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Kaye’s November 2011 Newsletter
Kaye About Town Monthly Drop-In Meeting
On
Tuesday, November 15, 2011, I plan to be at Starbucks Coffee, 4100
Carmel Road (704-541-1003) at the corner of Quail Hollow Road (near
Harris-Teeter), 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 to
Starbucks in Ballantyne in October.
Board of Education Reception Honoring 3 Outgoing At-Large Members, Nov. 9th, 4:30-6 p.m.
Thank
you to all family, friends, and supporters who were able to attend.
Following is the transcript of the speech I delivered at this reception.
GOOD AFTERNOON, Family, friends, supporters,
I
have raised a husband and 4 children in Charlotte, North Carolina, in
the last 44 years. My 4 granddaughters are ages 9, 6, 3 and 2. Serving
all the children and families in Mecklenburg County as your at-large
Board of Education member since 2003, has been my mission. I have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. I have held monthly drop-in coffee meetings, Kaye About Town,
in all parts of Mecklenburg County in order to solicit your input. I
have visited all 170 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools during my tenure.
Some schools I have visited several times. Elementary schools are my
favorite – I sit and watch and ponder – they give me
hope, because these children are just that – children
– and they are so fully of energy and have a love of learning,
and they are just kids – so much good is happening in so many
of our elementary schools. Families are important and CMS has to
listen. Did you ever wonder why God gave us two ears and only one mouth?
LISTEN more; TALK less.
When
I filed for an at-large seat on the Board of Education in 2003, I told
you I had the conviction, skills, experience and commitment to make a
difference towards elevating our public schools from
“good” to “great.” You responded
and elected me – the highest vote getter by more than 20%.
And, I thanked you. When I ran for re-election in 2007, I made a P-A-C-T
with the residents of Mecklenburg County. You responded again and
elected me – again, the highest vote getter by more than 20%.
And, I thanked you.
I
focused on fiscal accountability, school safety, and raising the bar
for academic achievement. What I kept hearing over and over again were 4
things that ALL parents wanted:
- Qualified teacher
- Safe environment
- School close to home
- Stability
What
parents want has not changed, regardless of color, creed, or
nationality. As parents, we all want the same things for our children.
CMS can do far better. Priorities need to be re-arranged. Teachers need
to be put on a pedestal and thanked continuously. Principals need to
lead these schools and backup their teachers in order that teachers can
do what they do best – TEACH. The next Superintendent/CEO
needs to be a proven leader who can bring back the TRUST in the office
of the Superintendent, can raise teacher morale and return discipline
into our schools. The School Board needs to earn the TRUST of this
community in order to help move our public schools from
“good” to “great.”
I quote Don McAdams, Author of “What School Boards Can Do”:
“Any
major reform of a school district is by its very nature controversial.
The fundamental objective of reform is to upset the status quo, and
there are powerful groups whose interests are well served by the status
quo.” This is very true in the City of Charlotte, County of
Mecklenburg. Reform leadership is controversial, sometimes even painful,
but it is also creative, stimulating, and rewarding. It is the
Board’s work – and the work of reform has yet to
begin."
I congratulate the top vote getters –
Ericka Ellis-Stewart and Mary McCray
for a battle well fought and won. Use your leadership skills to begin
that much needed reform – true reform – for
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. The teachers needs you –
children and families are counting on you – the status quo is
no longer acceptable. Charlottle/Mecklenburg is out there waiting to be
led. We are at a crossroads - you must not follow the current
“status quo” mentality of the Board majority
– you have an opportunity to create a new Board majority
– you must LEAD. The time is NOW. CMS is at another turning
point.
I
was your voice-the voice of the “silent majority”
– I worked hard – I listened to you, I did my
homework, I studied the issues and I voted responsibly. My voting record
shows I have been true to my word. I have been consistent and focused
– always putting the interests of the students first. Many
good things were accomplished. I won a few big battles –
building schools in the suburbs; I won many smaller battles. All was
done with your help. But, much of the work of the Board has been
“reactive” rather than
“proactive.”
