Memphis Schools to be Merged?

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http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/jan/16/for-kids-sake-lets-consider-consolidation-from/

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Memphis school situation is at a point people are talking. They may be talking past each other but they are talking. For those who don't know, the city is trying to turn in their charter to run a SSD. They evidently see they can't make it work. Some feel the District is out of control and want things to be better. This thread was started because of some actions of a school at a sporting event in Memphis that was determined the school had inadequate control in its administration and concern by those who saw it. Upon further investigation, many others expressed the same thing about Memphis schools and scheduling them.

While maybe not accurate, some have posted on here from memphis about the inability to schedule games. Others from outside have complained about the conduct of students in playing schools. There are a myrid of problems involved but in having many post on here, its obvious the SSD as constructed may not be working. Thus is the cause of the talk of the merger. An opinion, most all of the communication coning out of memphis thru the Newspaper with quotes express things are not right and need to be better. That seems to be mostly the attitude. Schools want to play memphis schools but they will not if the safety of their students are in question. Parents in the Memphis schools want the best for their students and safety is important there. The politions need to get the situation under control. If they are unable to do it, the people(parents) will find a way to exert their influence to make things better. Cooler heads are involved in talks but it is important to get a plan in motion so no other incidents occur. Everyone seems to want the same thing. Where is the leadership? Politics seem to be getting in the way of results. Two mayors and two sets of adminsitration, its not because you don't have enough help. It's because you don't have enough help. That may seem to be confusing but think about it.

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http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2011/jan/26/willie-herenton-speak-school-consolidation-talk-th/

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No new expense for Shelby County Schools in merger with Memphis

Per-pupil cost won't rise to level of Memphis City Schools

By Sherri Drake Silence

Memphis Commercial Appeal

Posted January 27, 2011 at midnight

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DiggFacebookLinkedInTweet thisPrintAAA.Showdown over Schools.Follow our coverage of the debate over whether Memphis City Schools will surrender its charter and merge with Shelby County Schools.

Schools consolidation letters.Shelby County Schools Supt. John Aitken’s letter to the state education commissioner asking for clarification about student funding Letter from state's acting education commissioner to Shelby County superintendent Leaders of Shelby County Schools have argued that merging with city schools might require an extra $100 million, but the state education commissioner deflated that point this week.

 

In a unified system, Shelby school officials would only be required to maintain the suburban system's current level of local funding, although they could increase it, according to a letter to the county schools' superintendent from Patrick Smith, acting commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Education.

 

Currently, Memphis City Schools spends $10,767 per pupil and SCS spends $8,439.

 

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Next.School systems receive state and local money through a funding formula that is based primarily on student population. The federal government allots extra money for low-income students.

 

SCS Supt. John Aitken asked the education commissioner to clarify whether, in a merger, his district would have to bump the current funding amount for SCS students up to the MCS level, which would cost an extra $100 million. Aitken got his answer this week.

 

The hefty price tag to adjust student funding has been a major anti-consolidation argument from county school leaders. Now, they argue that maintaining the current SCS funding level in a merger could mean a significant decline in resources for schools.

 

"If you fund at the lower level as we move in, there's the possibility that programs would have to be cut," Aitken said Tuesday. "That's the double-edged sword."

 

District leaders could ask the County Commission, the local funding body for the consolidated system, for more money, but it's not guaranteed that they'd get it.

 

According to Smith's letter, based on the Education Department's interpretation of state law, the consolidated system has three years to adjust the funding amount but must stay at least at the current level of SCS. At the end of three years, the maintenance-of-effort level would be set.

 

By state law, schools can't be funded at a lower level than they were during the previous year.

 

"There is no requirement that a new Shelby County School District, that includes the former Memphis City Schools, maintain a specific local funding level," Smith wrote. "... However, the DOE would expect the local funding level to be at least at the current Shelby County level of funding."

 

In a televised debate about consolidation Tuesday night, SCS board chairman David Pickler referenced the education commissioner's letter, saying the county's current funding level will be the default setting for the next three years, resulting in a $2,300 "funding gap" for city students.

