/s320/1044825_588966217792708_494990205_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Hi. My name is Susan Evans - School Board member for District 8. I'm the one on the right. I'm with my fellow Board member, Christine Kushner. She's the one on the left. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Who is that in the middle, you ask? That's one of the leaders from <a href="http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/great-schools-in-wake-coalition/Content?oid=2743754" target="_blank">Great Schools in Wake</a> (GSIW), Adrienne Lumpkin. This picture of us was taken at the last <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/06/24/2985465/first-wave-of-moral-monday-protesters.html" target="_blank">Moral Monday</a> protest. If you have Facebook, you can see some of my other friends and GSIW members <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=589570494398947&set=pb.184666638222670.-2207520000.1372602534.&type=3&theater" target="_blank">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You might remember that Christine and I were accused of being involved with GSIW after taking our Board seats. You see, being actively involved with such a political group would be against the WCPSS Code of Ethics. So, Christine and I just denied everything. <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/02/21/1871715/tata-and-board-members-spar-over.html" target="_blank">Denied</a>, <a href="http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/wake-county-school-board-member-debra-goldman-blaming-gsiw-for-firing-of-superintendent-tony-" target="_blank">denied</a>, <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/12/18/2552752/wake-schools-defend-dropping-choice.html" target="_blank">denied</a>. But, c'mon, did you really believe us? ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Not only do we work closely with their leaders, we love going to their organized protests and bad mouthing people who don't agree with us. We wear stickers and hold protest signs during the day - and then pretend we're listening to all sides when we sit in our Board seats at night. It's so much fun!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So, to date, we've checked off the following on our GSIW to-do list:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">1. We ended the Choice Plan. Too many of our magnet friends were upset. I don't really understand why the suburbs are so angry. Whatever.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">2. We fired Supt. Tata. Honestly, the guy is smart. Had to go. Buh-bye.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">3. We hired a new superintendent. He's an <a href="http://www.wral.com/virginia-beach-educator-named-as-new-wake-superintendent/12566496/" target="_blank">old school guy</a></span> <span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">. Our previous Board chair, Kevin Hill, really likes to <a href="http://my-3-minutes.blogspot.com/2012/12/happy-holidays-you-dont-matter.html" target="_blank">live in the past</a>. You know, like 30 years ago. This Merrill guy will fit right in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">4. Our latest accomplishment was getting approval to go back to <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/06/27/2991684/feds-ruling-could-ease-wakes-path.html" target="_blank">using F&R data</a> to assign students. What? You don't remember the Board discussing that in public? LOL. That's because we didn't. Of course, Adrienne knew all about it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It really amazes me how easy it's been to keep up this guise. I guess it helps that the media is on our side. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Anyway, I hope you like the picture. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span>Allison Backhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458154818562645156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611233681777244306.post-51275871942803772202013-04-07T17:16:00.001-07:002013-04-07T17:16:11.660-07:00Downhill<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Think what you may - but Kevin Hill really is a smart guy. Evil<span style="font-size: small;"> and a complete jerk...but smart.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sure, we caught him <span style="font-size: small;">scheduling and attending se<span style="font-size: small;">cre<span style="font-size: small;">t meetings. <span style="font-size: small;">And, we </span></span></span></span></span></span>all now know that he <span style="font-size: small;">has been </span>secre<span style="font-size: small;">tly </span></span>colla<span style="font-size: small;">bo<span style="font-size: small;">rating <span style="font-size: small;">his School Board business with members of G<span style="font-size: small;">reat School<span style="font-size: small;">s in Wake<span style="font-size: small;">. And he had the audac<span style="font-size: small;">ity to <a href="http://my-3-minutes.blogspot.com/2012/06/and-now-for-something-really-scary.html" target="_blank">call parents "selfish and anti-</a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://my-3-minutes.blogspot.com/2012/06/and-now-for-something-really-scary.html" target="_blank">social"</a> <span style="font-size: small;">in re<span style="font-size: small;">sponse to a parent's question. </span></span></span></span>But, honestly, so what? He still sits in that Board chai<span style="font-size: small;">r<span style="font-size: small;"> - <span style="font-size: small;">arro<span style="font-size: small;">gantly and unaffected</span></span>. <span style="font-size: small;">Spouting lies<span style="font-size: small;"> and e<span style="font-size: small;">xpecting us to believe them.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Hill was <span style="font-size: small;">Cha<span style="font-size: small;">irman <span style="font-size: small;">back in 201<span style="font-size: small;">2 <span style="font-size: small;">when he</span></span> led the charge to fire Supt. Tony Tata. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Hill came up with <span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/wake-county-school-board-chairman-kevin-hill-talks-about-the-firing-of-superintendent-tony-ta" target="_blank">numerous unsubsta</a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/wake-county-school-board-chairman-kevin-hill-talks-about-the-firing-of-superintendent-tony-ta" target="_blank">ntiated </a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/wake-county-school-board-chairman-kevin-hill-talks-about-the-firing-of-superintendent-tony-ta" target="_blank">ex</a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/wake-county-school-board-chairman-kevin-hill-talks-about-the-firing-of-superintendent-tony-ta" target="_blank">cuses</a> when Tata was let go without cause. But, we all know Hil<span style="font-size: small;">l<span style="font-size: small;">'s a liar and Tata<span style="font-size: small;">'s firing was the <span style="font-size: small;">most <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/09/28/2375935/drescher-partisan-politics-and.html" target="_blank">partisan move</a> in WCPSS<span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">My <a href="http://my-3-minutes.blogspot.com/2013/03/blind-stupidity.html" target="_blank">last public info</a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://my-3-minutes.blogspot.com/2013/03/blind-stupidity.html" target="_blank">rmation request</a> - the one <span style="font-size: small;">which has numerous emails <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">from Hill</span><span style="font-size: small;"> BCC<span style="font-size: small;">'d <span style="font-size: small;">to members of GSIW<span style="font-size: small;"> - <span style="font-size: small;">also contained an interesting email from Hill to Tata.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0I5jexmA4Dv6OAIKNCLLcpwRUW77urEOLL5I-A_vcLcJ_rf7K85XAxrfsgyMGGE6ODqacfmTOernGw_ZgygZqhLwFAK-fPsJ5g8zBQGhfvN2pBL3bIFLIhACk-qHAJRh-GejBB4vF_To/s1600/tempimg191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn0I5jexmA4Dv6OAIKNCLLcpwRUW77urEOLL5I-A_vcLcJ_rf7K85XAxrfsgyMGGE6ODqacfmTOernGw_ZgygZqhLwFAK-fPsJ5g8zBQGhfvN2pBL3bIFLIhACk-qHAJRh-GejBB4vF_To/s1600/tempimg191.jpg" height="640" width="492" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">In this emai<span style="font-size: small;">l,</span> Hill<span style="font-size: small;"> thanks Tata for "your lette<span style="font-size: small;">r" and the<span style="font-size: small;">n<span style="font-size: small;"> proceeds to seemingly <span style="font-size: small;">clarify</span> <span style="font-size: small;">his <span style="font-size: small;">opinions</span> on Ta<span style="font-size: small;">ta's military <span style="font-size: small;">background.<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">This email <span style="font-size: small;">strongly suggests</span> t<span style="font-size: small;">hat</span> Hill criti<span style="font-size: small;">cized<span style="font-size: small;"> Tata's military background<span style="font-size: small;"> a<span style="font-size: small;">nd service to our country. So much so that Tata felt it necessary to <span style="font-size: small;">write a<span style="font-size: small;"> letter to</span></span> Hill<span style="font-size: small;">. Could <span style="font-size: small;">Tat<span style="font-size: small;">a's years of service to our country be the reason he <span style="font-size: small;">was fired?