Patrick Henry Charter School not to be?
The RTD is reporting that the “proposal to establish a charter school for grades one through five at Patrick Henry Elementary School in South Richmond died this evening when the School Board deadlocked on whether to sign a contract”.
A less-inflammatory headline:
http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-09-02-0217.html
Thanks a heap, Keith.
and now a slightly less hopeless-sounding headline:
http://tinyurl.com/6ff5ky
Keith West, without warning, took an exceptional educational option away from this city. But he can also bring the measure back to the table. One of the four who voted against it can bring it back. We need to call him, write him, to get this back on the table.
The article now has that “the school still has a chance to get approval. Board Chairman George Braxton, explained that the measure can be revived if one of the four members who voted against it wants to bring it back.”
I don’t understand. I thought the application was approved back in may pending some additions. And if the additions were there, then golden. or back to work on it but i thought overall it was moving forward one way or another.
I suspect it comes down to the question of whether the school itself was approved when the SB approved the charter, or if they just gave us a “maybe.”
The original article also refers to the school as grades 1-5, not K-5. More stellar reporting from whatsisname…
Did we find out if the Board ever read the contract? (see link below) Were their areas of concern addressed adequately or were there new issues? Looking forward to some citizen journalism in lieu of a a competent newspaper. Counting on Keith West for anything seems like false hope. If the SB’s atty said they might be bound to support the school if they granted a provisional vote, then this new vote may be moot.
http://rvanews.com/2008/08/school-board-candidate-says-read-the-contract/
I’ve posted my rationale for voting in favor of the contract at http://www.educatingrichmond.blogspot.com
FYI, the board had the opportunity to review the contract Thursday 8/28, Friday 8/29, or Tuesday 9/2 during business hours. I had ample time to review it when I went to the attorney’s office prior to the meeting.
which way to the counties? i hope those empty condos provide you the tax base to survive!
West says that “As that contract was written, there was no way for the charter to succeed. Too many obligations and no latitude. They had every restriction RPS does, plus the threat of a charter that could be revoked at any time.”
He goes on to explain that, “the contract needs to be cut down severely” and focus “more on state accountability standards, not RPS procedural standards. There should be no reports more frequent than quarterly. Charter continuance should be contingent on an annual review, not at will at any time.”
He declares that PHI “should not be subject to RPS board policy” and that their budget “should not require RPS approval”.
He closes by saying that “It was not my intention going into that meeting to torpedo anything. [...] But when I saw the provisions, they amounted to a crippling blow.” He then says that he “will work on bringing up something that will give [PHI] a chance of success.”
: :
It seems to me that to understand this at all, we really do need to see the contract as written.
Give the clerk a call at 780-7716 for the contract.
It’s interesting that the Patrick Henry people thought the contract was okay, but keith West knew what was best for them.
Just as quite a few people over the last several years wanted a particular house so badly that they accepted mortgages with dangerous provisions, the charter group wanted the school so much that they were willing to accept a bad contract. I do not blame them, they were given an inscrutable process, a sharply divided board, and a terrible law to work from. They were getting the best they could under the circumstances.
But it does no one good to launch a school without giving them every opportunity for success.
As written, the charter could be revoked at any time for any reason. Many potential reasons were planted in the contract including requiring the charter to operate under RPS board policy. The entire point to a charter school is to free it from public school policy.
The charter school needs to be held accountable to outcomes, not process. Otherwise you’re simply operating a public school by a different name.
I intend to work for a contract that will give the city a charter school in fact as well as name.
When I heard the news last night about the vote, I knew West had a different reason why he voted against the contract than the other three SB members. I believe there are SB members for and against the contract who are hoping for PHI failure. No one more than West on SB wants the Charter to be a success. If all Richmond Public Schools had to sign such a contract, we would be lucky to have five schools still open. PHI should only sign that contract if all public schools also agree to sign it.
The contract should be amended and approved. All of Richmond is looking forward to having this Charter School.
As John noted: “He declares that PHI “should not be subject to RPS board policy” and that their budget “should not require RPS approval”.
I would think PHI would need to be accountable to RPS by the same standards as other RPS schools, with perhaps a few changes regarding NCLB. Does the contract set standards above other RPS school requirements? Or are these the same standards other RPS schools must meet, specifically in regard to answering to school board policy and having their budget approved by RPS. Is this school supposed to operate outside of school board governance?
I don’t know the answer to these questions, so I am not trying to be inflammatory. I just want to know if this contract outlines usual guidelines for RPS schools or if it exceeds those guidelines.
I wish the contract could be published as the community is very invested in this situation and I think many people would like to review it.
I also have one other question: Do other exceptional schools (such as the Governor’s School and Open High) answer to RPS board policy and budget?
I would ask Mr. West why he waited until the last minute, when there was no chance of recovery, to change his vote, and if he had concerns why he did not share them with PHI.
West looks like the functional equivalent of Doug Wilder, bent on destroying what he can’t control.
The contract presented last night was a set-up for failure of the Patrick Henry Initiative.
This contract sets the “bar” far higher for the PHSSA than it is for the RPS schools. It is a classic example of “do as I say, not as I do.”
For example: If this contract were “fair,” then this School Board would already require each school in the system to file “monthly written financial statements, including speciifically all operating and non-operating expenses and sources of revenue.” [p.8 of the contract]. Additionally, each school should have to provide to the School Board a written consolidated financial report. [loc.cit].
We don’t. One need only read the audits of the RPS conducted by City Auditor Umesh Dalal to see that such a reporting requirement would greatly assist the taxpayers of the this city to understand why it is that our per pupil costs are as high as they are.
George Braxton refused to allow for a public discussion of the contract, in violation of the Board’s rules and Robert’s Rules of Order. Thus he prevented any discussion of the many unrealistic requirements in the contract and of the School Board’s failure to properly oversee the negotiations of this matter.
Among the many “material terms” that the PHSSA would be solely responsible for is making the building fully ADA compliant. Yet, the full details of the work required to bring the building into ADA compliance were not provided to the PHSSA people prior to last night’s vote. In fact, the contract did not even require the board to provide this information until September 15, 2008 — AFTER the contract was to be signed. There is no reason this information was not made available as soon as the Board approved the charter school back in May.
Further, the contract required PHSSA to present a plan to this board by November 15, 2008, that would include “such estimates and a timeline for completion of such remedial/and or renovation work.” I asked my colleagues how we could expect this group to develop a plan in one month to bring this building into state and federal ADA compliance when this board had not managed to do so in 18 years. Indeed, this Board is at year three of a five year settlement agreement in U.S. District Court but has yet to complete the work scheduled for year one. Yet the Board now demands that PHSSA commit to full ADA compliance, without telling PHSSA what that compliance will include.
Chairman Braxton said simply that these were the terms of the contract and that the PHSSA people had been represented by counsel and that, in the worst case scenario, the board would have a building that had been improved.
Lisa Dawson said that whether the contract terms were unrealistic was “not her problem” and that the PHSSA people would have to deal with that if they wanted to “play with the big dogs and be in the big league.”
If Chairman Braxton had not shut off discussion last night, I would have proposed that the School Board impose similar contracts upon all our schools. There is no reason that RPS schools should be held to any lower standard of accountability than PHSSA.
How does each school in RPS currently report its financials? Could the same system be used?
The PHI school is funded by taxpayer money – my money – it should have a level of accountability to the taxpayers on how our money is spent. How is this currently handled for non-charter schools and why should it be different?
Why can’t we view the contract? I understood the lawyer for PHI requested the contract be kept secret. Is this true? Can someone on the inside let us know?
Mrs. Wolf has said such odd things about me recently I wanted to clarify my position. I think that what PHI is trying to achieve is the chance to play in the big league. I believe that the contract articulated many of the concerns voiced by Board members in May during open session and I was satisfied and apparently so was PHI since they agreed to it. Managing the school should be the job of PHI but the Board is ultimately responsible for the educational success of the students. The Board is interested in “what” not “how”. “How” is up to PHI and I believe they are up to the task if given an opportunity or I wouldn’t have voted twice to give them that chance. You know, we could debate this forever, let’s give PHI a chance to put their plan into action.
Riddle me this: Why is it that local elected officials ask for community involvement and then, when they get it, they find all types of reasons to dismiss it?
Keep in mind, the contract submitted last night was a joint effort, drafted by representatives from both the school board and the Patrick Henry group.
Again, the contract’s available to the public. Just call 780-7716.
I just called that number and only a hard copy is available that can be mailed to me. Or you can pick up a copy from the Richmond Public School office.
Copy is posted at
http://crankytaxpayer.org/phssa/agmt.pdf
Which political candidates will take up Carol’s call?
“If Chairman Braxton had not shut off discussion last night, I would have proposed that the School Board impose similar contracts upon all our schools. There is no reason that RPS schools should be held to any lower standard of accountability than PHSSA.”
Either amend the contract to make it fair and approve the charter or make all schools sign the unfair contract.
And, let’s see more transparency. All this secrecy really gives me an uneasy feeling.
Victoria,
Relax. Mr. West did you a big favor. Why would you set yourself up for failure in the manner foisted upon PHI by the Board? Sometimes it is far better not to do a deal at all than to do a very bad one.
You have very committed enemies on the school board. Whenever much of public sentiment supports an idea, the anti folks use “terms and conditions” to defeat it. Then they can say, “See! That idea doesn’t work” That is the history so far of charter/voucher schools around the country.
Publicize what is going on, as Mr. West and Ms. Wolfe attempt to do in this blog. The public will eventually see through this charade by the board. Keep it hot and keep it coming.
Tiny,
The purpose of a charter school is to operate outside the normal strictures of the system; otherwise why bother? Further, I doubt you would really want the “same accountability” that RPS has, since RPS has very little.
I know you “do not want to be inflammatory”, but then why create the rumor that someone wanted the contract secret? Do you have evidence? Then say so. Oh, I know. You’re “…just asking”, as the TD is fond of saying? But we all know the implications of “just asking” Don’t create rumors before you know what you’re talking about.
secrecy is their key to success…
To clarify, you’re talking about the school board and not the PHI people, right?
yes…Mr. Day has been very open to me about everything (including the sometimes boring details about the the dotted, “i’s” and crossed, “t’s” behind the initiative) he hopes to accomplish getting Patrick Henry up & running…
Here is the Contract and Lease Agreement (PDF).
