Delaware Black Caucus urges city school takeover
In a letter send May 10 to Gov. Jack Markell, the leaders of the Delaware Black Caucus have harsh words for the Christina School District board of education.
And the caucus outlines its case for why the state should take over either the district or at least a few schools. The letter singles out John Young, the school board president, and his recent email to Jea Street was included with the letter.
In review of Delaware Race to The Top application I see no endorsement from the Delaware Black Caucus. I am not sure who speaks for the Wilmington and Delaware’s minorities but I do see an endorsement letter from the Metropolitan Wilmington Urban League and endorsement from Latina American Community Center. Also many other endorsement letters from various groups and organizations.
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop/phase1-applications/appendixes/delaware.pdf
Rather then requesting the Delaware Department of Education to takeover Christina School District a better solution that would serve the needs of “all” city students would be a stand alone Wilmington, Delaware school district. Busing under the desegregation order has ended for suburban students and pretty much continues for Wilmington students particularly middle school and high schools students. In fact there is not one traditional public high school with in the city of Wilmington boundaries.
In the E-mail from John Young to Jea Street, Young notes, “my personal views on RTTT”. So in that respect, John Young wasn’t speaking for the board. Other comments seemed to be honest heartfelt views about the condition of education impacting black students within the district. For those of you are native Delawareans you know racism still exist within our public schools. Its not often we see an educator or school board members raise concerns about inequities and putting John Young’s what appears to be a personal E-mail out in the public will for sure keep honest opinions and views buried under the rock of ignorance. As far as the recent crisis with Christina and the PZ Plan issue, the district superintendent deviating from the agreement that cause concerns for civil rights of teachers impacted. Then there is common knowledge that the board voted not to extend the superintendent contract and with one more voted needed nest fall her services will end with the district.
I do agree 100% minority and all Wilmington students are being under served through a charter school program that requires admission test for some and not others, exclusions based on intelligence that discriminates against at-risk and struggling students, magnet schools that have admission test and a Choice school program that seems to be acceptable to the Delaware State Board of Education to satisfy the conditions of the Neighborhood Schools Act that doesn’t provide transportation for inner city students. Some say Wilmington’s minority student population reverted back to pre-desegregation years and perhaps more racially identified and this was by choice of the parents. Well, when you’re locked out of Choice due to transportation inequities and charter school “specific interest” preferences what other choices do you have. Then in comes the governor closing high poverty and predominantly African-American charter schools to show Washington he has the fortitude to close failing schools.
I have the feeling the intent of this action isn’t about the needs of Wilmington students but rather setting the stage to try and save the superintendent’s job. What better way than leaving coded messages that white board member are possible racist. Using an E-mail that was open honest and heartfelt intend for the receiver and used to degrade the sender isn’t good and will send a message to all educators and board members be careful what you send. There a valid known reason long before the PZ Plan crisis to justify taking over Christian and other districts. Wilmington doesn’t need DEDOE taking over Christina for one they don’t have the capacity or knowhow. Wilmington needs it’s owe school district so that the community can invest themselves and meet the needs of their children where others are failing.
To all: Do not leave any crude racist remarks like I see on the NJ webpage. They will be deleted.
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jea fails to mention that its the super who has failed city kids. she is incompetent, white or black– she is flat out incompettent
oh and if you are looking for racism check the administrative hiring process that goes on in csd. all one race over another.
Reading between the lines it appears there is two agendas. One to intimidate Young to step-down of the board and that ain’t going to happen and the other try to protect the super’s job. Last fall was a board vote not to extend her comment and one more due next fall.
Also, DEDOE and Markell already took-over Christina evident with pulling of the RTTT funds just because the board raised concerns that the super deviated from the PZ Plan. Markell media blitz against John Young pushed out the race card. So sad!
Well, we’ve come full circle it seems. Just imagine — if we had adopted the voluntary busing plan that Judge Schwartz and the social engineers deemed inadequate back in the mid-70s: the city school district would still exist, and school choice would have been implemented 20+ years sooner.
Another perfect example of why people do not revere so-called “intellectuals,” the subject of an upcoming post of mine …
[...] century, busing failed to increase student achievement, and now we see [minority] calls for … a return to a city school district. A city school district in Wilmington, just like the one that existed before 1978, the year the [...]