 

"This forced consolidation could very well have the effect of depriving those children in the Memphis City Schools system of hundreds of millions of dollars of resources," Pickler said. In a debate Wednesday night, Pickler brought up the issue several times, again claiming the state indicated that funding in a unified system would be closer to the $8,400 per-pupil level of SCS, well below the $10,700 currently for MCS -- a quarter-billion difference, Pickler claims.

 

County Commissioner Mike Ritz said he thinks county school leaders are creating drama to stave off a merger. He anticipates the consolidated system being funded based on an average of the current SCS and MCS per-pupil expenditure levels.

 

"This is just scare tactics to try to scare Memphis voters to vote no (on the referendum)," Ritz said.

 

On March 8, city voters will decide whether to transfer control of MCS to SCS.

 

Aitken said he has "no clue" what level of funding they'd ask for from the County Commission to run a consolidated system. His staff is working on next year's budget for only SCS.

 

"We haven't even gotten that far in the process to know where we are," Aitken said. "... It takes a while to craft and develop our own budget."

[tradertwo]

Talk about a rough day at work! If this "merger" is forced upon S.C.B.O.E.the first days work afterward would incorporate trimming a quarter of a billion(yes billion)dollars from a budget which is not now sufficent,and will deteriorate by a vast amount when the mass exodus of students to the private and surrounding county systems occour.Add into that the daunting task of solving problems now faced by the Memphis City system(which they themselves could not) including maintaining the state mandated benchmarks such as graduation rates and test scores(of which both will drop),and just for fun the public relations nightmare that would erupt from parents on both sides of this issue,especially the current Shelby County citizens,which would involve stemming the aforementioned tide of defecting students.Lastly try and accomplish these superhuman tasks while under the national media microscope.If the Board of Directors,Director of Schools,and S.C.B.O.E. staff are equal to this challenge,the next order of buisness will be "reorginization"(hostile takeover)in which all but three members lose their position.As I understand the progression of this process,the Shelby Co. Board(of which the now defunct Memphis City system would be included)would reorganize with nine districts,six of them being comprised within the old City system.In laymans terms,six of nine Board Members would be familiar faces from the M.C.B.O.E.,enough for a two-thirds controlling majority of vote.The M.C. Board has figured a way to hand off their problems to a more competent management team with sufficent time to "right the ship" somewhat,incorporate(engulf)a system and its rescources that will raise test scores and graduation percentages,and then assume control again,all under the 'guise of progress.I'd bet that they've even figured a way not to miss a paycheck.....stay tuned to find out.

Edited January 27, 2011 by tradertwo

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NASHVILLE -- State Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey said this afternoon he wants legislation to block or delay the March 8 referendum on merging Memphis City Schools into the Shelby County school system.

 

"Any reasonable person would say that you don't turn over a three-times larger school system to the smaller school system and dump it in their lap on about 30 days notice. That's not going to accomplish anything. So we need to just step back, think this through, figure out where we need to go and that can't happen if the referendum gets started in February," Ramsey, R-Blountville, said today.

 

Meanwhile, the legislature also began the process this afternoon of expediting bills addressing the merger issue. The chairmen of both the Senate education and finance committees this afternoon called special meetings of their committees for next Wednesday to consider the legislation by Sen. Mark Norris, R-Collierville, requiring a planning process of both the city and county school districts.

 

The Senate Education Committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, followed by the Senate Finance committee at 3. Approval by both committees would enable the full Senate to consider the bill when it returns Feb. 7.

 

Norris' bill, filed two weeks ago, could be amended in any of several ways -- possibly to include Ramsey's preference to block or delay the referendum.

 

Because the Shelby County Election Commission has already set the dates for the referendum, court action is almost certain to follow any legislative action.

 

Early voting in the citywide referendum on transferring administrative authority of MCS over to the county schools board is scheduled to start Feb. 16.

 

Ramsey's remarks to reporters in Nashville today are the strongest indication yet that the state legislature will attempt to block the school system merger when it reconvenes Feb. 7 from a three-week recess following the Jan. 15 inauguration of Gov. Bill Haslam.

 

"My goal is to put this off for a year," Ramsey said. "I don't think we need to be voting on this in March. I think the referendum is very premature. I think we need to have a plan of action of where we go, where the county goes if they take that over."

