Posted on 04/05/2002 10:24:56 AM PST by CFW
The Kansas City school board agreed Tuesday to create an African-centered middle school at its Southeast campus. If everything goes as planned, it will open this fall.
The same plan came before the board two weeks ago, but its members wanted more time to consider it. Several black parents at that meeting, upset by the delay, had accused white board members of racial bias and of ignoring parents' concerns.
On Tuesday night, after the middle school program was approved, parents gave the school board a standing ovation.
"This is definitely a big start for us," said Sharon Jackson, a parent who spoke at the meeting.
Also Tuesday, the board agreed to add sixth, seventh and eighth grades at four elementary schools -- East, Paige, Phillips and Trailwoods. Only board member Duane Kelly dissented, saying he worried about having kindergartners and eighth-graders in the same buildings.
Administrators hope the expansions will help keep students in the school district. Tuesday was the second time around for this proposal, too; during the meeting two weeks ago, the board decided to postpone a vote.
Since that meeting, several parents had called and campaigned for an African-centered middle school, board members said. The district currently teaches African-themed history, geography, culture, values and languages at Chick and Ladd elementaries, as well as Southeast High, as part of the regular district curriculum.
But there is currently no middle school with that theme. The new school, which would be based in an annex building next to Southeast High, would give parents a chance to keep their children in an African-centered school throughout their public education.
When she addressed the board, Jackson said that a charter school had failed her son, who now attends Chick Elementary. As a result, he has better self-esteem, said Jackson, who praised the staff at Chick for involving parents in the school.
"J.S. Chick provided that safety net for this child," Jackson said.
Board members, though, warned parents about possible delays -- especially if Arthur A. Benson II, the plaintiffs' attorney in the school desegregation case, decides to oppose the plan. An attorney for the school district said Benson had requested more data from administrators, but had not taken a position yet.
Reached by phone, Benson said he wanted to know how children from African-centered elementaries had fared in middle school and high school. He said he would look at several other factors, too.
"If they don't give me the data, we may have to force the issue," Benson said.
School administrators started planning for an African-centered middle school months ago, said Stacia Brown, the district's executive director for school leadership.
The new African-centered school would start with sixth and seventh grades in its first year. It would add an eighth grade in its second year, Brown said.
Also Tuesday, the school board approved the retirement of Betty Bettis, the third-grade teacher who had initiated the strip search of several students at Pitcher Elementary last month. Teachers were looking for $5 in missing lunch money.
Bettis had planned to retire at the end of this school year but asked that the board allow her to leave early. The effect on her retirement benefits was not immediately known.
The board did not address the fate of another faculty member involved in the searches.
The board also approved new rules for its District Advisory Committee, which gathers input from parents on school issues. The new rules mean the committee must have open meetings and annual elections, board member Al Mauro said.
During a closed executive session Tuesday, the school board also discussed renewing Superintendent Bernard Taylor Jr.'s contract but did not take a vote.
By the way there was once a nation-wide system of African-centered schooling. It was called Apartheid in South Africa.
(That school, btw, which included Olympic sized pools and other fancy accoutrements, never did achieve those higher test scores the judge thought he could produce by fiat.)
This special school will accommodate the special needs of these special students. They will emerge from this wonderful education fully acclimated and ready for a productive career… in Africa.
Owl_Eagle
”Guns Before Butter.”
Glad that I don't live in KC, and glad that my wife and I are going to homeschool our children!
Semper Fi!
Silly african-ish garb, songs, and a slanted and mostly unusable reading of world history.
There'll still be chicken nuggets and pizza for lunch though - they'll just be called something else.
Note how leftists aren't even pretending anymore - "African-centered". I thought the PC term was "African-American"?
What's the dress code for this African-centered school? Loincloths? Do the women run around without tops on?
Liberals are pigs in pig's clothing.
Mail me if we need to freep some KC School Board meetings.
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