Principal Rodney Lewis on the left is obviously a racist who hates black kids.
Posted on 03/10/2011 3:48:22 AM PST by Altura Ct.
The state has cited Grand Rapids Public Schools for suspending a “significantly disproportionate” number of black and special education students -- a move that has forced the district to shift $1 million in federal funds to address the problem.
The district is reexamining policies and creating early intervention strategies, but it has not stopped suspending students for serious offenses, Superintendent Bernard Taylor said this week, seeking to dispel misconceptions.
”It is a misnomer that anyone has been told not to suspend students,” he said.
“Every concerted effort is being made to address issues around safety,” Taylor said. “We have built a support structure around students that is designed to keep them in school -- but not at all costs. We are not talking about weapons violations, bomb threats or fights.”
He said the district is under sanction by the state Education Department requiring it to redirect $1 million in special education funds into general education “to deal with the over suspension of special education students and African American males.”
The state monitored Grand Rapids for rates of suspension and expulsion greater than 10 days for black students with disabilities, and for all students with disabilities.
“They were selected for monitoring because the data reported by GRPS indicated a significant discrepancy in the rate of suspensions for all students with disabilities as well as African American students with disabilities,” the state reported.
GRPS was directed to develop a plan and be in compliance within a year.
The state’s findings came in the spring of 2010, but they were disclosed by Taylor this week because of growing public questions about suspension policies.
The report, which reviewed 2008-09 data, revealed that out of 268 special education suspensions/expulsions, 186 were black, 34 Hispanic, 29 white, 18 multi-ethnic and 1 Asian. Ottawa Hills had the most of the high schools with 22, all black students.
The building principal ultimately makes the decision whether someone warrants suspension, administrators said.
The state said GRPS was required to reserve 15 percent of its federal IDEA (Individuals with Disability Education Act) funds for early intervention services.
The state says this is not a financial sanction, but a requirement that more special education funds be used for programs to prevent high rates of suspension and expulsion.
“We began last March doing some pretty comprehensive planning involving principals and departments such as student services, to figure out how we could not suspend as much and also come up with some alternative interventions,” said Veronica Lake, the district’s executive director for accountability and compliance.
For example, she said, intervention rooms were implemented this school year. Taylor said what gets students suspended often is that catch-all category, disruptive behavior.
’”I think direction from the board is going to have to be obtained in order for us to seriously deal with this issue about over-representation of student groups that comprise the highest number of suspensions,” Taylor told his board Monday.
The district has nearly 19,000 students and blacks represent more than 40 percent of the population.
Taylor said the issue of minority suspension rates has come up in previous decades. “It is clearly something that is not a recent phenomenon.”
And citing them will change the situation how?
Does not surprise me one bit. Especially when psychotic kids are considered disabled.
Another reason to homeschool!
Principal Rodney Lewis on the left is obviously a racist who hates black kids.
The guy probably makes $300K a year, and he doesn't know what "misnomer" means. Your local, state, and federal tax dollars at "work" ...
They commit more serious infractions. It used to be that many of these kids would simply drop out of school. Now, with "No Child Left Behind" we have to keep them in and try to teach them, regardless of whether they want to be taught! Kids who do not want to be taught act out because they don't care!
The Fed and the State should keep out of local school districts administration, period!
Mike
So more black kids will be allowed to cause trouble and go unpunished.
ah - common sense “How many boys get suspended vs. girls? No fair! We have to get the girl suspensions up to quota or let the boys skate.”
”It is a misnomer that anyone has been told not to suspend students,” Superintendent Bernard Taylor. “Misnomer?” This man obviously has a PhD in education. This qualifies him for at least $300,000 a year in salary and a generous pension at the expense of the taxpayers.
Frtom the sound of it the highly compensated Superintendent needs to be suspended. Then, hire someone who doesn’t have a questionable education degree (for much less).
From the sound of it the highly compensated Superintendent needs to be suspended. Then, hire someone who doesn’t have a questionable education degree (for much less).
He is a finalist for the job in Syracuse, NY. He may be “movin on up, to the east side”... LOL
Most of the kids in the GRPS are minorities!
And most come from very rough neighborhoods, so this is a surprise in what way?
From Mlive.com: “The board can get rid of me at any point in time, why would I be concerned about that?” said Taylor, whose annual $197,112 contract was approved in January 2010 and runs through 2014. “
That way the Black Kids don't have to act White and the White Kids get a lesson in diversity.
RE: misnomer
Darn you!!! You beat me to it! That was the first thing that jumped out at me, as well.
It’s the liberal dream; lowering the bar.
I’d like to see the percentages of the racial / disability breakdown of the population at the local jail. If it’s similar, case closed.
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