 

Ramsey said he's even considering the possibility of state legislation allowing the state to take over operation of MCS because, he said, the state's overall student performance results are not likely to improve if MCS continues operating essentially the same way it has.

 

"I'm even looking at this as an opportunity to maybe think outside the box and have the state take over that school system, personally. I think if we want to raise the test scores in the State of Tennessee, we can't do that without changing the way Memphis City Schools operate.

 

"During my governor's race, there were 17 high schools that had been on the failing list for five years or more and 14 of them were in the Memphis City Schools. And so just turning this over to the county or keep doing what we've been doing but a little bit different is not going to change that.

 

"I've talked to the governor about this. I don't know where he is on this yet -- because it is premature -- to bring an expert in as they have done at some other school systems...and have them revamp this system top to bottom."

 

Asked by The Commercial Appeal whether he means legislation to block the March 8 referendum, Ramsey replied: "Yes. Yes. Or at least postpone it for a year or something. I am. Absolutely I'm all in favor of it."

 

© 2011 Memphis Commercial Appeal. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Now we see why the Memphis Special School District has decided to go out of the School business. They should have about 5 years ago. There is no wonder there were complaints on this site about things being handled the way they were. The citizens deserve better but all at once??????????? Things were a little out of control.

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Photo by Alan Spearman // Buy this photo

 

Collierville Mayor Stan Joyner speaks Thursday to pledge his support to the Shelby County Schools board to do whatever he can to help the board in its push against consolidation with Memphis City Schools.

 

Former Memphis mayor Willie Herenton says he'll tell everyone he knows to vote for school consolidation and that he's willing to assist in the merger process, though he doesn't want the superintendent's post again.

 

Showdown over Schools.Follow our coverage of the debate over whether Memphis City Schools will surrender its charter and merge with Shelby County Schools.

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Next."I'm not interested in trying to take anybody's job," he said. "I will say this. They need help. They really need help."

 

Herenton was among the speakers at a forum Thursday night at Hollywood Community Center in North Memphis who said a "yes" vote would lead to better schools.

 

"This is an opportunity to equalize educational opportunities across this county," he said.

 

The forum's organizer, County Commissioner Henri E. Brooks, said, "When it boils down all the way, it is about race and power. Because in Memphis everything is about race."

 

Radio personality Thaddeus Matthews said school board redistricting after a merger would give African-Americans power not just in education but in politics, too.

 

"They told us in school the majority rules," he said. "If we are the majority, then let's rule!"

 

Some in the predominantly black audience of about 200 cheered, but invited anti-consolidation speakers hadn't shown up, and not everyone was happy to attend a pro-consolidation pep rally.

 

"I thought I was coming to this meeting to hear, get some information and decide where do we go from here," said Verline Mayo, 73.

 

Mayo was one of several people who asked for more details about a merger plan.

 

"We have a plan," Brooks said. "There will be a plan but that information isn't going to be given out now. ... A number of things have to be worked out."

 

Advocates for both sides are seeking to influence public opinion in forums and debates. There are just over five weeks left until the March 8 referendum on school consolidation, and it's still unclear how a merger would happen and what the long-term effects would be.

 

Meanwhile, in a move that may be stating the obvious, the Shelby County school board voted Thursday night to show a united front and pass a resolution opposing a merger with city schools.

 

Board member Mike Wissman suggested the resolution, saying he wanted the board to send a message to county residents that this isn't just board chairman David Pickler's fight.

 

"You've been a lightening rod for criticism and information," Wissman told Pickler. "... They see you, but they don't see the board.

 

"I just want to let the people of Shelby County know ... we are doing what we can."

 

Board members didn't discuss what action they'd take to stop school consolidation.

 

In a public forum before the board's business meeting at Collierville High School, Collierville Mayor Stan Joyner and a few others expressed their concern about a merger and told board members they had their backs in the frenzy over consolidation. The school's auditorium was far from packed, but many showed their support with applause.

 

"You've taken a lot of bullets," said Houston High band director Jim Smith. "It can't be a comfortable thing to have to do. ... You have represented our interests very, very well."