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I asked for a copy of that letter from WCPSS. I was tol<span style="font-size: small;">d<span style="font-size: small;">: "<i>Mr. Hill did not keep a copy</i>".</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">That's it<span style="font-size: small;">. Plain and simple<span style="font-size: small;"> -<span style="font-size: small;">- he doesn't <span style="font-size: small;">have it. No concern <span style="font-size: small;">that this is a public document and falls <span style="font-size: small;">with the General As<span style="font-size: small;">sembly's definition of <span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_132/GS_132-1.html" target="_blank">"public re</a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_132/GS_132-1.html" target="_blank">co</a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_132/GS_132-1.html" target="_blank">rd</a>". N<span style="font-size: small;">o c<span style="font-size: small;">oncern for the contents of this letter and <span style="font-size: small;">the possible exposure of why Tata was really fired by <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/113996879419219284804/albums/5793681992773967521/5793988236093862258" target="_blank">Hill</a>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/113996879419219284804/albums/5793681992773967521/5793988271934795090" target="_blank">Sutton</a>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/113996879419219284804/albums/5793681992773967521/5793988281024255826" target="_blank">Evans</a>, <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/113996879419219284804/albums/5793681992773967521/5793988257587923954" target="_blank">Martin</a> and <a href="https://plus.google.com/photos/113996879419219284804/albums/5793681992773967521/5793988278557667602" target="_blank">Kushner</a>. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">All Hill had to do was say "I don't have it" and we're all supposed to move along. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Like I sa<span style="font-size: small;">id, smart guy.</span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> Allison Backhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458154818562645156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611233681777244306.post-23420335384842761872013-03-24T15:35:00.001-07:002013-03-26T16:35:06.779-07:00Blind stupidity<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I just received some emails from a public information request. If you didn't know, you can ask for emails <span style="font-size: small;">sent by</span> Board members as they are all public record. The problem, however, is that it takes months to receive them and, by then, the issue you are trying to address has faded away or changed altogether.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This last request, however, was well worth the wait.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The first 2 emails in my request were from Kevin Hill - dated Dec. 2011 - just before he was elected as Board chair while Margiotta was still in office as Chairman of the Board.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">What was shocking about these emails is that they are not only blindcopied to Susan Evans, Christine Kushner and Jim Martin (who had been elected but had not taken office yet - and were active members/leaders in GSIW) but the BCC also includes <a href="http://www.wakecommunity.blogspot.com/2012/11/random-chaos-sampling.html" target="_blank">Yevonne Brannon</a> - the de facto leader of Great Schools in Wake (GSIW). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Now, why would the leaders of GSIW be secretly copied in <u>any</u> email to other Board members and the superintendent?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We all knew that the new majority quietly and illegally collaborated behind the
scenes - counting their votes for a new chair and new vice-chair upon
their swearing-in back in 2011. What we couldn't confirm was that that leaders of GSIW have been intimately and inappropriately involved in these decisions all along.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzreEdaXHv8Yy9-hoKeC4v08cRVb61fs-R31YFgQQ4BM_75DsbGcQAPkZGPK816NGK0JcA9xDqvHXD2zIuSysffPf_1RE4QLNV3CGytzbLf8KB41_TA4AgBBosIXQvrD5Capk3PWHbnA/s1600/bcc2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizzreEdaXHv8Yy9-hoKeC4v08cRVb61fs-R31YFgQQ4BM_75DsbGcQAPkZGPK816NGK0JcA9xDqvHXD2zIuSysffPf_1RE4QLNV3CGytzbLf8KB41_TA4AgBBosIXQvrD5Capk3PWHbnA/s200/bcc2.jpg" height="320" width="245" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZq-IObXNeMwbB9DGtfNxvG_O5ZC8l38uTLi8MkCd3xDrwBtHbDEZPu7RcS091irHD71fqGHM1NAcp0FYPOAj0jTdxVnexIntOSr06SiwcqGG0GTXg9R9rds1lKZxqH7jAqxc05xZTRoE/s1600/bcc1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZq-IObXNeMwbB9DGtfNxvG_O5ZC8l38uTLi8MkCd3xDrwBtHbDEZPu7RcS091irHD71fqGHM1NAcp0FYPOAj0jTdxVnexIntOSr06SiwcqGG0GTXg9R9rds1lKZxqH7jAqxc05xZTRoE/s200/bcc1.jpg" height="320" width="242" /></a>Now remember... the Wake County Taxpayer's Association (WCTA) <a href="http://my-3-minutes.blogspot.com/2012/10/what-goes-around-comes-around.html" target="_blank">accused</a> Hill and the Board majority of being directed and heavily influenced by GSIW in their <a href="http://www.wral.com/asset/news/education/wake_county_schools/2012/09/20/11571785/complaint.pdf" target="_blank">complaint to AdvancED</a>. WCPSS's <a href="http://my-3-minutes.blogspot.com/2012/12/happy-holidays-you-dont-matter.html" target="_blank">response</a> flatly denied this.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And yet we now have evidence (see emails to the left) that Hill has been purposefully yet secretly copying in leaders of GSIW in emails sent to Board Members and to then-Supt. Tata.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Further, many of the emails Hill sent over the past few years are BCC'd to his own personal email. Hmmm..? It seems, at some point, Hill smartened up and chose to forward the information to GSIW from his private email rather than a capturable blind copy. Where did he send them from there? That information was not provided in my request but I'm sure I could guess correctly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So, what have we learned here?</span><br />
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</ol>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">1. </span>Hill is a liar. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">2. </span>GSIW are liars.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">3. </span>GSIW is actively involved in decisions affecting your family - and that should be of great concern to you.</span></span><br />
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</span></span></ol>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">4. </span>The only thing wrong in the WCTA complaint to AdvancED is that they didn't implicate Kevin Hill as yet another GSIW collaborator.</span></span><br />
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</span></span></ol>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">5. </span>If Hill is BCC'ing emails to GSIW, Evans, Kushner & Martin are too.</span></span><br />
<ol style="list-style-position: inside;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span></ol>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">6. </span>All decisions from the Democrats on this School Board - including the firing of Supt. Tata - have been political. The liberals <span style="font-size: small;">of <span style="font-size: small;">Wake County </span></span>say when and these Board members <a href="http://my-3-minutes.blogspot.com/2012/09/power-corruption-lies.html" target="_blank">jump</a> at the chance to pleas<span style="font-size: small;">e<span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">7. You should <a href="https://www.wcpss.net/about-us/our-leadership/board-of-education/bios.html" target="_blank">write the Board</a><span style="font-size: small;"> with your concerns.</span> </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">GSIW is now <a href="http://www.icontact-archive.com/PX0U1-9kSYNda3mhP_nFSVu44ce7t97G?w=3" target="_blank">attacking</a> the General Assembly and bills <a href="http://www.ncleg.net/Sessions/2013/Bills/Senate/PDF/S325v1.pdf" target="_blank">S325</a> and <a href="http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/Sessions/2013/Bills/Senate/PDF/S236v1.pdf" target="_blank">S236 </a>- which would change School Board elections and oversight for school construction. But, don't be fooled. They don't care how these bills affect education. They are throwing their <a href="http://www.wral.com/news/education/story/7999211/" target="_blank">predictable tantrums </a>and making noise because, with the Republicans in control, they are slowly losing their stranglehold on Wake County. </span><br />
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<ol style="list-style-position: inside;">