My
passion will continue to be education. I am stepping down from the
Board of Education to explore other options – doctoral work in
leadership and communications in order to teach at a college or
university again – continue my speaking, writing, and
publishing – and I will continue to be an advocate for public
education, but in a different venue than serving another term on the
Board of Education.
I will close with another quote that I have used frequently –
“I am only one, but still I am one.
I cannot do everything, but I can do something.
And because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the
Something that I can do.
What I can do, I should do.
And what I should do, by the grace of God, I will do.”
I
thank my husband, Dennis, my children and spouses, Dennie and Susan,
Denise and Jim, Deborah and Joe, Derek and Missy, Granddaughters, Anna,
Lizzie, Maggie, and Lila. I thank Elizabeth Miller, my first 2003
volunteer Campaign Manager, who advised me all of these 8 years, my 2007
Campaign Manager, Wendy Berglass, and all the hundreds of volunteers
who worked tirelessly for my campaigns and continued supporting me
thoughout my entire tenure. I thank all of my colleagues I have served
with over the past 8 years – they have helped expand my
horizon and stretch my viewpoints to consider every facet of every
issue.
Thank you, the voters of Mecklenburg County
for the opportunity to be your servant leader, public servant, for the
past 8 years allowing me to serve as your At-Large School Board member. I
valued your continued support over these years. Please continue to
raise your voices. Continue to seek the truth. I continued to seek the
truth with all issues; after all, the truth with set you free. I am now
free….
God Bless the children and families in Mecklenburg County.
God Bless America
Kaye McGarry
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EDITORIAL – The Charlotte Observer – 10/18/2011 – submitted by:
Kaye Bernard McGarry, M.Ed.
Mecklenburg County Board of Education At-Large Member 2003-2011
www.KayeMcGarry.com
Kaye@KayeMcGarry.com
704-366-8971
In response to “CMS Vote is Crucial to Future of CMS” (The Charlotte Observer 10-16-2011). Yes, I agree. However, this article failed to adequately address not only the main issues, but more importantly, how each of the 14 candidates listed on the ballot would propose to solve the problems.
Mecklenburg County citizens have a unique opportunity AND the responsibility to re-shape this nine-member governing Board. What are the skill sets most needed to add to this Board in order to lift it to a higher level of professionalism? I believe we need people with proven leadership skills, business acumen, depth of knowledge about the inner workings of CMS, and who will provide strong answers to the following important questions.
- Taxing authority for the School Board. Most candidates are in favor of asking the State of N.C. to grant taxing authority to the School Board. I do not believe we need another taxing arm in Mecklenburg County. What do you think?
- CMS Strategic Plan 2014. Even though the Board has never voted on it, we refer to it ongoing. It lists a number of goals, but not the costs of attaining them, making it largely useless. A new Board needs to expand it to include costs, before hiring a new Superintendent. This will provide the new Superintendent a clear idea of where we are, and what it will cost to move us forward. Is knowing how much the Strategic Plan costs important to you?
- Student assignment plan. Many candidates advocate revisiting student assignment and moving CMS from neighborhood schools to assigning students based on their income level – in other words, socio-economic diversity, which would mean a return to busing. On the other hand, there are a few candidates who want to strengthen the existing neighborhood school concept. How do you want us to assign your students, and more specifically your children, in Mecklenburg County?
- Pay 4 Performance. Recently, this has been repackaged as “Talent Effectiveness Project” and CMS has hired two communications staffers to help promote this concept to the public, the media and employees. Folks, look deeper. The additional 52 tests introduced last spring are still there. There are major flaws in the “testing” portion of Pay 4 Performance. These issues need to be addressed by the Board in public so there is clarity about how teachers are evaluated and paid based on performance. How do you feel about this?
The public must look deeper at each candidate to understand just where each stands on these issues. We need a Board that is strong enough to “direct” the new Superintendent, rather than just serve as a “rubber stamp.” Having served as your At-Large Member on the Board of Education since 2003, my head and my heart tell me: YES, this election for the CMS School Board is crucial to the future of our children, families, and community.
472 words
Submitted to: Taylor Batten, The Charlotte Observer Editor of the Editorial Pages
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Kaye and her family
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