 

— Daniel Connolly: 529-5296; — Sherri Drake Silence: 529-2510

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Memphis bouncing back, mayor says in annual address

By Amos Maki

Memphis Commercial Appeal

Posted January 27, 2011 at 12:58 p.m., updated January 27, 2011 at 10:06 p.m.

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Memphis Mayor A C Wharton stops to greet Autumn Richmond, 12, after he delivered his State of the City address Thursday to a standing-room-only crowd in the lobby of Le Bonheur Children's Hospital.

 

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Read it.Read the text from Wharton's State of the City address

Touting successes in crime reduction and economic development, Memphis Mayor A C Wharton declared Memphis "a city on the mend and on the move" Thursday in an address that focused on challenges his administration and the city have overcome.

 

"Some have compared my administration to building a plane while we're already in the air," Wharton said in his annual State of the City address. "I think we're building a bridge while we're already crossing the raging river."

 

After taking over the last two years of former mayor Willie Herenton's final term in 2009, Wharton has spent much of his time responding to crises left by his predecessor.

 

Wharton talked in general terms about the challenges — which included an Animal Shelter that was raided on his first day in office and a job-training program and major city division in chaos — before highlighting recent reductions in crime and announcements of new industrial prospects. He promised more good things to come.

 

"We're a city on the mend and on the move," he said.

 

Wharton, speaking before a crowd of about 150 community activists and civic and business leaders at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital for his second State of the City address since becoming mayor, said one of his main focuses has been economic development and job creation.

 

Wharton was a key player in landing an Electrolux manufacturing facility in Southwest Memphis. The largest manufacturing project to hit Memphis in years, Electrolux will create 1,250 jobs, with suppliers creating an additional 2,250 jobs, according to the Greater Memphis Chamber of Commerce.

 

Wharton has proposed revamping the city's economic development structure by combining several local economic development agencies to create a one-stop resource called EDGE, which stands for Economic Development and Growth Engine.

 

"Our new Economic Development and Growth Engine will get rid of the bureaucracy and divergent agendas that have crippled job growth here for so long," said Wharton. "This will be one of the easiest places in the country to start, expand or relocate a business."

 

Wharton also said the city is winning the battle against crime, a major concern for residents and businesses for years.

 

In 2010, for the first year since the 1970s, the number of criminal homicides in Memphis was under 100. Also in 2010, the number of major crimes reported in Memphis dropped more than 10.8 percent.

 

Wharton said he will focus heavily this year on reducing domestic violence.

 

"We are winning the war on crime, yet many battles remain," the mayor said. "Every day in every neighborhood, victims of domestic violence are still suffering. This is the next front in the war against crime."

 

Wharton said that in April, Memphis and five other cities will participate in a youth-violence-prevention initiative sponsored by the departments of Justice and Education.

 

Wharton also said that he will present to the City Council recommendations from his Strategic Assessment Committee that call for major changes to the structure and policies of city government.

 

The committee, which includes business and civic leaders and began meeting in July, has settled on five areas of focus: taxes, fees and incentives; personnel and employee benefits; zero-based budgeting; capital improvement projects budgeting and debt reduction; and resource and facilities utilization.

 

Wharton's message hit home with Zach Hoyt, an Iowa transplant who is attending the University of Memphis School of Law.

 

"Mayor Wharton has shown he has the vision to show the greatness of Memphis while not ignoring or being blinded by its problems," Hoyt said.

 

 

Mayor, your SSD school problem has been going on for at least 5 years. Its hoped you are involved in this problem. Nothing was mentioned about it in this article. When can your views be known.

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State education board orders Shelby County Schools to OK charter school application

By Sherri Drake Silence

Memphis Commercial Appeal

Posted January 28, 2011 at 1:19 p.m.

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DiggFacebookLinkedInTweet thisPrintAAA.Search our databases. The state board of education voted unanimously today to require Shelby County Schools to approve a charter school application that the suburban district has rejected twice.

 

The charter school would be the first in Shelby County Schools, which has long put off the non-traditional form of public schools.

 

Smart Schools Inc. filed an appeal with the state board after SCS officials rejected the organization’s application to open a New Consortium of Law and Business charter school in county schools.