Thanks, Chris.
I find it ironic that Mr. West chose to compare the PH charter to a bad mortgage loan when the efforts have been spearheaded by someone who makes his living in the mortgage loan industry. He makes some points that sound good, but I’m reasonably sure that the folks working on the contract aren’t as rigid as the school board apparently is. They can roll with what they need to to make it work.
We should probably just ban all children from the city. We could really automate the process: When city residents choose to reproduce, their friends and neighbors could report to have them evicted to the counties, where they would move when their kids are school-aged anyway. It would save a bundle on taxes! No more pesky school board worries! And those of us left in the city sure would appreciate the peace and quiet! Win-Win!
Thanks so much for doing an electronic version John M! I was trying to get it posted on the RPS website for easy access today. I’ll take that off of my to do list.
Is this a typical contract between School Board and charter school?
Why does the State of Virginia make it so difficult to open charter schools? Across the nation in urban centers, charters are welcomed.
I scanned the document this morning and had it sent to John M and to the RVANews site as well.
I am sitting here stunned and amazed by the board’s (Mr. West’s) action. I am amazed by Mr. West’s justification that he is protecting PHI by refusing to let it operate. Common, Keith, get real!
Having watched the PHI people in operation, I cannot believe that they weren’t completely aware of the terms of the contract. I am also sure they had adequate counsel. They agreed to go with the contract as written. Do they need Mr. West as their protector?
So, what is Mr. West’s reasons? He says, “As written, the charter could be revoked at any time for any reason. Many potential reasons were planted in the contract including requiring the charter to operate under RPS board policy. The entire point to a charter school is to free it from public school policy.”
Mr. West is using his own definition of charter school, not that provided by the laws of Virginia. To complain that the contract allows the school board to cancel it at any time is not a complaint with the contract but with the statute. In its wisdom the General Assembly has provided that a school board can cancel a charter if the school:
“1. Violates the conditions, standards, or procedures established in the public charter school application;
2. Fails to meet or make reasonable progress toward achievement of the content standards or student performance standards identified in the charter application;
3. Fails to meet generally accepted standards of fiscal management; or
4. Violates any provision of law from which the public charter school was not specifically exempted.
A charter may be revoked if the local school board determines, in its discretion, that it is not in the public interest or for the welfare of the students within the school division to continue the operation of the school…”
The last provision gives a school board far more power to cancel a charter than anything in the contract.
I strongly urge Mr. West to reconsider his position, to bring the contract back before the board and vote to approve the contract as PHI and the school board wrote it. Keith, do not use your lame duck status to trump this contract at the last minute. I know you disagree with how the school board operates and obviously you don’t like the Virginia charter school law. But don’t punish the children of Richmond and all the dedicated citizens who have worked their posterior’s trying to get PHI to reality. Do what’s best for Richmond, not what satisfies your ego.
To Scott Burger,
Scott, this year, much to my surprise, I find myself as a politician. And, although one of my key advisers constantly advises me to keep my mouth shut (or my keyboard still) because I am always getting in trouble, I would like to take up Carol’s challenge.
“Carol, if you and I are both on the school board next year I will work with you to find out whether having performance contracts between individual school principals and RPS would work in Richmond. If we determine that they might work, I will cooperate with you in trying to get the idea implemented.”
I’ll go a bit farther and say that even if Carol and I are not both elected to the board, I will gladly work with her to make sure that this idea gets adequately considered by the citizens of Richmond.
Wow Mr. Berlin! this sounds like a 180 degree turn from your statement at North Richmond News http://northrichmondnews.com/news/2008/07/26/city-schools-plan-changes-to-open-enrollment-system/#comment-9768
“To me it is unthinkable that we need an open enrollment policy that allows some children to escape their neighborhood schools. We cannot continue to accept it that students attending two different elementary schools receive vastly different educations. So, let’s stop worrying about open enrollment and get on with the task of making sure that all our schools are good as we can make them.”
Isn’t enrolling in a charter school an effort to escape one’s local elementary school, or is this an exception? You have publicly advocated many times in defense of RPS and not abandoning schools, but here you are demanding Mr. West do exactly that. There is no doubt that we should be concerned about the quality of our schools, but how is opening a charter school supporting what we have?
I apologize, but you’ll have to scroll up to find his original comment. The supplied link takes you to the bottom of that articles comments.
I don’t suppose any Richmond school debate is fairly joined until Bert has bloviated. Now that he has cleared his digestive system maybe we can reflect upon his long standing and well documented support of charter schools which goes back at least as long as he has been running for school board. Before that I seem to recall that he was at least as condescending in his childless demands for all parents to sacrifice their children for the greater good of city schools. Funny how the demands of potential voters sways ones convictions.
Well, from what I can tell, that’s what candidates do. If elected, I imagine he will fit in well with the board. I don’t see that will be the case though, as I hear John Lloyd is looking like he will take the 4th. Well Bert, there’s always the blog.
For those interested in having a charter school in fact and not just name, read the contract. As you do, notice how much time the administration of PHS will spend writing monthly reports, organizing carpools and complying with myriad RPS requests. Imagine how much money will be required to finance as yet undetermined improvements to the building. (Hint: $1.3 million supposedly for the elevator at Fox, how much for PH?) Notice too that the cost for exceptional ed is put on the school. How many kids at $50,000 a pop will it take to blow the budget? Think that’s grounds to revoke the charter?
This has never been my issue. I can count on my hands the number of families in my district who will benefit. A referendum on it would probably be defeated here. Yet I voted to give them a chance. I do think though that it should be a fair chance and not a one sided one as our lawyer represented in closed session that it is.
If you want to get upset at someone, get upset at the supposed supporters on the board who tried to negotiate a contract in secret, who tried to ram it through without public discussion (George Braxton, Betsy Carr), who said the committee “wanted to play in the big leagues”, (Lisa Dawson) who made the ridiculous claim that we are not imposing on the charter any rules not applied to RPS (Kim Bridges).
To give the devil his due, Mr. Berlin, I have read your statements on your shift on charter schools, but it is a pretty clear contradiction, which seems politically motivated, and I’m not going to accuse you of waffling, but I do believe you are sitting on the fence and this one happens to be electrified, so why don’t you choose a side?
I’m not losing hope yet. Despite all the opposing viewpoints, people are talking. I met some cool new-to-town people tonight at the playground, and if I didn’t completely scare them off (I’m overtired and my filter is broken) I’m hoping they can get involved.
There are still a lot of people that are enthusiastic about having a school we can all be proud of, no matter where in the neighborhood it is.
Well I can now say that I will be proud to enroll my children in County schools. No guilt, no shame, no looking back.
Good riddance RPS…and good f-in luck.
I would pay money to hear what Keith West and Carol Wolfe have to say about the inside workings of RPS. They have inside knowledge of what drives RPS to it’s dismal 47% graduation rate at exorbatent taxpayer’s expense.
So howabout it Keith and Carol? Let’s hear the truth and clean up this mess. Haven’t our kids paid enough?
If y’all put this much work and effort into the existing local schools, say, Westover Hills ….
Oh nevermind, I forgot you’re all so eager to pack up your toys and move to Chesterfield. BON VOYAGE!!!
Don’t paint us all with the same brush. I’ve lived here for almost four school board election cycles and I can outlast ‘em all…
RPS is not so bad that all children should be banned from Richmond. Yes, I get the sarcasm, but RPS is system that needs work but not one with no hope. And, I have never been against the charter school, but I must admit that with all the recent a relevations I have way more questions than ever.
There are plenty of good elementary schools in RPS. PHI is just one good alternative. And if you are willing to drive your kids to PHI, I guess you would be willing to drive them to Bellevue, Fox, Cary, Munford, or Holton which all have excellent reputations.
Where we really need work is in the middle school and highschool areas. There are very few accredited schools at these levels and many of the existing buildings are in terrible disrepair.
I asked the questions because in the STYLE story by Dovi, it was the PHI attourney’s email that outlined that no one would be able to view the contract before the vote – not because I am spreading rumors. I am trying to find out the truth. Also, if the contract were a collaborative effort between the board and PHI, why did the board members draw up a contract they would not vote for? Again, I just trying to pick out the truth from the alarmist statements.
I don’t know. I still don’t know what the current accountability standards are for RPS, or why PHI can’t follow those instead of what is in the contract.
And yes, I do have right to accountability when it is my tax money. You cannot spend my money without reporting to some authority. And, I did elect the school board, so there’s the accountability.
Add Fisher to that list of good elementary schools.
And take off Cary…the principal there is mean.
Where is the original article? When I click on the link in the main heading it takes me to an announcement that Smokey The Bandit is Dead.
Gotta love RTD’s search … it’s impossible to find an article!
There were two articles posted in quick succession – the first one was terrible, so I guess the TD yanked it. The link in my first comment kept fouling up because it went to two lines, so I put the tinyurl in the next comment. It works.
It bothers me to see Mr. Berlin and Mr. West go at it when it is so clear to me that both of them have the same desire to have equality in public education. I firmly believe that the problem with this process is that the leadership of this city has us fighting each other. When i was first introduced to Richard Day and he told me of his plans to create a charter school; I told him that i did not think it politically wise to “put this horse out there by itself>” i shared with him plans at the Richmond City Council of PTA’s were introducing to demand that this government and leadership honor its promise to build new schools; BUILD SCHOOLS NOW !! I shared with him our plan to organize the various communities throughout the city that needed new schools, Fulton, oak Grove, George Mason, Huguenot, MLK. I suggested that his community join the rest of the communities that had been promised new schools and equality. i told him that the charter school should be a part of the plan and join the movement. One of the ten. I shared with him that i could not promised no opposition, however the problem was with the leadership not each other.I am still suggesting that we do this together; throughout the city-strike a blow to inequality. There is a plan on the table that would give every community an opportunity. Let’s force the leadership to use this plan instead of doing everything in secret. i would love to see a public rally in this city for education. I would love to see us; black and white. middle class and poor stand together for something just once So that our leaders, whoever they may be, understand that new schools and communities; openness and inclusion should be the priority. This should not be about a
Charter School; it should be about educational equality. Anyone one care to join the effort?