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>**As a side note, none of my other public information requests have ever shown BCCs. But, after receiving many email requests that contained threads of emails that did not have any WCPSS email attached, I wondered if BCCs were involved. Lo and behold, if you specifically ask for BCCs, they will be revealed.</i></span><br />
<br />Allison Backhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458154818562645156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611233681777244306.post-64472762919408104792012-12-22T15:40:00.002-08:002012-12-22T15:40:49.465-08:00Happy Holidays! You don't matter.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">WCPSS just responded in writing to <span style="font-size: small;">a </span>complaint filed with AdvancED - th<span style="font-size: small;">e organization that accredits our high schools. In th<span style="font-size: small;">e</span> <a href="http://my-3-minutes.blogspot.com/2012/10/what-goes-around-comes-around.html" target="_blank">original complaint</a>, the <span style="font-size: small;">Wake County <span style="font-size: small;">Taxpayer<span style="font-size: small;">s' Assoc<span style="font-size: small;">iation <span style="font-size: small;">assert<span style="font-size: small;">ed</span> <span style="font-size: small;">that the<span style="font-size: small;"> liberal group Great Schools in Wake (GSIW) is <span style="font-size: small;">basically pulling t<span style="font-size: small;">he strings on the School Board. <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">C<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">ons<span style="font-size: small;">ider<span style="font-size: small;">ing 3 of our curr<span style="font-size: small;">ent Board members are members of GSIW<span style="font-size: small;">, it's <span style="font-size: small;">n</span></span>ot really a hard puzzle to put together.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">GSIW </span>wanted to <span style="font-size: small;">end the choice plan. Done. <span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">GSIW wanted to go back to base assignments<span style="font-size: small;">. Done.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">GSIW hated Tata <span style="font-size: small;">and wanted hi<span style="font-size: small;">m fired. Done.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">GSIW wants <span style="font-size: small;">diver<span style="font-size: small;">sity quotas in assignment. C<span style="font-size: small;">oming in the 2014-15 assignment plan.</span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Not surprisingly, </span>WCPSS claims in <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/content/media/2012/12/18/Response%20to%20WCTA%20Complaint%20to%20AdvancED%20%28FINAL%29%20%28R0874138-2%29.pdf" target="_blank">their response</a></span></span> that the Choice plan was not dropped due to <span style="font-size: small;">"extreme influence" from GSIW but due to the </span>"...many complaints they received from constituents...".<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">That's q</span></span>uite an ironic statement since <span style="font-size: small;">the overwhelming majority of peop<span style="font-size: small;">le who <a href="http://my-3-minutes.blogspot.com/2012/02/clueless.html" target="_blank">spoke out against the Cho</a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://my-3-minutes.blogspot.com/2012/02/clueless.html" target="_blank">ice plan</a> wanted MORE choice and <span style="font-size: small;">better defined neighborhood school<span style="font-size: small;">s. Instead, the Dems on the school board <span style="font-size: small;">voted to end choice and move backwards for a "do over" of past assignment plans. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, <span style="font-size: small;">did the Democrats on the School Board really vo<span style="font-size: small;">te to drop the <span style="font-size: small;">Choice plan because people complaine<span style="font-size: small;">d? C'mon<span style="font-size: small;">.<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">P</span>arents complained for years under the old assignment plan about reassignme<span style="font-size: small;">nt<span style="font-size: small;">, lack of stability<span style="font-size: small;">, od<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">i</span>ous options<span style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span></span>mandatory year-<span style="font-size: small;">r</span>ound<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">to no av<span style="font-size: small;">ail</span></span>. </span>Maybe it's who you are <span style="font-size: small;"></span>- not what you're complaining about. Or maybe the Democrat<span style="font-size: small;">s</span> on the School Board <span style="font-size: small;">don't give a damn a<span style="font-size: small;">bout</span> what parents want - just w<span style="font-size: small;">hat they (and GSIW) want.<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Take<span style="font-size: small;">, for inst<span style="font-size: small;">ance, a reply from Kevin Hill<span style="font-size: small;"> - who was <span style="font-size: small;">the <span style="font-size: small;">Bo<span style="font-size: small;">ard Chair <span style="font-size: small;">that </span>led the <span style="font-size: small;">charge to fire Supt. Tata<span style="font-size: small;"> without ca<span style="font-size: small;">use. <span style="font-size: small;">In an email reply to a con<span style="font-size: small;">stituent<span style="font-size: small;"> in regards to <span style="font-size: small;">Tata's<span style="font-size: small;"> firing, Hill <span style="font-size: small;">said</span>:</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">"</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">My main and overarching concern
is the institutional culture of the<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>WCPSS.. I have 30+<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>years being part of that culture and I cannot
let it erode further."</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">P<span style="font-size: small;">rotecting the ins<span style="font-size: small;">t<span style="font-size: small;">itutional cult<span style="font-size: small;">ure of WCPSS? I thought <span style="font-size: small;">Hill</span> was elected to serve the people of Wake County<span style="font-size: small;"> -- <span style="font-size: small;">t</span>o listen to the people; to represent the<span style="font-size: small;"> people - not the school system.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Add this to <a href="http://my-3-minutes.blogspot.com/2012/06/and-now-for-something-really-scary.html" target="_blank">Hill'</a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://my-3-minutes.blogspot.com/2012/06/and-now-for-something-really-scary.html" target="_blank">s email</a> in which he calls parents selfish and arrogant, and it's</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i> </i><span style="font-size: small;">very clear<span style="font-size: small;"> th<span style="font-size: small;">at you </span>don't matter <span style="font-size: small;">- </span>you never did and you never will. <span style="font-size: small;">Hill<span style="font-size: small;">'s head is buried in 30+ years of <span style="font-size: small;">a culture that treats par<span style="font-size: small;">ents like the enemy and our children <span style="font-size: small;">as pawn<span style="font-size: small;">s <span style="font-size: small;">in a sc<span style="font-size: small;">ience experiment gone wron<span style="font-size: small;">g. And he is making <span style="font-size: small;">policy decisions to protect that culture<span style="font-size: small;"> - with<span style="font-size: small;"> complete dis<span style="font-size: small;">regard for what parents w<span style="font-size: small;">ant.<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">That m<span style="font-size: small;">akes GSIW very, very happy.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">But let's not stop there. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />Back in April 2012, Jim Martin sent an email to all Board members discussing the parent survey about the Choice plan. (Yes, there was supposed to be a survey.) Once again, in true fashion, Kevin Hill replied - but only to Martin:<br /></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">To: James Martin/Superintendent/WCPSS@Staff</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">From: Kevin Hill/Superintendent/WCPSS<br />Date: 04/30/2012 03:08PM<br /><br />Subject: Re: Assignment Plan Survey<br /> <br />Jim,<br /> <br />I do not believe we need to survey parents at this time . . . . We can talk.