 

Based on a recommendation from Gary Nixon, executive director of the Tennessee State Board of Education, the full board voted today to remand the decision by SCS and order the district to approve the application. In his recommendation, Nixon said SCS had acted “contrary to the best interests of the pupils, the school district and the community†by denying the application.

 

The state board’s attorney said today’s vote is final. SCS can’t appeal the decision.

 

“I feel like the dog that’s caught the mail truck,†Tommie Henderson, executive director of Smart Schools, said today after the vote. “… All we are waiting on is for the Shelby County Schools board to move forward with this decision, so that we can get rolling.â€

 

Smart Schools plans to open the charter school this fall to about 35 seventh graders. With approval from Memphis City Schools, Henderson opened a similar charter school Downtown last year. He also started the Memphis Academy of Science and Engineering in MCS.

 

Shelby County school board chairman David Pickler said Friday that he’s “deeply disappointed†with the state board’s decision.

 

“We still retain great concern over this application,†Pickler said. “It does not meet the standards established by the Shelby County board of education and staff.â€

 

SCS officials gave Smart Schools’ initial application a score of 54.5 points out of 100. They gave a revised application a score of 71.

 

Pickler said the attorney for SCS is looking into any options the district has to block the state board’s vote.

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January 28, 2011

1:28 p.m.

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moloot_98#274366 writes:

Looks SCS have a history of manipulating stats to gain a certain outcome.

...January 28, 2011

1:36 p.m.

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carjo writes:

Pickler the self serving dummy is afraid he won't have any power over Charter Schools. I guarantee you he has some hidden agenda that benefits him.

 

He needs to resign or get thrown out of office.

He's impeding the education of the children to satisfy his own whims.

...January 28, 2011

1:44 p.m.

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Memphis_is_Okay writes:

Good to hear. The use of charter schools needs to be greatly expanded in every school district. They need to quit limiting the number of charter schools allowed. In addition, the requirement that the population of the school come from failing schools or students that are themselves failing needs to be lifted.

 

This is the way to break the control of the education bureaucracy and teachers unions in public schools. If vouchers aren't going to be allowed, then charter schools are the only way to give parents choices that best meet the needs of their children. Bring competition and innovation to the schools and things will start to improve.

 

This is the first of many good things coming to Shelby County school children from the new state government in Nashville.

...January 28, 2011

1:55 p.m.

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huntchaxon writes:

Wow! Pickler's getting popped from all sides...

...January 28, 2011

2:03 p.m.

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Smiles writes:

Charter Schools can meet the needs of some children that public schools cannot. Putting the child first is the priority. Where will this school be located?

...January 28, 2011

2:06 p.m.

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delaware writes:

in response to Memphis_is_Okay:

 

Good to hear. The use of charter schools needs to be greatly expanded in every school district. They need to quit limiting the number of charter schools allowed. In addition, the requirement that the population of the school come from failing schools or students that are themselves failing needs to be lifted.

 

This is the way to break the control of the education bureaucracy and teachers unions in public schools. If vouchers aren't going to be allowed, then charter schools are the only way to give parents choices that best meet the needs of their children. Bring competition and innovation to the schools and things will start to improve.

 

This is the first of many good things coming to Shelby County school children from the new state government in Nashville.

 

Great post. I highly recommend viewing the award winning documentary, Waiting for Superman. It becomes available on Amazon in early February I think. It chronicles why the public education system in this country is broken and why charter schools are a MUST. Mr. Pickler doesn't want them because he loses power to them. Martavious and Tomeka don't like them either for the same reason. This entire struggle has absolutely NOTHING to do with educating children - it is about adults taking care of adults. Political power.....

...January 28, 2011

2:10 p.m.

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ssimyram writes:

Since the state tended to that, can they just head on to the MCS and take them over by now. Please?

 

Pretty please? With a lump of sugar on top.

 

I am just playing. Even though...

 

Uh

 

"Pickler said the attorney for SCS is looking into any options the district has to block the state board’s vote."

 

Can the county over-rule the state? I think not, but I might be wrong.

...January 28, 2011

2:14 p.m.