Whew! That is one long contract. I got up to page 16, but I had to take a break.
Mr. West, I am sure that the members of the PHI have read the contract, they are aware of the amount of time that will be spent meeting the demands of RPS. Opening this charter school is going to require a leap of faith on the part of the SB and the PHI. If anything the commitment and drive by the PHI should be proof that they are willing take the extra time to make this work and meet the demands of RPS. Without the School open what urgency will there be to change the laws in regards to Charter Schools? Without allowing the contract we will never know if any of your “what if’s” would even happen. I would rather see this contract approved and deal with the “what if’s” as they arise.
Also, I don’t really care about your personal feelings of Bert Berlin. I find it very offensive you are using your time and energy to post irrelevant junk when so many of us would like to know what you plan to do to save PHSSA? Save your childish remarks for the playground.
Take a good hard look at the contract. I understand Mr. West’s position, I just wish it didn’t cost Richmond a creative and innovative school choice that would allow all students an equal chance to attend, unlike the other zone schools. Perhaps PHI agreed and signed the contract because they knew the RPS ADMIN (not the School Board) with whom they were negotiating wanted them to fail. I wish those responsible for negotiating on the RPS side would speak up and answer the questions that are being posed in this blog. Why set the bar higher than that which other schools have to meet? By agreeing to do what other RPS schools are not required to do, PHI at least figured they’d get a signed contract, even if it meant busting buns to fulfill all the ridiculous demands. A charter school is suppose to have a certain degree of autonomy, otherwise, it’s just another RPS school.
What I love about Hills and Heights is that I always learn something new when I join in a conversation. I thank Keith West for his vocabulary lesson—“bloviate”: to speak or write at length in a pompous or boastful manner (Dictionary.reference.com); to speak or write verbosely or windily (Merriam-Webster.com). Yes, I must confess that on occasion I am guilty of bloviating (at least in the Merriam-Webster definition). The danger of being a blogger is that I have no editor.
To Citizen X:
Let me explain what to you seems an inconsistency in my statements. There are two Bert Berlins (Don’t send for the psychiatrists, I’m not delusional). There is the idealist Bert Berlin who is motivated by the biblical teachings to love our neighbors and the stranger as ourselves and to seek justice. That was the Bert Berlin speaking in the North Richmond News statement that you quoted. The idealist Bert Berlin thinks it is a great injustice that children receive a different quality education in Richmond depending on what school their parents enroll them in. That Bert Berlin thinks it terrible that we need an open enrollment policy to keep middle class children in RPS. I looked at the preamble to the board’s proposed new open enrollment policy– “RPS has a goal of making all schools exemplary. Each school has a focus on the success of all students, supported by a comprehensive system of needs analysis based on the school’s vision, goals, and data that drive priorities, objectives, and programs offered” —and expressed my frustration that we are so far from that goal. And I expressed my view that we should be working to make all schools good enough so that parents do not have to opt out of RPS entirely or out of their neighborhood school by relying on open enrollment.
Then there is the practical Bert Berlin. I know that in fact our schools are not equal and that it is not unreasonable for parents to want options for their children other than their neighborhood school. I know that if we didn’t have open enrollment more middle-class parents would be choosing to move out of Richmond than now. The practical Bert Berlin realizes that governing is the art of the possible and that sometimes it is necessary to compromise to get anything accomplished. As I indicated in an e-mail exchange with PTA leader Tichi Pinkney-Eppes, sometimes we have to accept the possible temporarily in order to keep up the fight for that which we believe is just. I don’t believe in perpetually tilting at windmills. To be effective, a leader must argue strongly for what is right but in the end accept what is possible. Politicians who insist on having things only their way rarely get anything accomplished. Some of them end up pulling down the entire temple when they don’t get their way. If that is the kind of politician you are looking for, don’t vote for me.
As to my views on the Patrick Henry charter school: When I first heard about the plans to reopen the Patrick Henry School as a charter school, I opposed the proposal. But that was a different proposal. At that time the plan was to reopen Patrick Henry as a neighborhood school and to restrict enrollment to children living within a mile of the school building. As I said at the time,
“Significantly, the Initiative proponents want to use the Patrick Henry building so that they can have their own neighborhood school. As stated on their website, ‘From a neighborhood standpoint, having a neighborhood school will help retain neighbors, increase property value and ensure a thriving community.’
“Last year, the School Board chose to close the Patrick Henry School and to assign its students to other schools. Apparently, certain parents in the area previously served by Patrick Henry are unwilling to accept the Board’s decision. They want their neighborhood school back and they want Richmond Public Schools to pay for it. If the Initiative is approved by the School Board, it will set a terrible
precedent. It will mean that whenever parents are not happy with a school-closing decision by the Board they can seek to undo it by proposing a public charter school in the same facility.”
Then, this year, I started seeing all those “Patrick Henry Charter School—Now” signs. At first they were only along Semmes and Forest Hill avenues. Then, however, I started seeing them in my own neighborhood and I started wondering whether my neighbors knew something I didn’t. It was then that I contacted Richard Day and we entered into an e-mail conversation in which I expressed all my objections to the PHI and he explained to me how I was wrong. I even convinced him that the proposal was more likely to be acceptable if members of the PHI board did not get preferential treatment in the enrollment of their children. When I was convinced that PHI would serve the needs of all Richmond children, I wrote my blog piece recommending that the board approve the charter.
If you think that I changed my mind only because I was contemplating running for the school board, I suppose I can’t convince you otherwise. But as I said in the conclusion to my blog entry, I believe that someone who refuses to change his mind even when he is shown he is wrong is a fool. I don’t consider myself a fool.
All I can promise you is that when I am on the school board I will fight to achieve my vision of a just school system in which every child in the city, regardless of economic status or ethnicity, will receive a high quality education. There will be times when I will have to compromise with the other members of the board to accomplish anything. But I will not stop striving for my ideals.
Bert may be windy and verbose. I don’t support him for the School Board. But I do not at all doubt his support for public education, for quality education, for all students. If he were to win, he would work very, very hard, with complete honesty, to reach those goals. It’s a good thing for all of us in the Fourth that we have Keith West to tell us who is going to win. Makes our lives simpler.
Here is an idea that not many of you have ever mentioned. Instead of spending so much time fighting for a charter school, try enrolling your kids in the schools that already exist. Westover Hills has a much better location. They have better athletic fields and play grounds and a better dropoff location for buses and cars. PH is right across the street from rundown and questionable businesses. Get involved in the PTA and volunteer at the school to really improve things. From what I’ve seen, parents are afraid to have their kids going to a school that is mostly black like WH. A charter school is not the answer, work on fixing what we have.
That contract required many lawyer-hours to develop. Which firm wrote it – RPS’s lawyers or PHI? Was the development of the contract tax-payer funded?
Tiny,
The contract was written by School Board lawyer Brad King at Harrell Chambliss Law Firm working with Darrel Mason, a sole practitioner, representing the PHI group.
Yes, Mr. King’s time and expertise are paid for with taxpayer dollars.
So, I guess all that money goes into the “lesson’s learned” file ratber than the “successful projects” file. Good heavens.
I’m the editor of http://www.southsiderichmond.org and I’d like to invite those who are interested in better understanding some of the issues that have been raised regarding charter schools and the school board to read an article I have just published: http://www.southsiderichmond.org/2008/09/patrick-henry-charter-school-initiative-give-me-liberty-or-give-me-part-1/
Please be aware that this article is not intended to have a political or social slant, but rather to make clear the issues present. It is my humble hope that this will help.
Thanks,
Shennen Dean
As a parent who has waited 11 yrs for full physical access to RPS, I applaude the PHI contract for it’s demand of such quick turn around in making the school ADA compliant. I would assume that that means that RPS is quickly making all our schools accessible. I teach my children by my example shouldn’t RPS do the same with the PHI?
Oh, you say this isn’t so? The schools aren’t rapidly being made accessible? They are dragging their feet even though the have 7 Miliion dollars to do the work? You’re exactly right!
How dare the school board make demands on a parent based initiative when they can’t even do the bare bones in a timely manner let alone that they are under a court order to do so.
I find this arrogant and typical of Richmond Schools doing business.
No “successful project” file. I believe this Charter will open and all the residents of Richmond should be grateful for all the hard work the PHI people have done and will do for the future progressive, hands-on elementary school.
School Board should rewrite that contract and make it fair then approve the charter -quick!
Considering the interest in this story, I wanted to share this update from Style Weekly staff reporter Chris Dovi. It includes a PDF of the contract in question:
http://www.styleweekly.com/article.asp?idarticle=17704
http://www.styleweekly.com/article.asp?idarticle=17704
More to come ……Stay tuned.
I hope some of you take up Art Burton’s challenge at at least publicly take issue with it (see #56). If not, at least read this insightful comment:
http://rvanews.com/2008/08/school-board-candidate-says-read-the-contract/#comment-3690
One of my kids attends our neighborhood public school and I support Burton and would like to see him on SB, however, if we want “government and leadership (to)honor its promise to build new schools,” then we need for this Charter to open by the date the PHI established (July 2009?), otherwise government and leadership will remain stagnant. This Charter can become a role model for other elementary schools and is a good start to the process of “Build New Schools Now.”
Shennen over at Southside news has some good info up http://www.southsiderichmond.org/2008/09/patrick-henry-charter-school-initiative-give-me-liberty-or-give-me-part-1/ .
I don’t trust government to do what is right by our children at this time. Perhaps under new leadership nationally and locally this will change.
I trust the grassroots efforts of parents over our government and stagnant organizations.
It looks like, at least right now, only the lawyers are winners in this case. Secretive meetings, lack of collaboration, and tax-payer funded legal work all seem to be hallmarks of the current Richmond administration.
What were the PHI lawyers doing? If the contract is too complex (which is does seem to be) and sets the school up for failure, why did they agree to it? Was it really a joint effort?
Among what’s been lost in the discussion since Tuesday’s school board vote is that the contract drafting was a collaborative effort between the PHI and SB reps. There were elements brought to the table by both entities so the end product reflects that and all of the public discussions that have taken place over the last few months. There are responsibilities on both sides–the school board would have some 23 additional duties as a result of the agreement. But I was willing to take that on because of two critical goals for RPS: innovation and involvement.
