It drives me nuts when I hear the libs cry about the challenges blacks have to go through just to make it.
The obstacles are placed by their owe people. They have a handout to easy street.
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.
G-d forbid that they might actually teach things like American history, American Geography, European history, math, science, etc...
Something that MUST NOT BE FORGOTTEN: The KCMO School district LOST their state accreditation (2 years ago, I believe), and they still haven't gotten test scores up high enough to reinstate it! I believe that after the end of the current school year, a decision will be made regarding whether or not the state will take over the district.
This is a school district that's had more changes in leadership (all corrupt) than the Italian government! And it's manage to spend many BILLIONS of dollars in the last 25 years, due to a desegregation rulling by a federal judge in Springfield, MO. The district still can't pass minimum state standards, and has a drop-out rate of over 50%!
Mark
It drives me nuts when I hear the libs cry about the challenges blacks have to go through just to make it.
The obstacles are placed by their owe people. They have a handout to easy street.
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