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Barf writes:

in response to ssimyram:

 

Since the state tended to that, can they just head on to the MCS and take them over by now. Please?

 

Pretty please? With a lump of sugar on top.

 

I am just playing. Even though...

 

Uh

 

"Pickler said the attorney for SCS is looking into any options the district has to block the state board’s vote."

 

Can the county over-rule the state? I think not, but I might be wrong.

 

That's a great idea. Have Pickler fight the same people that could provide inavluable support in the SCS effort to block the charter surrender. Pickler is in a pickle.

...January 28, 2011

2:15 p.m.

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BeatriceP writes:

Pickler is the Willie Herenton of education

...January 28, 2011

2:15 p.m.

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Griff64 writes:

If current state law permits the state BOE to impose a charter school in this fashion, then so be it. However, the legislature, as part of its emphasis on school reform should take a hard look at allowing individual systems to opt out of charter schools system-wide.

 

Charter schools make a lot of sense for urban systems with a high number of failing schools. However, for a system like SCS, which is philosophically built on neighborhood schools, they are actually detrimental to the mission by pulling the best students away from those schools. As long as the system itself is not failing under objective criteria set by the state, this should be the decision of the local board.

 

Finally I note that the timing of this cannot be coincidental. It would be useful to know the backgrounds of the individuals rendering this decision and their stake, if any, in the potential consolidation.

...January 28, 2011

2:18 p.m.

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CDF writes:

Seems that the County may be able to seek court action, but with so many other issues at stake, perhaps they will not. On the other hand, the minute you get one Charter School, more will follow!!

...January 28, 2011

2:21 p.m.

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Barf writes:

In his recommendation, Nixon said SCS had acted “contrary to the best interests of the pupils, the school district and the community†by denying the application.

 

So the state, that has been hailed as the great savior and knower of all things in its attempt to block the charter surrender says that SCS is not acting in the best interest of the students or the county.

Hmmmmm... so which is it? Thanks goodness we have a state that is willing to trample local control in order to see that the little guy is not walked all over. Am I right Shelby County?

...January 28, 2011

2:33 p.m.

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TrainInVain writes:

Give the guy his charter School already. Just keep the incompetent leaders at MCS from taking over the county schools. That is all the parents with kids in county schools want.

...January 28, 2011

2:34 p.m.

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mtblake writes:

When the Charter School opens, is Pickler going to block the doorway George Wallace-style?

...January 28, 2011

2:38 p.m.

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jo_cl writes:

in response to Griff64:

 

If current state law permits the state BOE to impose a charter school in this fashion, then so be it. However, the legislature, as part of its emphasis on school reform should take a hard look at allowing individual systems to opt out of charter schools system-wide.

 

Charter schools make a lot of sense for urban systems with a high number of failing schools. However, for a system like SCS, which is philosophically built on neighborhood schools, they are actually detrimental to the mission by pulling the best students away from those schools. As long as the system itself is not failing under objective criteria set by the state, this should be the decision of the local board.

 

Finally I note that the timing of this cannot be coincidental. It would be useful to know the backgrounds of the individuals rendering this decision and their stake, if any, in the potential consolidation.

 

Parents should be allowed to send their children to a Charter School if they think it will be in the best interest of their children. Students can receive a much better education at a Charter School that is focused on a particular educational technique or one that offers an educational path that makes them better prepared for college, trade school or whatever future plans they may have. Forcing a parent to keep their children in a particular public school simply to fulfill some vague "philosophy" of a politically-minded school board is simply immoral.

 

I WISH I had been able to attend a charter school that prepared students for college and scientific careers. However, I went to school in a small, rural area of TN and graduated a few years to early to benefit from the Charter School legislation.

...January 28, 2011

2:53 p.m.

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ssimyram writes:

in response to TrainInVain:

 

Give the guy his charter School already. Just keep the incompetent leaders at MCS from taking over the county schools. That is all the parents with kids in county schools want.

 

Heck, man. For all anyone should know it might be what some of the parents of the schoolchildren of the MCS want as well.

...January 28, 2011

2:54 p.m.