(FYI, Beyond the public arena, private schools have far more latitude than public, yet ask some of them about the steps that they must go through to get accredited. Take a look at the standards of the National Association of Independent Schools (www.nais.org) or the accreditation process through the National Private Schools Accreditation Alliance (www.npsag.com/accreditation) to see how much is involved with getting even a “bureaucracy-free” private school approved.)
As one of the board members who took the time to meet with PHI prior to the charter vote, I remember the discussion we had about how much goes into running a school–public, private, or charter. The PHI folks were not intimidated or overwhelmed by the reality–in fact they were energized by it.
Richard Day gives a good response to the vote here on RVA news http://rvanews.com/2008/09/phi-president-responds/ .
Collaboration? Kind of like the collaboration I do with my credit card company to come up with the agreement they mail me every six months. Does collaboration produce (as our lawyer described in closed session) a one-sided contract?
As a marker of the zeal of the school board for the charter school, consider that, excepting the indefatigable Mrs. Wolf, who abstained, not a single board member has contacted me since the vote to discover what my objections are. Neither, for that matter, did any of them ask or even send an email regarding the contract before the vote.
Regardless, we’re not going to get anywhere waiting for the board or sniping about who loves the charter the most. That’s why I held a press conference this afternoon inviting representatives of the charter initiative and others wishing for their success to meet with the object of revising the contract to make it more fair.
Unlike the last time when the contract was locked in a secret location, the result of this open collaboration will be made public before the school board votes. This process must be completed quickly so that we can get the contract in place so that the people can start working on their school.
A collaborative process begun through a press conference? Interesting. I await the news.
Now, now, now, Mrs. Bridges. No need to get all snippy and sarcastic about this.
No matter how much you and your colleagues like to pretend that you are “big dogs playing in the big leagues,” you have done precious little other than teach children how to takes tests, tests and more tests.
You chase away the good teachers and keep the bully principals in place.
When will Richmond rise up to demand quality schools in quality neighbors for all the children who reside in Richmond?
Singing Kumbaya and wishing upon a star doesn’t cut it, Mrs Bridges. Something has got to give here. Your board appears to think you don’t answer to the public, but you do.
You have abdicated your authority and give RPS administration virtually free rein to do whatever the h**l it wants.
And, in the end, we are no closer to providing an equal education for ALL children, not just those who reside in the West End [Bridges], the Fan[Dawson] and parts of the 4th District [Braxton].
I find it reprehensible and disgusting that you and your colleagues could approve throwing some big-damn deal of a Bon Voyage party for Deborah Jewell-Sherman — replete with $60 dollar a seat tickets — while at the same time refusing — yes, refusing — to make sure the children in your HeadStart classes get a morning and afternoon snack.
Connect the dots Mrs.Bridges. You seem to think that if everyone did their jobs, we could all sit around ponder our possibilities. I appreciate your efforts at “SPIN” control, but you should know that “Spin” is only needed when something incompetent has happened.
One thing is certain: Sarcasm will not bring about improvement, more involvement, or a better education system for our children.
In this situation, the state statute is written to discourage applications, the RPS guidelines are ambiguous at best, and the contract is decidedly one sided.
We’re stuck with the statute and the guidelines, as they are the conditions the application was submitted under. But the contract can be edited for reconsideration.
Let’s start with one small item that is indicative of the larger problems with the document: the requirement of an ex-officio seat on the PH board to be held by a RPS Board member.
One simple question is begged by the language of the contract: are these three members voting or non-voting?
The answer is YES – to both. Check it out for yourself on page 4 of the document.
Let’s assume the answer is voting for discussion purposes. How then will the the RPS Board Member be able to engage in any act of “negotiating any contract with the School Board…” without becoming involved in a conflict of interest?
They won’t.
We’re now at least 72 hours since this document was made public, and to my knowledge this is the first comment on any specific item that obviously needs to be reworked. I’m doubtful that this is the only error to be found.
So – the two parties can try again with something better, or we can sit and watch as this is dealt with the usual way in Richmond – via a lawsuit at taxpayer expense in the court system.
At a minimum, Mr. King and Ms Mason have some work to be done – at their own expense. The taxpayers have been bilked for quite enough in this episode.
Articles in support of charter in TD
http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-09-06-0141.html
http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/search.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-09-05-0006.html
http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/search.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-09-04-0007.html
I just finished my first week as a teacher. After four 19-hour days, I’m exhausted, but I’m still motivated because I work for a great school with a supportive school board. The job is terribly challenging, but I feel confident the administration is doing its best to clear as many roadblocks as possible for me.
I work for Henrico County Public Schools. After reading so many egocentric and childish posts from Richmond School Board members and candidates here, I cannot fathom how demoralized I would be today if I was an RPS teacher.
It all seems very removed from the actual job to me. Anything above the building-level administration is mostly an abstraction.
Dan,
Best not to throw stones ….
QUOTE:
Rift forms in Henrico School Board
Some push for documents on allegation he bullied teachers about son’s work
BY OLYMPIA MEOLA
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Mar 28, 2006
An allegation that a Henrico County School Board member made a teacher at his son’s school feel intimidated has severely divided an already splintered board.
At least two School Board members want Superintendent Fred Morton IV to hand over documents relating to suggestions about Jim Fiorelli’s interaction with teachers at Pocahontas Middle School.
The dispute started two weeks ago, when an anonymous letter circulated among Henrico parents and others alleging that Fiorelli bothered teachers about his son’s schoolwork while the boy served as a page at the General Assembly this year.
Now, School Board members want to see all of the paperwork that details the situation. The documents they’re requesting include a complaint filed against Fiorelli by a teacher.
Fiorelli said he doesn’t want the documents released because he is entitled to the same privacy that other parents receive when dealing with their child’s schooling.
“It would be an unwise practice for us, as a board, to get into reviewing parent-student-teacher matters,” he said.
During a recent interview, Fiorelli said he and school staff members worked out a process to get work to his son while the student served as a page at the assembly. Pocahontas students who serve as pages typically have their work sent there weekly or every two weeks.
He said he didn’t ask for special help for his son and only visited the school to drop off schoolwork on two occasions.
“All I was doing as a parent was trying to follow through to make the process work when the ball got dropped other places,” he said. “In the process, the allegation is that certain teachers felt intimidated [by] our interactions merely because I was a School Board member.”
Board members received some of the Fiorelli documents in closed session Thursday evening, but in open session they voted 3-2 to leave the materials with the School Board attorney. Fiorelli made the motion.
After the vote, board member Linda McBride, who was clearly emotional, said: “Due to an obvious lack of trust, this board is being denied full, unencumbered access to these documents. I stand in full protest of this action and would ask what, exactly, certain individuals are trying to hide.”
Members Lloyd E. Jackson Jr. and Hugh C. Palmer voted with Fiorelli to keep the documents closed. Stuart P. Myers and McBride opposed.
The Times-Dispatch has filed a request under the Freedom of Information Act for those documents and expects to receive information this week.
The two other board members with school-aged children said they don’t engage intimately in matters at their children’s schools to avoid intimidating the school staff.
“It is incumbent on School Board members to tread very carefully with our own child’s teachers, as the very nature of our position may be intimidating,” McBride said in a recent interview. “I feel, based on what I know, that Mr. Fiorelli abused and misused his position. I feel he has stepped way over the line.”
Dan, Get Real is right -Henrico has got their own problems. Anyone remember how the Henrico School Board voted to give money to build a sports facility outbuilding at a wealthy brand new West Henrico highschool instead of funding a sorely needed renovation of an old dilapidated poor East Henrico school?
I find these online written debates between SB members and candidates far more interesting than televised debates or the tid bits the paper might pick up. Reminds me of the old timey letter writing debates between candidates and elected officials during the early formation years of our nation.
Can you all imagine how little would have actually gotten done if the contract negotiation were open to everyone involved in both the Patrick Henry Initiative AND the Richmond City School Board AND Richmond City Administration? The idea of “secrecy” is ridiculous. There must be a process to negotiations so that they can be accomplished in the allowable time. The SB had the ability to discuss any concerns that they may have had about the application to their legal representatives in order to have it a part of the final contract. The Patrick Henry Initiative agreed to the contract, not out of an inability to understand their responsibilities, but because they believed that this would be the best opportunity to get the school OPEN. Patrick Henry believes in the ability of this school to thrive. So let’s focus on getting it back on the table.
As the significant other of a RPS teacher, I can second this feeling. I see several school board members speaking of lofty goals and abstract concepts, yet The Missus can’t seem to get enough desks for the 35 kids in her classes, working locks for her homeroom class’s lockers or get the janitors to clean the bathrooms so they don’t smell like warmed over death.
Baby steps…
35 students!!!! at what grade levels? That is insane. I’m guessing atleast middle school.
And the bathrooms…they are horrible at my children’s elementary school -no stall doors, unworking faucets (no water), no paper towels, and the occasional “f_ck” written on the walls or a roach crawling up them…my children hate them.
With the amount of time that it did take to get the contract written (nearly ALL 90 days), it could have negotiated at the U.N. and had input from all the nations of the world.
The SB’s Braxton thought that by moving the contract so late in the game, his colleagues would not have time to read it. He even convinced PHI’s lawyer that this was the case. This guy must think his colleagues are stupid — or that PHI supporters are.
I agree with Scott Burger [Comment #27]who asks:
“Which political candidates will take up Carol’s call?
“If Chairman Braxton had not shut off discussion last night, I would have proposed that the School Board impose similar contracts upon all our schools. There is no reason that RPS schools should be held to any lower standard of accountability than PHSSA.”
Bill,
Re: Comment # 86
Please e-mail me directly at Wolfies@aol.com or call me at 264-8015. I will make sure this situation is corrected. What you describe should not be allowed to continue. Thanks! ~ CW
Ms. Wolf,
What Bill’s wife is experiencing is going on at many schools. The bathrooms for the boys often lack toilet paper, hand towels, soap, and doors on the stalls. The adults’ bathrooms are so filthy as to be unsanitary. Many of the desks at some schools are still the desk separate from seat type built in the 1960′s. Even the overhead projector’s were made in the 1960′s. Many classroom doors have locks that don’t work properly because they are 50+ years old. Many lockers have been damaged beyond repair. Oh, by the way, because our locksmiths are not contracted out, we have only two people in the division to fix these problems and RPS wise decision to cut janitorial staff certainly has contributed to the general filth that has increased in our schools. Where do you spend all your time that you aren’t aware of this?