<br /> <br />Kevin L. Hill, Chairman<br />Wake County Board of Education<br />District 3<br />Email: KLHill@wcpss.net<br />Vmail: 919.850.8867<br />Fax: 919.841.4377 </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"We can talk" <span style="font-size: small;">for Kevin Hill is code for "Quit sending me stuff i<span style="font-size: small;">n<span style="font-size: small;"> writin<span style="font-size: small;">g. Let's just <span style="font-size: small;">deal with this privately." </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>Martin concurred<span style="font-size: small;"> and Hill <span style="font-size: small;">sent back this wa<span style="font-size: small;">rning in his repl<span style="font-size: small;">y:</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">From: "Kevin Hill" <klhill@wcpss.net><br />To: "James Martin" <jmartin4@wcpss.net><br />Date: 5/1/2012 8:36:47 AM<br />Subject: Re: Assignment Plan Survey</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: red;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />At this point, I believe the oft repeated phrase "Just say no," would be appropriate. We will waste money and the 95% (?)<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>who did not participate will say they love the plan. The survey would simply become a self-fulfilling prophecy.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: red;"><br />Kevin L. Hill, Chairman<br />Wake County Board of Education<br />District 3<br />Email: KLHill@wcpss.net<br />Vmail: 919.850.8867<br />Fax: 919.841.4377</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: #a64d79;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">T<span style="font-size: small;">he Board <span style="font-size: small;">Chair was so convinced that parents would say "they love the plan" that he refused to <span style="font-size: small;">survey them. <span style="font-size: small;">That's right<span style="font-size: small;">. He r<span style="font-size: small;">e<span style="font-size: small;">fu<span style="font-size: small;">sed to ask <span style="font-size: small;">parents of Wake County about the Choice plan because he already <span style="font-size: small;">k<span style="font-size: small;">new <span style="font-size: small;">the answer - and he didn't like<span style="font-size: small;"> it.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Now, go back to the beginning of this post - where the Board majority tries to convince the public that the Choice plan was dropped d<span style="font-size: small;">ue to compla<span style="font-size: small;">int<span style="font-size: small;">s from parents and <span style="font-size: small;">GSIW has no infl<span style="font-size: small;">uence on their decision</span></span>. <span style="font-size: small;">It's getting harder to believe, isn't it?</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Bottom line - <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">the Democrats on th<span style="font-size: small;">e <span style="font-size: small;">School Board believe</span></span> your opinion </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">about <span style="font-size: small;">choice,<span style="font-size: small;"> stability and the school assignment <span style="font-size: small;">for your child i</span>s <u>irrelevant</u>. </span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">But, <span style="font-size: small;">you've already learned that<span style="font-size: small;">.<span style="font-size: small;"> I hope.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <br />
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<br />Allison Backhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458154818562645156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611233681777244306.post-40981890930885264182012-12-01T08:47:00.000-08:002012-12-02T05:39:01.378-08:00You reap what you sow.<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Lie<span style="font-size: small;">s? Check.</span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Name-callin<span style="font-size: small;">g? Check.</span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Threat<span style="font-size: small;">s? Check.</span> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And now you <span style="font-size: small;">can </span>add assault<span style="font-size: small;"> to the l<span style="font-size: small;">ist.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">S</span>adly, I'm talking about our School Board.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">At last week's p<span style="font-size: small;">ublic hearin<span style="font-size: small;">g, <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sc<span style="font-size: small;">hool Board rep <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeJB2U7-pNU" target="_blank">Susan Evan</a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeJB2U7-pNU" target="_blank">s</a> </span>thought<span style="font-size: small;"> s<span style="font-size: small;">he <span style="font-size: small;">had been<span style="font-size: small;"> d<span style="font-size: small;">e<span style="font-size: small;">putized <span style="font-size: small;">to be in charge<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">. <span style="font-size: small;">After the meeting had finished, parents <span style="font-size: small;">hung around, </span>very <span style="font-size: small;">dismayed by the lack of response to their <span style="font-size: small;">co<span style="font-size: small;">ncerns,</span> and began yelling out questions.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Scho<span style="font-size: small;">ol Board rep Keith Sutton<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>- who was<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>running the meeting because our real Chair<span style="font-size: small;">, Kevi<span style="font-size: small;">n Hill, apparently couldn't be bothered to attend<span style="font-size: small;"> - <span style="font-size: small;">chose to answer these questions<span style="font-size: small;">, sorta. <span style="font-size: small;">U</span></span>sing the microphone from the stage<span style="font-size: small;">, he <span style="font-size: small;">def<span style="font-size: small;">erred and deflected -- </span></span></span>rather than act <span style="font-size: small;">like</span> a normal person and<span style="font-size: small;"> <span style="font-size: small;">walk down to speak with parents <span style="font-size: small;">personal<span style="font-size: small;">ly. After all, th<span style="font-size: small;">e formal he<span style="font-size: small;">arin<span style="font-size: small;">g</span> was over.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">(O<span style="font-size: small;">n a <span style="font-size: small;">side note, <span style="font-size: small;">Chair </span>Hill doesn't like parents <span style="font-size: small;">- at all - </span>and believes our demands are sel<span style="font-size: small;">fi<span style="font-size: small;">sh so maybe it's best he wasn't there. Read this <a href="http://my-3-minutes.blogspot.com/2012/06/and-now-for-something-really-scary.html" target="_blank">blo</a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://my-3-minutes.blogspot.com/2012/06/and-now-for-something-really-scary.html" target="_blank">g post</a> for a little insight<span style="font-size: small;"> to his <span style="font-size: small;">hatred.)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Anyway -- Sutton did <span style="font-size: small;">nothing </span>to control the situation or to appease the masses and<span style="font-size: small;">, as such, Susan Evans <span style="font-size: small;">saw her oppor<span style="font-size: small;">tunity<span style="font-size: small;">. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">As <span style="font-size: small;">Evans</span> doesn't have an ounce of compassion nor any un<span style="font-size: small;">dersta<span style="font-size: small;">nd<span style="font-size: small;">i</span>ng of the very personal <span style="font-size: small;">emotion of <span style="font-size: small;">watching your children get for<span style="font-size: small;">c<span style="font-size: small;">ibly reassig<span style="font-size: small;">ned (Evans' childr<span style="font-size: small;">en had long-term stable assignments in the magnet system</span>)</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">, <span style="font-size: small;">she cho<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">se</span> <span style="font-size: small;">to argue with the parents in<span style="font-size: small;"> the crow<span style="font-size: small;">d and explain how wrong they <span style="font-size: small;">were. She p<span style="font-size: small;">laced the blame of their impending reassignment on staff and the student assignment team<span style="font-size: small;"> - even thoug<span style="font-size: small;">h</span> <a href="http://www.wcpss.net/about-us/our-leadership/board-of-education/resolutions/board-directive_student-assign--06-20-2012.pdf" target="_blank">th</a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.wcpss.net/about-us/our-leadership/board-of-education/resolutions/board-directive_student-assign--06-20-2012.