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Barf writes:

in response to Griff64:

 

If current state law permits the state BOE to impose a charter school in this fashion, then so be it. However, the legislature, as part of its emphasis on school reform should take a hard look at allowing individual systems to opt out of charter schools system-wide.

 

Charter schools make a lot of sense for urban systems with a high number of failing schools. However, for a system like SCS, which is philosophically built on neighborhood schools, they are actually detrimental to the mission by pulling the best students away from those schools. As long as the system itself is not failing under objective criteria set by the state, this should be the decision of the local board.

 

Finally I note that the timing of this cannot be coincidental. It would be useful to know the backgrounds of the individuals rendering this decision and their stake, if any, in the potential consolidation.

 

Well seeing as the SCS scores are none to stellar (55 out of 100 I think), maybe the state is acknowledging that "successful school district" is relative to its surrounding districts. I am glad the state is willing to intervene and see that our best and brightest get the attention they deserve in fulfilling their potential. Based on all the comments from the SCS crowd on these pages, pulling the best and brightest to charter schools should have no impact on the overall performance of those left behind.

...January 28, 2011

3:09 p.m.

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TrainInVain writes:

in response to ssimyram:

 

Heck, man. For all anyone should know it might be what some of the parents of the schoolchildren of the MCS want as well.

 

I'm sure it is. Can they move to the burbs - that might be the solution? I don't think merging is. Merging to me means giving SCS to Tameka, Martavious and Kriner.

...January 28, 2011

3:12 p.m.

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THUNDERBIRD writes:

in response to ssimyram:

 

Heck, man. For all anyone should know it might be what some of the parents of the schoolchildren of the MCS want as well.

 

Heck, man. Most of the MCS children don't know who their parents are.

...January 28, 2011

3:15 p.m.

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gthom writes:

in response to Barf:

 

Well seeing as the SCS scores are none to stellar (55 out of 100 I think), maybe the state is acknowledging that "successful school district" is relative to its surrounding districts. I am glad the state is willing to intervene and see that our best and brightest get the attention they deserve in fulfilling their potential. Based on all the comments from the SCS crowd on these pages, pulling the best and brightest to charter schools should have no impact on the overall performance of those left behind.

 

You completely read that wrong...or maybe you read it to see what you wanted to see. The article doesn't say SCS scored 55, it says the charter school's application scored a 55.

...January 28, 2011

3:18 p.m.

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Barf writes:

in response to gthom:

 

You completely read that wrong...or maybe you read it to see what you wanted to see. The article doesn't say SCS scored 55, it says the charter school's application scored a 55.

 

Geez gthom, the score I read has nothing to do with the charter applicaiton. It's the score SCS received from the state when they graded the systems.

...January 28, 2011

3:27 p.m.

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Griff64 writes:

in response to jo_cl:

 

Parents should be allowed to send their children to a Charter School if they think it will be in the best interest of their children. Students can receive a much better education at a Charter School that is focused on a particular educational technique or one that offers an educational path that makes them better prepared for college, trade school or whatever future plans they may have. Forcing a parent to keep their children in a particular public school simply to fulfill some vague "philosophy" of a politically-minded school board is simply immoral.

 

I WISH I had been able to attend a charter school that prepared students for college and scientific careers. However, I went to school in a small, rural area of TN and graduated a few years to early to benefit from the Charter School legislation.

 

Charter schools are themselves a philosophical creation wielded by politically-minded school boards (a redundant term if ever there was one). And parents DO have a say in whether their kids have the chance to attend a charter school by: 1) voting for their local school board, which sets the educational philosophy for the system; and, 2) voting with their feet if that philosophy doesn't comport with theirs.

...January 28, 2011

3:30 p.m.

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Dayrunner writes:

in response to Smiles:

 

Charter Schools can meet the needs of some children that public schools cannot. Putting the child first is the priority. Where will this school be located?

 

So, how have the children not already been put first? MCS has a 1 billion $ budget, SCS has a 300 million $ budget and hundreds of millions in grants exist in both systems, especially in MCS.

...January 28, 2011

3:31 p.m.

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deltaboy901 writes:

in response to BeatriceP:

 

Pickler is the Willie Herenton of education

 

LOL! Priceless! King Pickle Head!

...January 28, 2011

3:31 p.m.