Henrico has its share of problems, too; I’m certainly not blind to that fact. My point, though, is that much of the dialogue among RPS members and candidates on this post has been divisive, self-serving, and, ultimately, damaging to the situation at hand.
We try to teach our children to be respectful of each other’s viewpoints and to try to work out their differences amicably. Is it too much to ask of the so-called “big leaguers” to be role models in this area?
I don’t disagree with your ideals Dan.
But, Richmond has shown in this and many other areas (Performing Arts Center, Convention Center, numerous CDA’s, etc.) that it is only through public embarrassment that any meaningful discussions ensue.
We’re only at the embarrassment to discussion stage. Progress and change are slow to come.
Dan, It looks like the SB members are having the discussion they should have had openly before voting on the contract.
Being respectful of each other’s viewpoints cannot be done until they are fully expressed. I appreciate SB members and candidates courage, honesty, and passion to come online and express their views in writing publicly.
These issues need to be debated and scrapped over before anything is resolved. I see the charter getting a revised fair contract and approval in the very near future.
Oh, Teacher ….
If only you could spend a day AND an evening with me and witness what it is I do and see on a daily basis. Even though I have rightly been described as “the indefatigable Mrs. Wolf,” I am but a human being and can do only so much on any given day and night.
You have no idea of the enormity of the messes that exist in all our schools, both literally and metaphorically. You also seem to have no idea of the great number of teachers we have who go to work every single day and knock themselves out giving, giving, giving well beyond the call of duty and NEVER ONCE COMPLAINING.
I repeatedly bring concerns to the attention of administration that I see, as well as concerns that parents, teachers and (yes!)principals throughout the City bring to my attention.
I have even been known to take photos in order to document conditions that I find deplorable.
So, I extend to you [and anyone else]the same invitation that I offered to Bill.
E-mail me at Wolfies@aol.com or call my home at 264-8015. I promise I will keep your identity confidential. And, I thank you for allowing me to be your public servant.
That’s right… they never complain because they know it is hopeless to do so. Speaking of telling people not to complain, are you sure your the right person to wave that flag? The fact is that in all time I have worked for RPS I have never seen you at my building, but I have been to almost every middle and high school and seen the disparity and similarities between them.
Take a look at the auditorium of T.J. for example and compare that to Armstrong, Huguenot, John Marshall, and Wythe . . . see any major differences? Why is that?
Shall we compare Thompson to Lucille Brown next? Or how about MLK?
All I am asking for is some basic sanitary needs that any employee should have anywhere, but you don’t want to respond to the ineffectiveness of not subcontracting and firing custodial staff. Then again, considering how underpaid our janitorial staff . . . wait, I take that back… how underpaid
all RPS staff (keep in mind that teachers with 8 years of experience make only 2,000 a year more than those with NO experience) are, but hey, who wants to pay us, we’re not in it for the money right? In fact, we should pay doctors and lawyers less, because they aren’t in it for the money…. are there any lawyers in the house? I’m broke. Perhaps your husband can do some pro bono work for me when I file bankruptcy and find out that now that the wealthy have made it so bankruptcy means you still have to pay all your debts the only point of filing for bankruptcy is to give lawyers money.
Teacher,
It is easy for you to say some of the things you do because you never say what building you work in, or where you have worked. If you want my help, I invite you to send a note to my e-mail address or to call me.
There is a difference between criticizing and complaining just to vent and constructive criticism and complaints about situations that need to be corrected. When I criticize a situation, I always try to offer a possible solution. I also ask others to offer solutions.
If you were to examine Committee minutes and full-board meeting minutes, you will discover that I fought against reducing our custodial staff as well as our bus drivers. You do not have a legitimate beef with me on that point. An examination of the record will confirm that I have fought to pay our employees more during each and every budget cycle and that I have also fought to make each and every RPS school a clean and safe place for our children and staff.
In fact, I sure could have used your help to convince my colleagues that it was foolish to proceed they way they wanted to go at times. Again, I stand willing and ready to help you, but need some specifics in order to proceed.
Please allow me to help you.
Here’s what you do Mrs. Wolf. Go to all of the secondary schools that you can and bring your camera. Check the bathroom with a custodian, hire more locksmiths or subcontract them, get some modern computers, buy some modern desks, get some white boards because teachers gluing their own white boards on the wall is tacky, no pun intended, get each auditorium a spot light, take an inventory of the overhead projectors that are built in the 50s-60s and toss them, get the filth off the floors, walls, and lockers, give science teachers some modern equipment to work with, get desperately needed sports equipment, band uniforms (instruments too), the list just goes on and on.
If you ask me, our kids sure could use some more reading teachers in the secondary level, because if you ever listen to them read you’d know they are way behind their grade level immediately.
Anyone who has been to more than a couple of our schools has seen this chronic dilapidation again and again.
There is no need for me to reveal my identity and open myself to attack. RPS continues to use the good ol’ boy system and all of the ills that come with it.
Got it, Teacher! I appreciate your constructive comments. I understand the mission. Have camera, will document. I will also pursue each point you mention and will report back. Thank you.
I’m not pure vitriol Mrs. Wolf.
Getting back to the focus of this thread, don’t you think it would be better if you want to be free from restrictions of the Virginia BOE to just open a private school?
I saw a picture recently of the group that started this Patrick Henry Initiative, and I have to say, according to the census the majority of the PHI reps 40% of the population of Richmond and according to the enrollment figures, less than 10% of the student population. You want your school, you want to leave for the county, but where did you say you were willing to fix the schools in your neighborhood that’s there now? RPS schools are not beyond repair, but I see very few white folks either there to help or even working in them.
The fact of the matter is that we shouldn’t concern ourselves with the white flight problem, we should concern ourselves with making the lower class into a middle class. I suspect many of Richmond’s problems would go away if we stopped worrying about who is leaving and start worrying about those who are left getting a second rate education.
If you don’t think it is second rate, start comparing the quality of the school facilities of RPS to the counties. I’m not going to say the teachers are better, but as I mentioned, teachers who are working in Chesterfield for example are getting improved pay for every year of experience rather than these bloated steps where teachers who, for example, have 5-8 years get the same pay. If I were “in it for the money” I’d move on down the road. It’s certainly not a lack of qualification that keeps me in RPS, it’s a lack of being able to abandon those who most need good teachers. There are way too many full-time subs working in our schools.
Teacher, you said, “I see very few white folks either there to help or even working in them.” Tell me, are you seeing the parents whose kids are enrolled at your school volunteering? If not, you need to go to those parents and insist they help out in their children’s school. We need to help people help themselves.
You also said, “I suspect many of Richmond’s problems would go away if we stopped worrying about who is leaving and start worrying about those who are left getting a second rate education.” Teacher, I agree we need to give those left a first class education but do you think that would ever happen without the squeaky wheels of the middle class or affluent families?
By the way, Carol Wolf will help you but you should also contact your district SB member and make the same demands.
Yesyesyesyesyesyes. Wonderfully put, gray.
Of course, the converse is that if “we” have more influence due to our squeakiness or affluence (hah), then maybe we could give a little more, too. The general “we,” not you.
I was glad to see “Teacher”‘s second comment, too, but it stinks to be afraid to say anything.
How about the fact that the parents whose children attend my school work day jobs and sometimes night jobs too and are single parents who don’t have the luxury of time to volunteer?
Teacher,
Then ask them to help out the school from home or on the weekends. A school directory could be made from home and many fundraisers occur on weekends and the grounds need to be tended.
I have friends who are single moms and one even had to accept food stamps for awhile and guess what? They all volunteered in the school. Most people work, the two parent and single parent families -night and day. If everyone just pitches in the slightest bit you’ll notice a change. Creating positive change is empowering.
“Creating positive change is empowering.”
ABSOLUTELY right-on!
It’s great that some parents have jobs that allow them stay home with their children. Try to be understanding to those that do not. It’s not a matter of income, but a matter of time.
We basically have 3 hour time span from the moment I get home until bedtime (if the go to bed at 9:00) to do homework, make dinner, bath, and take each children to their practices (a 5-day a week committment). I have one night a week that is “me” time, and I usually have to give that up.
Simply stating the facts should not be taken as complaining. Is it possible for teachers in RPS to have too many complaints? If I offered constructive criticism on every barrier I encounter, I would never get any teaching done. Yes the counties have problems too, yes we have highly committed & dedicated staff at every level and hard-working board members, but that does me little good when dealing with my daily barriers to teaching. “Downtown” does a great job putting everything back on the principals. You complain about anything, downtown replies its a building issue and then your principal gets a phone call and you get accused of not being a team player. Don’t dare begin to suggest that RPS has open lines of communication, if we did then the real horror stories would come out.
Slogans are great, but action is better. Don’t think that what is good for the goose is good for the gander. Everyone else is not you.
Having worked in schools that are much more diverse and wealthy than any school in Richmond, money is clearly not the deciding factor in parent commitment, but time and commitment are. You can’t expect every parent to be committed to their child. It’s not realistic or practical to do so. However, this doesn’t mean that we should stop encouraging.
Is everyone at your job a “go getter?” Do they all go out of their way everyday to make a difference? Do you? We’re humans, not slogan reading robots.
Teacher, you can’t have it both ways…first you’re angry that you don’t see “white folk” in the schools working then you’re get angry that I even bother to ask of parents using the schools to help. Keep in mind that I am asking those who can help to do so. You mentioned several middle schools like MLK…about 700 students attend that school…don’t you think there are atleast 12 parents out of such a high number that could help?
And I’m sorry, I do expect every parent to be committed and to their child just like RPS expects every child to follow the rules. (I know there are circumstances like cancer, mental illness, living on the street, and such that make parenting difficult if not impossible but I’m not referring to these situations.)
Principal at my child’s RPS told me, we have to set our expectations high.
Thank you Tiny; I live in Highland Park. for the first ten years of my children’s life involvement was keeping them safe. They were children and wanted to play outside but it was very dangerous. for the record we fought like hell for better educational conditions for our children and were promised new school in 2003 by the leadership of this city. We have been waiting for the promise to be kept for six years.We are being told to wait another 3.5 years (in 2013).