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">is</span> directiv</a><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.wcpss.net/about-us/our-leadership/board-of-education/resolutions/board-directive_student-assign--06-20-2012.pdf" target="_blank">e</a> from the B<span style="font-size: small;">oard <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">- which Evans <span style="font-size: small;">supported - </span>is the <u><i>only</i></u> reason parents are facing reassignment.</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">During this back and forth, as he certainly can'<span style="font-size: small;">t<span style="font-size: small;"> be outdone, <span style="font-size: small;">Jim<span style="font-size: small;"> Martin chimed <span style="font-size: small;">in with some mindless "I pr<span style="font-size: small;">omise to listen" <span style="font-size: small;">drivel<span style="font-size: small;">.<span style="font-size: small;"> Surprisingly<span style="font-size: small;">, he didn't mention he has a PhD.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Scho<span style="font-size: small;">ol Board rep Deborah </span>Prickett then took her turn with the micr<span style="font-size: small;">ophone <span style="font-size: small;">- asking parents about their level of cont<span style="font-size: small;">ent with the old Choice Plan. <span style="font-size: small;">As the families in the audience were <span style="font-size: small;">facing reas<span style="font-size: small;">signment as a direct result of the Democrat's decisio<span style="font-size: small;">n to </span>abandon the Cho<span style="font-size: small;">ice Plan</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">, it was a very fair and appropriate question. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Not according to Susan Evans.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Evans proceeded to manhandle Prickett, wrestled the microphone out of her hand mid-sentence, and declared:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"This is not appropriate. This is not the purpose of the meeting."</span></i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I'm pretty sure it was <u>very</u> appropriate and <u>very</u> relevant to the meeting. Those parents in the audience took time to express their concerns about the education of their children and the impact of reassignment on their family yet Evans didn't think talking about it was appropriate?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Evans - who protested arm in arm with the NAACP and GSIW prior to her election - obviously has different definitions of what is appropriate - depending on who you are.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Evans can be seen in <a href="http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=7499944" target="_blank">this video</a> disrupting a public School Board meeting in 2010. (Watch for the green shirt/black sweater.) She is clapping in the background after her friends crossed School Board security lines, resulting in their arrests.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">That sort of behavior is apparently appropriate in the Book of Ethics by Susan Evans. But not speaking to parents at a public hearing?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Now, it's one thing to urge on your friends in their acts of civil disobedience but it is something completely different when you physically put your hands on someone. (Sounds like a Kindergarten speech.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You would hope this would be common sense to an adult. Apparently not. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Not only did Evans display childish and bullying behavior in her physical attack on Deborah Prickett, she managed to violate <a href="http://www.wcpss.net/policy-files/series/policies/6414-bp.html" target="_blank">Board Policy </a>about Harassment/Bullying. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But, does anyone care? What does Supt. Gainey have to say about the Board's behavior? What about Chair Hill? Will he continue to ignore the abhorrent behavior or will complaints be filed against Evans?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Evans' actions have clearly created a very hostile work environment for her fellow Board members. (What's next? A punch in the gut? Keith Sutton - possibly our next Board Chair - has already <a href="http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/keith-sutton-expected-to-be-elected-wake-county-school-board-chairman-on-tuesday" target="_blank">threatened to kick everyone's asses</a>.) Evans, however, has also managed to create a fear among her constituents about being in disagreement while in her presence - an obviously dangerous combination.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So, do we, as parents and taxpayers, just continue to sit back and watch? If we continue to ignore the actions and decisions of this School Board, we will reap what we sow. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">You and your family just might be next. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>Allison Backhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458154818562645156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611233681777244306.post-16799691441053961772012-11-11T16:50:00.001-08:002012-11-11T17:05:11.888-08:00Your future is your past<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Have you seen your <a href="http://www.wcpss.net/about-us/our-leadership/board-of-education/work-session-materials/11-13-2012--work-session/presentation-of-the-administrations-proposed-2013-2014-school-assignment-plan-back-up-material.pdf" target="_blank">future</a>?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">WCPSS has posted the recommendations for the <span style="color: red;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://www.wcpss.net/about-us/our-leadership/board-of-education/work-session-materials/11-13-2012--work-session/presentation-of-the-administrations-proposed-2013-2014-school-assignment-plan-back-up-material.pdf" target="_blank">"bridge" plan for 2013-14</a></span></span>. And it provides some very good insight into what is coming down the pike with the <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/10/16/2416265/wake-could-adopt-assignment-plan.html" target="_blank">BIG reassignment plan</a> in 2014-15. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If you didn't know already, the new Board majority voted to move back to base assignments - which caused great disruption and upheaval to our children and families for the past decade - rather than continue with the Choice Plan, which promoted proximity and promised stability. And, yes, nodes are back too.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In a quick reading, here are some things we all should be concerned about:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">1. Anyone can choose to move back to their base assignment based on their 2011 node assignment. Or can they? In the proposal, it states:</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> "<i>Students participating in the Base Declaration will have a <u>guaranteed</u> seat at their base school for the new school year</i>."</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Sounds great! But, wait...there's more. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"<i>Unless the school becomes fully capped based on numbers requesting to return to their base school.</i>" Huh? That's a guarantee? Some will get their base assignment; some will not. How is that any different than not receiving your first choice, which the <a href="http://www.travislongphoto.com/2011/02/07/school-board-in-turmoil/candlelight1-ne-032210-tel/" target="_blank">anti-Tata's</a> so whined about as a problem with the choice plan?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">2. This proposal includes a stay-where-you-start policy. The Dem majority on the Board have touted the implementation of this sort of policy in their push back to base assignments. In his <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/10/08/2399567/kevin-l-hill-collaboration-is.html" target="_blank">editorial rant</a>, Kevin Hill referred to this new policy as a way to provide stability. Well, what he didn't say is that this Board's version of stability will not, in most cases, come with bus transportation. Read it and weep.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">3. Those who participated in the Choice Plan last year are now being told that their promised feeder patterns "<i>...will be honored, to the extent possible</i>." Doesn't sound promising, does it? And, once again, your choice to maintain that feeder pattern may not come with transportation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Keep in mind -- this is just the beginning. This proposal mostly addresses the opening of a few new schools. Next year, the Board will address what they have coined as <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/10/30/2450653/wake-staff-urging-few-reassignments.html" target="_blank">"hot spots"</a> across the county - and more than likely use the same guidelines as listed in this proposal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">No bus, no choice, no stability, and no recourse. Welcome back to 2008.