On
Wednesday, August 25th, I plan to be at Central Coffee Shop at 719
Louise Ave. (5 points corner at Central Ave. 704-335-7288) from 7:30
a.m. until 9:00 a.m. I will be available to discuss school-related
issues and to answer questions citizens may have regarding
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Thanks to those who came out last month
to Starbucks Coffee Shop in Matthews.
Community Forums
Again,
thanks to those who were in town and able to attend one of the 6
community forums held in June and July, which brought our total
attendance to approximately 800 folks. This was a small number compared
to about 133,000 students in CMS. However, I do not feel summertime is
the best time to expect parents to come out to discuss school issues. I
gained from listening and I appreciate your sharing your concerns,
thoughts, and suggestions, to advance CMS from “good” to “great.”
Board Workshops – 2010 Guiding Principles for Student Assignment
Your
feedback requested from my July Newsletter was valuable. You furnished
me definitions of proximity, neighborhood schools, diversity, equity,
predictability, shared sacrifice and benefit, stability and sibling
guarantee. These were the definitions we were struggling with. After 45
hours of Board workshops and forums this summer, we did vote on August
10th on a set of Guiding Principles for Student Assignment, simply
identified as “Board of Education – 2010 Guiding Principles.” Refer to CMS Website for exact wording. www.cms.k12.nc.us/News/Pages/August10BoardofEducation meetinghighlights.aspx Click onto Action Items-The Guiding Principles-Aug 10-2010.pdf
The
Board committed to 5 Principles for student assignment issues and to
the decision-making rubric listing 4 of those principles to guide our
Superintendent and staff. The 5 principles include HOME SCHOOLS, MAGNET
SCHOOLS, STABILITY AND PREDICTABILTY, DIVERSITY, and EFFECTIVE USE OF
CAPITAL RESOURCES. Continuing, the Board included a Decision Matrix for
4 of these Principles which the Board prioritized below in order to
give the Superintendent and staff fact-based starting points in any
proposed changes to the student assignment plan starting with the
2011-12 school year.
1. Home Schools – Proximity will be based in priority order on:
Travel distance from home to school,
Keeping
entire neighborhoods assigned to the same school (staff shall use its
discretion in considering commonly accepted neighborhood boundaries,
zoning decisions, covenant agreements, HOAs, etc)
To the extent possible, keeping whole elementary zones intact in middle and high school feeder patterns.
2.
Stability and Predictability – the likelihood that the proposed
assignments may be sustained over a period of time without adjustment.
3.
Diversity–consideration for creating a relative balance of economically
disadvantaged students (EDS), with the understanding that there is
currently a predictive link between poverty levels and achievement gaps.
4.
Effective use of capital resources – the total projected operating and
replacement costs of facilities and transportation resources over a
defined period of time.
The motion to recommend approval of the
2010 Guiding Principles passed 5 (McGarry, Morgan, Lennon, Davis,
White) to 3 (Tate, Waddell, McElrath). Trent Merchant was absent. Even
though I had reservations about the total document, I voted for this
final version primarily because of the #1 priority – home schools or
what I refer to as neighborhood schools. We need to focus on teaching
and learning and build schools where the kids live in order for them to
attend a school close to home.
2005 Guiding Principles – History
Are the 2010 Guiding Principles giving CMS a new direction?
I think not. When the 2005 Guiding Principles were passed, they started
with the sentence, “Our focus must always be improving student
achievement for every student in every school.” 2010 starts with CMS
Vision, Mission (to maximize academic achievement by every student in
every school) and Core Beliefs and Commitments which includes
statements on equity and diversity. The 7 Guiding Principles in 2005
included a “home school guarantee,” “diversity should be fostered,
although it should not be forced,” “magnet programs should be
strengthened,” “student assignment plan should be simplified,”
“effective use of all of our school buildings,” “provide students and
families with stability and predictability.” The main weakness of the
2005 Principles was that they were not prioritized. Therefore, taking
an example from 2009, CMS staff could justify just about any of the 13+
boundary maps for the new Mint Hill High School depending which of the
guiding principles it was trying to utilize. Therefore, the wording
from 2005 to 2010 may be slightly changed, but they both say about the
same thing. The 2010 version is still vague, terms are not well
defined, and it’s too wordy. Simplicity and succinctness went out the
window. However, with home schools as the #1 priority, the 2010 version
has more meaning. That is why I voted for it. I felt it was the best we
could get at this time. Winston Churchill once said “If we open a quarrel between the past and the present, we shall find that we have lost the future.” I do not want to lose the future. We are running out of time and we need to educate all of our children NOW!
Report on CMS Benefits Selection and Communication Processes
I
placed this item on the Board agenda on July 27, 2010. However, a
presentation by CMS staff was not made, as requested. Questions from
citizens arose back in February as to why the dental coverage for CMS
employees was going up 48% for 2010-11 and employees were just being
notified in February. From there, other questions arose as to whether
CMS has issued Request for Proposals (RFPs) in a formal, competitive
bid process for not just dental but other CMS benefits. This was during
the time of intense budget debates where I was continuing to search for
every possible niche to trim the fat from the CMS operating budget. I
felt no stone should be left unturned in the process. When I was told
CMS would be incurring approximately $400,000 in added expenses due to
changes in the benefits program, I started asking questions. I have a
fiduciary responsibility to the taxpayers of Mecklenburg County. In
that role, I must do the due diligence and ask the questions. At this
point, I am still asking the questions. I am still searching for the
truth.
Kaye McGarry’s P-A-C-T with the residents of Mecklenburg County (2003 and 2007)
I
want to continue to expand on priorities that I listed in my July
newsletter. Student achievement for every student is the overall goal.
I believe ‘home’/neighborhood schools will help us toward that goal.
Every principal, as leader in a school, needs to have the freedom and
flexibility to run that school, hire and fire teachers, and set the
tone for education at its finest. Teachers are the backbone of CMS and
most studies will tell you that the #1 predictor of student success is
the TEACHER. We must THANK them for all they do for our children and families.
GOD
BLESS. . . . and welcome back as we embark on another journey 2010-11
school year. Please continue to share your concerns and suggestions
with me. I am here to serve the people in Mecklenburg County.
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