(Snapshot of our life) the buses leave my neighborhood starting at 5;45am. At around 4:30pm the first buses start rolling back. the committee meetings start at some 3:30-5:30 The board meeting are 6:00 and if of don’t get there by 6:30pm you probably will not get to speak to any issue because citizen information is loaded in the first 30 minutes of the meeting. My work with PTA brought to light that many schools don’t have a PTA and many that do are under the control of the principals of those schools. many of those involved feel that their role is to support their schools at all costs (no critical analysis accepted) and do not see advocacy as the role of the PTA. 70% of the children are single family, 35% have no transportation, some school zones have children coming from as many as 5 different neighborhoods, 80% in poverty and all of us working with about 30,000.00 a year less than are European neighbors. No excuses, just facts. I struggle every day on the best way to spend my 3 hours and most days go to bed feeling like i haven’t done a very good job(god forbid you just sit down and relax). What struck me about “read the contract” was that while we talk about involvement, the policy was basically a policy of non-involvement. It didn’t even require board members to read.
I agree with Ron 61# and Teacher 93#, big ideas in a bad reality. This is why the Richmond City Council of PTAS PUT OUT “BUILD SCHOOLS NOW” (comment 56#) . We saw it as an opportunity to address all these issues through a building program. A building program that would excite the middle class (all-black and white) into joining the effort, as well as make the leaders of this city honor its promises. I met with the Mayor’s CAO and was told that they could not accept an idea that came from the “bottom”; it would have to come from the supt. in order for them to help. I will try to get the entire document on line so people can look at the proposal. It will take about two to three years before we start to see the fruit of our labor, however, the thing that I like to remind people is that we are working on a national problem, that is about to become a national crisis. teacher, I believe that reversing the negative market share issue is the only way that we are going to be able to give teachers the 50,000.00 starting salary they deserve. I don’t think it can happen without middle class participation which has always been my concern around supporting this charter school, i think it dooms 17,000 children and the city by continuing to overlook them and I do believe that doing it without addressing other schools at the same time reinforces the dual education system that we operate. I do love the model also of community people working together to plan and build schools.
If RPS was a business it would be out of business because because no business can lose 3-5% of its market share every year and survive or say they’re sucessfull. go to my website. the story of Robert is two years old and we are still talking about giving Robert toilet paper today. It is hard to talk about big things when teachers are fearful for their jobs or well being and parents are disgruntled because their children come home with dirty draws; especially when that’s the first thing you see or hear bout at 6:00pm-i may be just a foolish dreamer
You want your school, you want to leave for the county, but where did you say you were willing to fix the schools in your neighborhood that’s there now? RPS schools are not beyond repair, but I see very few white folks either there to help or even working in them.
Please don’t take me out of context Gray. I said that I don’t see white folks working to improve the existing schools. You are implying that I said that I don’t think black folk should be expected to be participants.
If you aren’t understanding me, let me say it again, but clearer. Many black people are economically disadvantaged and do not have the amount of time available to them that many wealthier white folk do. That’s the bottom line. Yes, it is true that there are a lot of people who could be doing more, but don’t. Yes we should have high expectations, but we also need to put on our reality glasses and see that some of the (quite a few in fact) students we have come from foster homes, shelters, broken homes, are homeless and what not.
Once again, your experience is not always shared.
Teacher, Do you know what kind of home I’ve come from? Do you know my income level? You really don’t know what my experience has been do you?
Put it this way, if I had a middle class income or higher, neither of my children would have experienced urban public education.
Teacher, yet again you make RPS so welcoming to those who want to help. We’re running from folk like you in the system.
“Many black people are economically disadvantaged and do not have the amount of time available to them that many wealthier white folk do.”
Oh good grief. There is a sizeable black middle class in this city and we have exactly the same issues: limited income, limited time, and worries about the schools. I’ve talked to several parents with darker skin than mine in the last few days, and oddly enough they feel just like I do about the charter school: it’s a wonderful opportunity for our kids and we’ll do anything to make it work.
You can whoop and holler all you want to about the poorer kids in the schools, but the fact remains that if the tax base goes, the schools go to crap. If the middle class stays, the schools improve. There is a finite number of spots available in a single school. Even if people aren’t able to get their kids into it, they will stay, just because RPS is TRYING SOMETHING DIFFERENT. And that gives parents hope.
On top of that, you gripe that there aren’t enough white people working in the schools. Funny, in my line of work there’s a push to “mirror the community,” and white people can’t GET jobs. Why isn’t that okay for the schools too?
If schools were mirroring their community in Richmond, they would be 40% white and 60% black… giving a little less to both sides to include Hispanic people.
The odd part is that the majority of staff in RPS schools from top to bottom is black. Seems like most of the white teachers went to county.
Did I say there was no black middle class? I live in a black middle class neighborhood. I made that point because a lot of the white folks seem to think that they have the same experience that a lot of the black folks are having. If you want to get right down to it, let’s take a stab at the percentage of whites who are above the poverty line in Richmond compared to the percentage of blacks. I sure as heck don’t see a lot of white people living in Gilpin and Fairfield court. Do you get my point or is race getting in the way here? I didn’t get my race card in the mail… did you get yours?
There is nothing wrong with trying something different. However, charter schools still have to follow many of the regulations that RPS schools do because they are public schools. If you want to not follow the rules then go to a private school. I find it ironic that the same people who are pushing for charter schools are the same people who pushed for No Child Left Behind and now they are turning around and complaining about test driven education.
As far as I am concerned, the middle class will continue to have to face the problems the lower class inflict upon them until the lower class becomes the middle class. Do you have a better way of doing this than through school? Until our poorest schools reach the same level of quality as Open, Fox, Community, and the like, we will continue to have more of the same. At least the kids who go to L. Brown don’t have to sit in crappy desks like the kids from Thompson, or endure the educationally disruptive architecture that open schools like Henderson causes.
What is the message you are sending to the community? We don’t care about you. We are middle class and we can afford to go elsewhere and good luck on your own. You depend on us for our tax base? You can take your tax base and . . . When someone breaks into your house, your car, and what not, just remember, that’s the only way that many people think they can get ahead, because they can’t read and write well enough to get a job like yours.
No, school can’t solve all the world’s problems, but a good education sure can provide opportunities a lack of one never can.
Isn’t NCLB a Bush Junior policy? And if I’m not mistaken most of the folk opening the charter are Obama supporters. Did you read about Obama supporting charter schools?
I believe we can have both school choice and great neighborhood schools. Well over a decade ago, Fox was not the cat’s meow and it’s transformation began with a very small handful of dedicated out-of-zone parents, some from the eastend. Slowly Fan residents started to notice and decided to enroll their children. I believe Holton also got a lot of out-of-zone help before it became a great school. Now Holton only has room for in-zone students. Create a draw at a school and the out-of-zone will come then the next thing you know, you have a great neighborhood school.
“Create a draw at a school and the out-of-zone will come then the next thing you know, you have a great neighborhood school.”
Precisely my point. Create hope.
And Teacher, I’m really not interested in hearing “It’s a black thing, you wouldn’t understand.” You keep hammering away with that, which makes me wonder what sort of environment white teachers run into when they do come into the city. My viewpoint is more along the lines of “We have to start somewhere.”
I agree with you Jennifer. However, I still believe that some of the opinions expressed here regarding expectations from people at other schools seems uninformed.
We do have to start somewhere. It is in our neighborhood schools and drawing all the affluent kids to a few out of zone schools does not improve them.
Yes Gray, I read the Obama charter schools piece. Yes NCLB is from the Bush camp and so are charter schools…. check Jeb Bush and GW bush record on vouchers and charter schools. The point I am making is that you must admit that it is ironic that the same people who support school choice are the same people who have made NCLB a part of schools regardless of whether or not you are in a charter. If you don’t want to deal with the mass of public school law you must go to a private school. Frankly, I have little faith in private schools considering that they do not require the same level of qualification nor pay as much as public schools. Having said that, two of my close friends went to private schools and are very well educated professionals.
Your point is my point Jennifer with the admonition, create hope at the school where you are. Stop running from the “bad” school and start helping to make it a great school.
So we go from Mumford, to Mumford and Fox, to Mumford and Fox and Holton, to Mumford and Fox and Holton and Fisher, to Mumford and Fox and Holton and Fisher and Bellevue and Cary, and yes there are still plenty of problems in the school system but that right there is a trend. I am of the opinion that the PHI would accelerate that trend towards success.
Would it immediately encompass the poorest areas of the city? Of course not, and surely that’s what frustrates so many of the PHI’s detractors. If we can get some momentum going, though? Maybe that progression will go from linear to exponential, and the end result – good schools for everyone – will be achievable.
Why not consider a charter school for at-risk students? Aren’t these the students who really need something different anyway? Aren’t those the students who most desperately suffer from the status quo of our schools?
Aren’t ALL kids really at-risk in today’s world? The major shootings have all happened in the rich ‘burbs. Governor’s daughters get pregnant just like infamous movie star’s sisters and they get their faces plastered on People magazine. What does “at-risk” mean anymore, honestly?
Oops… and I forgot, you are incorrect in your last statement Jennifer as Patrick Henry charter will immediately encompass the poorest areas of the city as well as the richest as by law charter schools are required to utilize a lottery system for all students who wish to enroll in a charter school throughout the entire district. Thank goodness someone is protecting our equal protection under the law.
However, it is my personal belief that the concept of requiring parents to be participants in the school as well as a lack of transportation would disenfranchise those who were less affluent and are incapable of doing those things.
Yes, I have read PHI’s response on these issues, no I don’t believe that there is a way around them. Not to be a stinker, but could you imagine what would happen if by some statistical freak of nature only students who were currently living in the projects were by lottery chosen for the initial opening of the school? Do you think that contingent of people who are fighting for this school would put as much into it as they are now?
I have my doubts, but I’d like to believe they would. After all, they want to make a school for the community right?
I wasn’t making any statements about PHI’s student body – I was talking about residual positive effects of the charter on the whole district.