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>Allison Backhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458154818562645156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611233681777244306.post-16540639377964165932012-10-14T07:02:00.001-07:002012-10-14T07:02:49.850-07:00What goes around, comes around<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Back in January of this year, I wrote a <a href="http://my-3-minutes.blogspot.com/2012/01/throwing-stones.html" target="_blank">blog p<span style="font-size: small;">ost</span></a> about the AdvancED complaint filed by the NAACP. <span style="font-size: small;">(R<span style="font-size: small;">ead it first - if you haven't already. It will help with the history.)</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">While I stand by my claim that their complaint was ridiculous, I had to chuckle when I read that the W<span style="font-size: small;">ake </span>County Taxpayers Association (<a href="http://www.wcta.org/" target="_blank">WCTA</a>) ha<span style="font-size: small;">s</span> filed a complaint against the new Board majority.</span> Now, I don't find it funny as it relates to our school system (although, accreditation is just a public perception thing, if you ask me), but it is extremely ironic<span style="font-size: small;">. O<span style="font-size: small;">r is <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">this <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karma" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: small;">K</span>arma</a>?</span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Democrats of Wake County - namely <a href="http://wakeupwakecounty.com/cms/greatschools" target="_blank">Great Schools in Wake</a> - <span style="font-size: small;">have </span>taught others how to fight dirty and now their tactics are being used against them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">But, the <a href="http://www.wral.com/asset/news/education/wake_county_schools/2012/09/20/11571785/complaint.pdf" target="_blank">WCTA complaint</a> against the new Board is no joke. Unlike the NAACP, WCTA has their facts (and act) together. Each complaint listed is supported by documentation - whether a media article or a WCPSS document or email. They lay out a concise trail of breadcrumbs for AdvancEd on some serious issues of "<i>...poor governance, inept and irresponsible leadership and lack of transparency and direction</i>", as the complaint states. And this is before the 5-4 partisan vote to fire Supt. Tata!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So, where is the outrage over this? After the NAACP filed their complaint, <a href="http://www.travislongphoto.com/2011/02/07/school-board-in-turmoil/candlelight1-ne-032210-tel/" target="_blank">Yevonne Brannon</a> and her<a href="http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/wake-county-school-board-member-debra-goldman-blaming-gsiw-for-firing-of-superintendent-tony-" target="_blank"> GSIW fringe group</a> were shouting from the rooftops. In October 2010, Brannon and <a href="http://wakeupwakecounty.com/cms/sites/default/files/1-10-12_P__Williams.pdf" target="_blank">Patty Williams</a> issued the <a href="http://www.wakeupwakecounty.org/cms/sites/default/files/image/10-04-10_Great_Schools_Press_Release_FINAL.pdf" target="_blank">following statement</a>:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>“By acting with impunity in moving forward with a massive student reassignment plan,</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>the Board majority has caused the public to lose confidence in and question their ability</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>to govern responsibly. Even citizens who voted for majority members are saying, ‘This is not what I voted for.’”</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Sounds familiar, doesn't it? Here's what Brannon <a href="http://www.wral.com/news/education/wake_county_schools/story/8927198/" target="_blank">said</a> in January 2011:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span lang="EN" style="letter-spacing: 0.1pt;">“This
majority repeatedly claims to care about the wellbeing of students,
yet, when the going gets tough, they put their own self-interests ahead
of those of our children<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">. </span></span>Once again, they are rushing to judgment without regard for how
their decisions will impact the reputation of our award-winning school
system.”</span> </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Wow. Are Brannon's words coming back to haunt her?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">After witnessing the haphazard leadership and partisan actions and decisions of this Board majority, her statement is quite prophetic. And yet GSIW remains silent. And we're to believe that it's not about politics? Yeah, right.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">In the last <a href="http://www.wcpss.net/news/2012_jan26_accreditation/advancEDnov11.pdf" target="_blank">monitoring report</a> from <a href="http://www.advanc-ed.org/" target="_blank">AdvancED</a>, the <i><u>only</u></i> praise given was to Superintendent Tata. The AdvancED team acknowledged Tata's leadership and commitment:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>"...but the Board has begun moving in the right direction with the Superintendent being a stabilizing force."</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i>"A common theme during interviews was the significance of the Superintendents’ influence on the direction of the system in providing governance and leadership focused on student learning and system effectiveness. Described as a “calmer” Board, stakeholders attributed this change unequivocally to the Superintendent’s leadership."</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So, how is it that the only person in WCPSS leadership who was recognized by AdvancED - </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">a firm that is "</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">dedicated to advancing excellence in education"- </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">was summarily fired? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The Board was scheduled to <a href="http://www.wral.com/wake-schools-face-accreditation-deadline/11657699/" target="_blank">submit</a> a progress report to AdvancED by November 1st even prior to the new WCTA complaint. Now, they have the onus of <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/109870839/Advanced-Ed-Letter-Oct-2012" target="_blank">responding to the new complaint</a> as well. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Considering Supt. Tata was fired without cause with a 5-4 vote, you must wonder if AdvancED will believe the <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/10/05/2392782/kevin-hill-says-tony-tatas-leadership.html" target="_blank">continued lie</a> from the Board majority - that his firing was not political and not personal?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Let's hope not.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span>Allison Backhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458154818562645156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611233681777244306.post-49548589198883015122012-09-23T06:24:00.001-07:002012-09-23T06:24:07.360-07:00Power, Corruption & Lies<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">C'mon... Do we really believe that Board members Susan Evans, Christine Kushner & Jim Martin aren't secretly involved with the partisan and very hateful group, Great Schools in Wake? You'd be foolish to believe otherwise. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Back in May, I wrote this <a href="http://my-3-minutes.blogspot.com/2012/05/ethics-schmethics.html" target="_blank">blog post</a>. Members of GSIW were somehow completely aware of what was going to happen during the Board meeting in June the following month. How? Because they were orchestrating it thru their members - Evans, Kushner & Martin. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">GSIW "suggested" in their email for a push to create a directive for a new student assignment plan. Voila!...the Board majority had a <a href="http://www.wcpss.net/Board/resolutions/board-directive_student-assign--06-20-2012.pdf" target="_blank">new directive</a> prepared and ready to approve for the June meeting. Coincidence? I think not. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">(BTW -- here's a <a href="http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/great-schools-in-wake-coalition/Content?oid=2743754" target="_blank">photo </a>of GSIW and their "diverse" group. Notice in the article that Board member Susan Evans is referred to as a "coalition leader" - even though she continues to deny involvement with this group. Evans also placed a GSIW leader to chair her Board Advisory Committee. Does she really think we're that stupid or is she just that arrogant?)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The WakeEd blog had a <a href="http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/yevonne-brannon-saying-wake-county-superintendent-tony-tata-has-lost-publics-trust" target="_blank">post</a> recently about Yevonne Brannon, the leader of GSIW, containing another email sent to her group. Her email blathers on and on with praise for her friends/members on the School Board yet berates Supt. Tata at every opportunity. Since then, this small group of crazy women (honestly, have you heard them before?) have organized their comments at every School Board meeting to bash and blame Tata.