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Griff64 writes:

in response to BeatriceP:

 

Pickler is the Willie Herenton of education

 

No, Willie Herenton is the Willie Herenton of education.

...January 28, 2011

3:34 p.m.

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areyoukiddingme writes:

A school for only 35 children? Just how does that make sense financially? Why did we get rid of vo-tech high schools and learning centers for those who could be better served by learning a trade and insist that all children should go to college? Why did we mainstream the disabled learners?

 

So now we are going back the other way.... absolutely ridiculous to spout this as a new and innovative program...

...January 28, 2011

3:37 p.m.

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Truefacts writes:

in response to huntchaxon:

 

Wow! Pickler's getting popped from all sides...

 

Long live King Pickler. It is truly amazing that his subjects (constituents) are blind to how ineffective he truly is. first he starts a fight that he can win (then blames the other guy when he hits back harder). Second, he and all his wisdom knows what's best for Shelby County. It seems to me that a lot of the posters on these isghts that make reference to all the incompotent politicians in Memphis need look no further that their own school board. Let us not forget that for his insistence on SSD at all costs none of this mess would be occuring.

...January 28, 2011

3:37 p.m.

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Dayrunner writes:

in response to Barf:

 

In his recommendation, Nixon said SCS had acted “contrary to the best interests of the pupils, the school district and the community†by denying the application.

 

So the state, that has been hailed as the great savior and knower of all things in its attempt to block the charter surrender says that SCS is not acting in the best interest of the students or the county.

Hmmmmm... so which is it? Thanks goodness we have a state that is willing to trample local control in order to see that the little guy is not walked all over. Am I right Shelby County?

 

No, you are not right. The State Board Of Education and the State Legislature are two distinctly different bodies.

 

The State Board ruled on the Charter School issue and the Legislature may pass a law on the surrender issue.

.....

 

 

Citizens seem to be for having Charter schools which students in failing schools can transfer to for special classes or special needs. The only question is how quickly these Charter Schools can get up to full speed. One grade a year? Does each CS have a BOD which takes care of the school? Interesting. Its no wonder the SSD turned their Charter in. With14 schools still failing or out of control, they were going to turn all of their failing schools over to Charter Schools and there was no need for them. Looks as if the State and the BOE had to do something.

Edited January 28, 2011 by PHargis

[PHargis]

Late Friday night, the CA published an article saying the MCSB's surrender of its charter was not unaminous but had two who voted against doing it, one the president. There was a majority wo voted to surrender the Charter. The CA documented a meeting about this in which one of the board members explained the action and felt there should be a meeting in which talking points should be explained as to why the board acted as they did. Likely there would be two viewpoints, one of the majority of the board and one of the minority of the board. The article was on the on line version of the CA Friday night.

[PHargis]

For those of you who live in Shelby County(Memphis), this poster has taken liberty in posting the events of this event first with the help of the Commercial Appeal who has allowed me to cut and paste although they have copyright(I was having trouble using the legal means to put it on Coacht) and to get off track and the cooperation of Coacht for letting me pursue this story. The story started some time ago and deals with school systems who have trouble keeping their business straight until it bowls over and starts effecting a lot of everything in the state. Many of you who are interested can go to the Memphis Commercial Appeal Web Site and read what is happening. You can also read the comments of citizens and parents who are outraged over what is happening in their City. The whole State was appalled at the lack of control of a school who played for a football State Championship in Cookeville. IMO, the actions there could be results of actions in the system. Responsible people are now looking in to the situation from outside the County. From reading some of the things from the parents in the county over the past couple of years, it is not too soon. Discipline and order is needed and the people in Memphis know it. In fact, they want the schools better than they are. I am bowing out of this reporting at this time but want those interested to know the people of the State get a good feel of what is going on in the State by the way its schools conduct themselves. Its a shame it has to happen on an athletic field or in a gym or in a schools conduct of its affairs of just not having a group of schools meet their educational standards and things get out of control. Hang in there citizens, help the State and your City Government get this straightened out. Its been going on for some time. The CA deserves some credit for reporting a fair accessment of what is happening and letting the citizens know. Go to their Web Site. Its all there.