I know the lottery will allow anyone to attend, and I know there are plenty of lower-income kids within walking distance. Fortunately for my kids, poor people are just too disenfranchised and incapable to manage the effort. Can you see my eyes rolling?
I believe the PHI leadership has already made a fairly strong statement for their commitment to the community, given the thousands of hours donated to the planning of this school, knowing there will be no preferences given to their own children. As for “statistical freak[s] of nature,” and given the numbers you supplied in an earlier comment,the school easily COULD be majority black. In fact, all people have to do is apply.
How on earth do poor single parents accomplish ANYTHING when they have the whole world – including the teachers – telling them they can’t do it?
Jennifer, Gray ….
I think you may be on to something here. The same mentality that makes excuses and limits the potential of single parents is precisely the same mentality that doles out diminished expectations of the children of single parents. I think many students are erroneously labeled “underachievers” due to failures of communication between teachers and students. It logically follows then that the administrators and teachers who don’t have high expectations of the parents are themselves part of the problem.
Something to think about:
Ten Factors Essential to Success in Urban Classrooms
1. Do not teach less content to poor, urban children, but understand their brilliance and teach more.
2. Whatever methodology or instructional program is used, demand critical thinking.
3. Assure that all children gain access to “basic skills,” the conventions and strategies that are essential to success in American education.
4. Challenge racist societal views of the competence and worthiness of the children and their families, and help them to do the same.
5. Recognize and build on strengths.
6. Use familiar metaphors and experiences from the children’s world to connect what they already know to school knowledge.
7. Create a sense of family and caring in the service of academic achievement.
8. Monitor and assess needs and then address them with a wealth of diverse strategies.
9. Honor and respect the children’s home and ancestral culture(s).
10. Foster a sense of children’s connection to community – to something greater than themselves.
This list was created by Lisa D. Delpit, who is the Benjamin E. Mays Professor of Urban Educational Leadership at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia, and also the director of the Center for Urban Educational Excellence, whose work focuses on education and race. In 1990, Delpit was the recipient of a MacArthur fellowship.
Teacher, you said, “It is in our neighborhood schools and drawing all the affluent kids to a few out of zone schools does not improve them.”
Why do you assume when you create a draw to a school only the affluent will come? And why do you also assume those who support “school choice” are from a particular group of people? The neighborhood school my children attend/have attended is almost entirely made up of out-of-zone poor children and there is no out-of-zone bussing for them. Here are some stats from 2005-2006: membership-298, black students-293, free lunch 203, reduced lunch 25. I think these numbers are still about the same this year.
How about Community? Here is a quote about their school on their website: “The school came into being because a Richmond business leader wanted to ensure that economically disadvantaged youngsters who were identified as academically gifted, or potentially so, would have the opportunities to maximize their giftedness.” So as you can see, school choice is not something just the affluent enjoy.
Teacher, you also said, “The point I am making is that you must admit that it is ironic that the same people who support school choice are the same people who have made NCLB a part of schools….”
For over my forty years of life in Richmond, parents –black and white, affluent and poor, democrat and republican –have been enrolling their children into out-of-zone schools. This practice predates NCLB. People who voted for Bush, Jr. made NCLB possible (or you could say the republican company that made the voting machines are responsible).
You’ll find democrats who support school choice just like you’ll find republicans that support pro-choice, you’ll find liberals for the death penalty, you’ll find Catholics for birth control, and the list goes on.
Parents looking for a good school for their children have nothing to do with party or class affiliations. The system should support parents working in existing schools and those wanting to form charters –the more public schools with parents in them the better for all.
By the way, I’m very interested in Art Burton’s charter Montessori idea for the Fulton neighborhood.
I’m getting the feeling that some readers either refuse to read all of what I am saying or simply choose to take them out of context. I certainly give you the respect of reading the entirety of your posts, please reciprocate.
At no point did I say poor single parents could not accomplish anything. In fact, what I said very clearly was that those people who are pushing hard for the charter school are not likely to be as engaged if the resulting student body were students from places such as Gilpin and Fairfield court. If that’s not clear enough, what I am saying is that by their current and past efforts, affluent families have made every effort not to assist poor single parents.
Removing their children from neighborhood schools is one method, and using out of zone schools is another. If you didn’t read the memo, Patrick Henry closed in part due to a declining enrollment. Where do you think those people who were attending went? If you draw a one mile circle around PH as the charter folks had planned, you’d see a predominately very white affluent neighborhood.
What could be more racist than saying if there is no charter school I am moving to the county?
As to GRR’s what does at-risk mean, you shouldn’t bother to argue if you can’t define the terms of your argument, so here it is: “”At-risk pupil” means a student having a physical, emotional, intellectual, socioeconomic, or cultural risk factor, as defined in the Virginia Board of Education criteria, which research indicates may negatively influence educational success.” Please don’t offer us more non-sense GRR.
Mrs. Wolf, since when did the word urban become a misnomer for poor and black? I hear the term urban used as such all the time and it makes me want to vomit. The fact of the matter is that most black people live in the south (according to US census data) and though the majority of Americans live on the east coast it would be foolish to think that the majority of urban centers are primarily black and poor. Let’s stop using this awful euphemism. I have been to so many major cities in the US that it really offends my intellect. I’m not surprised that the list was created by someone living in Atlanta.
If you want to promote the education of our students, teach them to read, because if you took a closer look, using better data than what RPS uses currently, to diagnose student reading levels you’d know right away that not enough is being done to promote this fundamental skill.
I find #6 on the list most humorous because many of our students have so few experiences that there are few metaphors they are familiar with. You are aware that many of our students don’t know who Edgar Allen Poe is and that many have no deep knowledge of Arthur Ashe and MLK right? Many of our students have few experiences beyond the boundaries of their neighborhoods.
So, to set the record straight, I’m not telling anyone that anything can’t be done. I am saying that those who are fighting for PHI haven’t been fighting for the schools that are there now. In fact, they have and continue to do everything they can to avoid them.
I’m definitely fighting for my neighborhood school and we’ve got some great things in the works…stay tuned.
But I also support the efforts of the PHI folk.
Teacher: I’m trying to read your posts thoroughly, believe me. If you’re a black parent living in the city and an educator in the system to boot, then so are a lot of other people.
Really, though: when you make a statement like, “What could be more racist than saying if there is no charter school I am moving to the county?” it makes my blood boil. First off, people aren’t all leaving. In fact, I’ve only seen one post to that effect since the second vote. Some of us are staying – a LOT of us are staying – and being painted with the same brush is insulting. Remember, a lot of work went into this application and charter and a couple of people chucked it into the toilet. Now someone has to fish it back out.
I suggest you revisit your assertion that drawing a one-mile radius circle around PHI will encompass “a predominately very white affluent neighborhood.” I’m looking at a map this very second, and about 60% of that circle cannot by any stretch of the word be considered “affluent.” We live in Westover Hills school district, but we’re nearly equidistant to PH. Many of the people working for PH live in Woodland Heights, which had PH as its neighborhood school.
Teacher, Labeling people racist because they don’t want their children attending regular RPS is ridiculous. First of all, everyone that left for the county after graduating from our neighborhood school was black. Secondly, I know plenty of people, white and black choosing to leave RPS because of the extreme focus on multiple choice tests riddled with errors, the way more than ever students are expected to be silent throughout the school day and lunch, and how questions coming from students are often considered a class distraction.
Teacher, explain to me why many of the black RPS employees have their children in county schools?
People leaving RPS is not a race issue.
I will add that the counties are also feeling the heat from Washington’s corrupt policies and I now know families choosing to leave county public schools for the same reasons I listed in post #132.
The lady doth protest too much, methinks.
i disagree that fleeing ineffective government is racist.
I will concede to some of your points, but there seems to be a lot of evidence that leads me to my perceptions.
If Modest Proposal is referring to me as a lady then being sexist is your thing. Since when does teacher imply lady considering the history of education in the world makes it pretty clear that until WWII education was dominated by men.
For Cracker McWhitey, funny name, you elected them or at least failed to get enough votes against them, so why are you fleeing? Also, ineffective schools does not really correlate to ineffective government, schools are much to complex for that to be accurate.
Where do you work, Teacher, that gives you so much free time during the day to blog?
And, who cares if education until WWII was dominated by men? We’re talking about the right now, right here in River City.
Your remark: “Also, ineffective schools does not really correlate to ineffective government, schools are much to complex for that to be accurate,” is totally devoid of rational thought considering that the U.S. and State governments are so tangled up in public education as to make it nearly impossible to for one to exist without the other.
Judging from your comments, Teacher, you may be female or male, but you are most certainly neither a lady nor a gentleman.
The ineffective government I was referring to was the school board. Should I make it my life’s work to improve the City of Richmond’s public education? Not this guy, not this lifetime. Instead, I work hard and pay a lot of taxes and expect better when it comes time to educate my child. I probably should have expected more pre-child, but as parents know, reproducing drastically changes perspectives.
You never addressed how one can be labeled a racist if they want to move their family to a locality that has proven it’s ability to educate. You should be more careful about labeling people as such. Not only is it incredibly offensive, I suspect it speaks of your own racial prejudices.
GRR please keep your ad hominem attacks to yourself. There is no point in making personal attacks.
YOU call people racists and all I do is suggest that you are neither a lady nor a gentleman. Hardly the stuff of an ad hominem attack.
Many of us work hard, all of us pay taxes and compared to a lot of other countries we don’t pay all that much in taxes.
RPS has shown a lot of growth in accreditation. True it needs more work, but it seems to me that a lot of white people have abandoned RPS as 40% of the population of Richmond is white and much less than 40% of our student population is white. That is how I qualify my statement.
Once again, a good discussion has completely degenerated into name calling.
Where has the black middle-class gone, Teacher?
And, Tiny, RELAX.
Sometimes when people rub one another the wrong way, we are simply polishing one another for the Lord.
Judging from your comments, GRR, you may be female or male, but you are most certainly neither a lady nor a gentleman.
Weren’t you just up on CHPN flinging mud at the abused kid’s neighbors for not reporting abuse they might not have realized was going on?
Seriously. Pot calling kettle.
I tried to bring the focus back. I’ll give it another jump start.
How are we going to improve existing schools by going to non-existent or county schools?
You contend that 40% of the City of Richmond is white, yet there are not 40% of kids attending RPS that are white. Pretty erroneous argument.