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">So, is it really surprising to anyone that Chair Hill and Vice-Chair Sutton have now scheduled a <a href="http://www.wcpss.net/perl/publish/webevent.cgi?cmd=showevent&ncmd=calweek&cal=cal2&id=55856&ncals=&de=1&tf=0&sib=1&sb=0&sa=0&ws=0&stz=Default&sort=e,m,t&cat=&swe=1&cf=cal&set=1&m=09&d=23&y=2012" target="_blank">closed session</a> meeting to discuss "personnel matters" on Monday? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Are they firing Tata? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Yevonne and her GSIW biddies have ordered it -- therefore, Evans, Kushner & Martin must make it so. That's how the School Board rolls these days.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Add to this all the push-pull of student assignment (which GSIW is <a href="http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/yevonne-brannon-telling-gsiw-members-they-cant-back-down-now-on-student-assignment-plan" target="_blank">intimately involved</a> with too) and you, as a parent in Wake County, are losing every chance of being heard. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Your School Board is being controlled by a small fringe group who don't have to follow rules or ethics policies. They just make a demand -- and the Democrats on the Board respond.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The days of parents being recognized in WCPSS are slowly slipping away. Choice is being shown the door and stability will soon be a memory. To put a nail in the coffin, Board member Susan Evans, has already <a href="http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/wake-county-school-board-on-assigning-students-in-their-best-interests" target="_blank">stated</a>:</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">"<i>...we have the opportunity through assignment to assign kids wherever we feel like is in their best interests.</i>"</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Apparently, that's what GSIW wants -- because that's certainly not what the parents of Wake County have been fighting for over the years.</span><br />
<div style="color: black; font: 10pt sans-serif; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-transform: none; width: 1px;">
<br />Read
more here:
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/wake-county-school-board-on-assigning-students-in-their-best-interests#storylink=cpy</div>
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Allison Backhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458154818562645156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611233681777244306.post-12761504051604734552012-08-04T16:25:00.001-07:002012-08-07T16:24:23.550-07:00Out of focusLet me start out by saying that I believe assignment - and how students are assigned - should have nothing to do with achievement. For decades, the solution to addressing student achievement in WCPSS was always to fall back on student assignment. If a school wasn't performing, students were moved to other schools to make the school "healthy" once again. That solution didn't actually do anything positive to the education of those who were moved - you simply can't make a child smarter or perform better just by reassigning them. But, it made some people feel good. Really good. It was a cheap, feel-good way to perpetuate the awards for diversity and the perception of "no bad schools". It also, however, created much unnecessary instability, did nothing to improve achievement and ticked off many parents royally.<br />
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WCPSS was on its way to untangling assignment from achievement with the new Choice Assignment Plan. All parents were given choice - with a mix of proximity, calendar, and magnets. All families were promised stability at every school level and a predictable future as their children aged up. Plain and simple - this plan provided what parents wanted for their children and families -- and had little to do with raising achievement.<br />
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As a result of this new focus, Supt. Tata and his staff have worked to understand the educational needs of different schools and students and have implemented academic solutions to address achievement -- and we are now seeing very successful results. Just last week, the NC Department of Public Instruction released performance data for Wake County schools -- and the <a href="http://www.wcpss.net/news/2012_aug2_testing/" target="_blank">results</a> are incredible. There have been gains across the district - at many schools and subgroups. (You can look up your school <a href="http://abcs.ncpublicschools.org/abcs/" target="_blank">here</a>.) <br />
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So, rather than fret over the demographics of a school and how to create and maintain a utopian mixture of students, it's obvious that our focus should remain on how each school population could be served better academically. We've seen the success - and it could be only the beginning.<br />
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Instead, however, the School Board has <a href="http://my-3-minutes.blogspot.com/2012/06/were-you-even-awake.html" target="_blank">thumbed their noses</a> at parents and chose to <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/content/media/2012/6/20/BoardDirective_StudentAssn_06202012.pdf" target="_blank">direct</a> staff to link assignment with achievement once again. They didn't even wait to see how many more successes could be achieved. The new Choice Assignment Plan has been nixed (without even getting a chance) and we're moving back to "healthy" schools, set aside seats for certain types of student, limited choice and quotas for every school.<br />
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Back to a system that believes assignment and "diversity" will magically increase achievement. In reality, it will only serve to make the Democratic Board members feel good about themselves. After all, that's all it's done in the past.<br />
<br />Allison Backhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458154818562645156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611233681777244306.post-57123152947456349662012-06-23T14:13:00.000-07:002012-06-23T14:16:30.745-07:00And now for something really scary...<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
As I talked about in my last <a href="http://my-3-minutes.blogspot.com/2012/06/were-you-even-awake.html" target="_blank">post</a>, the WCPSS Board majority is raising the dead.<br />
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Yes, the horrors of nodes, multi-year reassignment plans and assignment quotas are on the verge of a unwanted return.<br />
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And that's not even the scary part.<br />
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A parent from Kevin Hill's district wrote to him with concerns about changing the new Choice Assignment plan. In his reply, Mr. Hill stated:<i> </i><br />
<br />
<i>"I agree with the following: 'Parent choice' proceeds from the
belief that the purpose of education is to provide individual students
with an education. In fact, educating the individual is but a means to
the true end of education, which is to create a viable social order to
which individuals contribute and by which they are sustained. 'Family
choice' is, therefore, basically selfish and anti-social in that it
focuses on the 'wants' of a single family rather than the 'needs' of
society."</i> </div>
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Say WHAT?!</div>
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Kevin Hill, the chairman of the Wake County Board of <u>EDUCATION</u>, does not believe that the purpose of education is to provide individual students with an education?!<br />
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Hill believes your children should be used "<b>to create a viable social order</b>"?</div>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">O.M.G.</span> </div>
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Yeah, read that again...and again...until it really sinks in.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's hard to believe Hill actually admits that he doesn't think education is about educating at all. But, after years of pretending otherwise, he did. </span></div>
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So, the jig's up.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It is now clear that this new Board majority isn't out to help you or your children.</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> So, you can quit emailing them about not getting your 1st choice, or not liking your feeder pattern, or your disgust over their sneaky midnight vote to revive the old assignment plan. It does not matter. </span><br />
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What matters
to them is what part you and your children will play in their socially-engineered agenda. To them, you, your
family and your children are just pieces of their societal puzzle.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And we should be very scared.</span></div>
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Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/06/20/2150093/change-in-wake-student-assignment.html#storylink=cpy</div>Allison Backhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458154818562645156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611233681777244306.post-20680666816430834842012-06-22T06:29:00.000-07:002012-06-22T18:41:39.031-07:00Were you even awake?<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">Well, Wake County, here's what you elected.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">The School Board waited until 12:53 A.M. (yes, A.M.) to rush through a vote -- without public input -- that will drastically alter the new choice assignment plan. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">You know, the plan that our superintendent and staff have worked on for the past 2 years, the plan where everyone has already made their choices for next year, the plan that gave our families choice and our children stability, the plan that hasn't even been fully implemented yet. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">And guess what? They have directed staff to go back to a multi-year, node-driven assignment plan that incorporates socioeconomic and academic achievement goals. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">Gosh, that sounds awfully familiar. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">During the meeting on Tuesday (and into Wednesday) and just before voting on the <a href="http://www.wral.com/asset/news/education/wake_county_schools/2012/06/20/11227474/BoardDirective_StudentAssn_06202012.pdf" target="_blank">directive</a> that will probably reassign your child, School Board member Susan Evans felt it was important to <a href="http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/06/20/2150093/change-in-wake-student-assignment.html" target="_blank">remind</a> everyone who she is and what she thinks of us -- in her usual arrogant and condescending fashion.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;">"While I acknowledge that, first of all, the Raleigh Chamber and the Wake
Ed Partnership are valuable partners in our community, and I respect
the input of all citizens, at these board meetings on the blogs,
wherever they choose to give their input, I just wanted to remind Ms.
Prickett and the board that <b><u>we</u></b> are the elected officials charged with
making these important decisions on behalf of the school system."</span></i><br />
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In other words, everyone can go pound sand.</div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.wakeedpartnership.org/" target="_blank">Wake Education Partnership</a> <a href="http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/wake-education-partnership-extremely-disappointed-in-wake-county-school-boards-student-assign" target="_blank">called</a> this vote a ".<i>..late-night, partisan debate..</i>." with the "<i>...abscence of a collaborative approach.</i>"</span><br />
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The Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce also <a href="http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/greater-raleigh-chamber-of-commerce-disappointed-in-wake-county-school-boards-student-assignm" target="_blank">issued a statement</a> to the School Board warning them -- and reminding them of the past: </div>
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"<i>Based on our research we believe that an address based approach
advocated in the directive will require mandatory assignment to fill
schools." </i><i>"With a sizeable majority of parents satisfied with the current choice
plan we anticipate a change will create disruption among a new group of
stakeholders."</i></div>
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Disruption is putting it mildly.</div>
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<i> </i></div>
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<i><br />Read
more here:
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/greater-raleigh-chamber-of-commerce-disappointed-in-wake-county-school-boards-student-assignm#storylink=cpy</i></div>
<div style="color: black; font: 10pt sans-serif; height: 1px; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-transform: none; width: 1px;">
<i><br />Read
more here:
http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/greater-raleigh-chamber-of-commerce-disappointed-in-wake-county-school-boards-student-assignm#storylink=cpy</i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"> </span></i><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">So, where do we stand now? That's a good question. Some are claiming this was merely a directive; others are calling this the creation of a new plan for 2013-14. Regardless of what this turns out to be (and, let's be honest -- this really is a return to the days of yearly reassignments), you should be awake and be concerned.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">This is just another step in the wrong direction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.wcpss.net/Board/contact.html" target="_blank"></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<br />Allison Backhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458154818562645156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2611233681777244306.post-1925891271073932262012-06-10T07:08:00.001-07:002012-06-11T12:39:29.050-07:00That's what friends are forNow wait just a minute.<br />
<br />
Board member Jim Martin said what?<br />
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<a href="http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/wake-county-school-board-committee-debates-guaranteeing-school-spots-for-families-who-want-to">Martin said the provost of N.C. State asked him to help out.</a><br />
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For May 29th's policy committee meeting, Martin, the chair of that committee, added an <a href="http://www.wcpss.net/Board/agendas/committee/05-29-2012.html#Policy">agenda</a> item to discuss "Student Assignment for Extended Family Professional Leave". And then, at the meeting, proceeded to talk about how to create a policy specifically to serve his colleagues at NCSU.<br />
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Is this really a pressing issue? Well, for Mr. Martin, a professor at NCSU, it is. After all, this is his employer we're talking about.<br />
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I questioned Mr. Martin about the unethical nature of creating a policy to serve his friends and co-workers at the request of his boss. His response, in a nutshell, was..."The Provost is not my boss."<br />
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Martin goes on to say in his email..."You must realize that NCSU is one of the large employers of Wake County. It is for that reason that we should pay attention to matters impacting that employer. Careful attention should be paid to policies that impact any of the County's major employers."<br />
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He isn't concerned with, as he called them during the committee meeting.."<a href="http://blogs.newsobserver.com/wakeed/wake-county-school-board-committee-debates-guaranteeing-school-spots-for-families-who-want-to">the lowest common denominator</a>". In Martin-speak, that would be those people who aren't as fortunate to have professional opportunities but have to leave the system for a short period for other reasons.<br />
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According to Mr. Hui on the WakeED blog.."[Martin contends]...that it's not equitable to say that because famlies of transient students have less resources than professionals that it's a reason not to go ahead with a leave policy."<br />
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So, let's boil it down....<br />
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Martin isn't concerned about you and me. He isn't concerned about those with less opportunities and less resources. He only wants to serve those he works with, those that <a href="http://my-3-minutes.blogspot.com/2012/01/i-have-phd-you-know.html">attend his son's school</a> and those who are just like him.<br />
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So, how do you feel about that? If you work for a major employer...let's say...NSCU, for example... Mr. Martin will pay careful attention to you and your children. He'll work to create policies to help you to ensure you're happy.<br />
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If you don't, well, you know...<br />
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You're an afterthought. After MYR and years of reassignment, it's an attitude those of us in Apex are familiar with.<br />
<br />
It appears that attitude is making a comeback.Allison Backhousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11458154818562645156noreply@blogger.com