The demographics of the 60/40 black to white do not break out the same. The black population in the city is comprised of many more people with children than the white population.
And, I apologized for that. Profoundly, as I am sure you recall.
But, I will not apologize for doing a gut-check on Teacher’s comments before things started to fly really out-of-control.
We need to talk about race and class if we hope to find a way to bring lasting and substantive change to our schools.
Like it or not, RACE is the huge elephant in the room when people are talking about the Patrick Henry Charter. And, so is CLASS.
While Teacher makes some good points, we will get NOWHERE if we continue to use racial innuendo to drive discussions about how to do the right things for our children and our city.
I appreciate Teacher’s commentary and want to continue to discuss issues together. We just need to be respectful and treat one another as human beings who want the best for our children.
I’d be less concerned about race if there wasn’t a pretty clear de facto segregation going on.
I should also apologize for not being very gentle with my language and statements. Being politically correct and tactful are not my strong points.
@136: Teacher, in my “doth protest too much” comment, I was speaking of Gray in post 132. Sorry, quoting Shakespeare never got me anywhere before, why should it start now? I am grateful for your boldness and straight-talk here. It’s a refreshing dose of honesty.
Nor are they mine, Teacher. But, I consider this to be such an important issue for discussion that I felt the need to do a gut-check in order to keep us from devolving into accusation/counter-accusation.
I apologize for not finding a more tactful way to make the point, but not for making the point in the hope of bringing us forward into a deeper discussion of what needs to happen to reclaim ALL our schools.
A modest proposal, Too bad. I will continue to protest until I see change in the way RPS operates. I’m a mother of children enrolled in RPS, a PTA member, a taxpayer, and a voter.
Race and class are only a factor in the classroom if you let them become issues. Yes, I realize African-Americans are a huge at-risk group and black males disproportionately test below grade level. But, when I’m standing before them, they are children equally needing my attention and yearning to learn. You wanna get back to the issues? The issues are that when I look at my students I know statistically half of them will drop out after eighth grade. The issues are many of our students are below grade level in reading and math but are managing to pass the SOLs , although they can’t understand many important terms on legal documents. The issues are many of my students live in a single parent household and often have to get home to babysit, so they can’t stay afterschool for tutoring or even enrichment clubs. The issues are that most of my students have at least 1 relative in jail and think it normal to for people to go to jail a couple of times. But while most urban (and by “urban” I mean predominantly black or other minority, lower-income cities) school districts face these problems, I can’t let them be issues in my classroom.
RPS needs to spend more in the classroom than it does on its admin staff downtown, RPS needs to lower class size (30+ kids in a class isn’t doing anyone any good), RPS needs to hire competent principals and let them run their buildings, RPS needs to provide basic sanitary conditions and, most importantly, RPS needs to implement true accountability. And by accountability, I’m not talking about who can crank out the highest test scores- at the end of the day they mean nothing when we look at the lives of our children and the statistics of their lives after middle school.
“…when I’m standing before them, they are children equally needing my attention and yearning to learn.”
RPS Teacher, you sound like a good teacher. And I couldn’t agree more with your list of what RPS needs to do.
I concur with the other “RPS teacher” our views are exactly the same.
However, it is not always the case that the principals are incompetent. Frequently good principals and teachers are under obligations placed upon them by external sources. I’m not saying there aren’t incompetent principals or teachers and I know that some may think I’m being a radical and overly critical, but we are reaching the breaking point.
We aren’t going to improve our schools through testing and slogans alone. We’re going to have to have our egos and feelings hurt a bit and we’re going to have to move beyond some barriers we’re afraid to cross.
One of the barriers I see is the race issue and another is class.
Please don’t presume that teachers are created equal and that we’re all saints. This applies to everyone.
It’s my humble wish that we could take all of the energy here and apply it to making RPS the kind of system it is capable of being. I believe that even if these discussions are painful or uncomfortable, we are getting somewhere.
The sincerity is apparent, but we often lack focus and we’re in need of good leadership. There are a lot of concerned people who might be leading us in the wrong direction.
I’m only one voice and sometimes I am standing all alone on my platform, but there are a lot of others out there who share my ideology and frustration and we’ll find each other if we just start dialoging.
I don’t have the solution, but I do have an idea. Simply, go to your neighborhood school and do all you can to make it what it can be.
There is a lot of research that has a lot of ideas on how to improve schools like ours and there are a lot of schools like ours that have been where we are and are where we are and with the right effort, right knowledge, right heart, we can change.
I think we need to learn to walk in other’s shoes. Those of us who are more affluent (or at least not living in poverty) need to have some empathy for the issues that the poor face. Things like free after school care, out of zone bussing, and mentoring are very important to parents that are struggling to survive.
I would challenge anyone that relies upon their car to use the bus system for one day to go to work, run their chores, and transport children to and from after school activities. For those of you with more than one car in your household, think how difficult it would if you only had one car.
For example, if your child’s school bus is late, that makes you late for work because you have just missed your bus and have to wait 40 minutes for the next one. Now, you have to stay late at work in order to make up your hours – if you are allowed to do so. This means you are late coming home.
A good local grocery store with decent food in Union Hill area would also be a plus. Ever try to do your grocery shopping via bus? And the price of formula in the corner stores is astronomical compare to a chain grocery store.
In case you weren’t aware there is a forum for the fourth district school board tonight. Go to http://www.southsiderichmond.org/
for more information.
The Fourth District forum is going to be something different tonight. In stead of the short answer Q and A, a parents’ group has come up with four broad topic areas each candidate will be asked to address in depth. We hope to shed more light by mining deeper rather than broader. It may be interesting.
Again, I call for Carol Wolfe, Keith West and George Braxton to blow the lid off of this mess. RPS is a secretive burocracy that is impossible to penetrate. AND OUR KIDS ARE PAYING.
Too many of our schools are blighted, too many of our school board members vote along racial lines, students, administrators and parents have fallen into the black hole of LEARNED HELPLESSNESS.
Only opening the secret vault of RPS School Board for all to see will fix this problem.
Please. A press conference. An open letter to the RTD. ANYTHING. Please.
Richmond is demanding answers and results. ALL OF OUR KIDS deserve more.
Prior to the PHI, what was RPS plans for the building? How much is the building worth? Renovated how much is it worth? For those against the charter, I’m wondering if all this is about the money -money that was promised somewhere else. Part of me believes that contract was taking the PHI people for a ride. I’m probably wrong but after my experience with a cruel abusive school administration picking on kids and a big cover up by downtown administrators, human resources, safety and security, I don’t trust downtown anymore.
I’m counting on Wolf to tell it like it is on Monday night! Common Sense Mom is right. The time for some serious truth-telling has come. It is way past time.
I’ve heard tid-bits of truth from Carol, George and Keith through this process and especially with this most recent contract failure.
I can tell you that I deeply appreciate Carol’s candor and Keith West’s open aknowledgement of the school board’s desire to have the PHI contract written so that it would fail to launch. It’s refreshing and it makes me want to get involved and make changes.
It also makes me wonder what else lies beneath the surface of the frigid water our kids are swimming in. Just how big is this iceburg of dysfunction? There is no way to fix what you can’t see.
Carol, Keith and George… I ask you… What is the cost of speaking the truth about the broken areas of RPS? And what is the cost of silence?
How can we even begin to talk about blighted schools when $52,000 is being spent on a farewell party for someone who couldn’t account for 8 million dollars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! RPS has real problems and shame on the local biz members who agreed to contribute to this instead of to our children. She’s leaving and it shouldn’t be on a throne. She got test scores up, what else has improved? Not much from the way I see it.
Why can’t we just say, “Bye-bye, L’il Debbie” and be rid of the memory of the financial disaster that she oversaw? For the record, the teachers got those test scores up. The teachers, the children and those-single parent families we keep hearing about.
Is this common throwing a farewell party to a Superintendent leaving office? Who came up with the Zero Tolerance Disciplinary policy that labels small children as criminals? Dr. Jewel-Sherman?
You bet. That’s one of the ways she “raised” those test scores. We’ve had record numbers of children suspended from elementary schools under her watch. Push-outs and drop-outs are what happens when you target kids for suspension after suspension after suspension and criminalize normal childhood behavior.
I give RPS more credit than that. You are really overstating the discipline issue. For what it’s worth Jewell won the superintendent of the year award for the state of VA. Doesn’t that make you wonder if you are missing something?
Of course, once you guys get on this track, it is very hard for any other viewpoint to come across.
There are many who agree with me, but they do not blog here. I merely comment to keep the discussion for being a one-side slug fest.
She got the award because she followed Bush Junior’s policies so well.
I admit that I don’t know much about Dr. Jewel-Sherman. If she did such a wonderful job then why don’t I know a thing about her?
This is part of the problem with RPS. There is HUGE public perception that RPS just plain sucks. How much of that perception is fairly earned? How much of it is overblown?
Why are we spending so much money on a party for a woman who is barely known to so many Richmond parents?
Again…we need some answers here.
Amen, amen, amen!
Gray & Common Sense Mom.
http://www.richmondfreepress.com/news.html
Based on the comments in an article in the Richmond Free Press, it appears the Patrick Henry Initiative may be doomed.
Once again, we have egos running amok and people who should know better attempting to have secret closed doors meetings to discuss our tax dollars and the ways to help Richmond’s children.
Braxton, Dawson, Carr and Bridges appear particularly pig-headed [and no, am not suggesting we put lipstick on them].
It is time, Richmond, to move into the future, leave the fear of yesterday behind and introduce innovative concepts such as hands on learning through the adjacent parks, interdisciplinary approach to teaching all subjects, and emphasis in environmental science, to move education foward in this city, for the benefit of ALL CHILDREN. One elementary school will not help all 17,000 RPS students on day one, but IT WILL BEGIN to move education forward in a significant way for the 350+ students that attend and build year after year, and share with the rest of RPS.
The School Board will be voting on the revised contract Monday October 6th. I do not know if this will be at 4:30pm or 6pm.
The vote will be during the 6 p.m. session. I urge everyone to plan to attend. If you have any questions or concerns between now and Monday at 4:30 pm, please e-mail me at WOLFIES@aol.com.
Thanks!
Carol
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