School Redistricting
Weigh in on an important issue facing Lenoir County public schools
Opinions on redistricting welcome here
February 5th, 2009, 11:44 am · 124 Comments · posted by kinstoneducation
The Free Press and kinston.com have created this blog to encourage an exchange of opinion on school redistricting in Lenoir County, an issue that has created quite a bit of heat, if not much light, over the past several weeks. As always, rules of civility should apply.
Those who would like a refresher on the background in this debate are referred to these news and opinion articles previously published in The Free Press and on kinston.com.
Efforts to redistribute student population continues
Cline talks about the school redistricting issues
Redistricting comes down to plan
Student transfer policy under review
Redistricting committee reviews maps
Redistricting fight shows options few in public education
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Well I going to open this discussion for all I guess. I am a sister to one of the Savannah students and I am in shock over the redistricting. It would be one thing if KHS was equally qualified as NLHS in academic standards. It is to my knowledge that KHS has not met the academic standards set by the state, so why would I want anyone to be made to go to that school, let alone my brother. I hope that the School Board would stop being selfish and look at the bigger picture. This is about the kids future, about preparing them for the world. What good would it do to send them to a school with such poor scores? It would leave them feeling behind and alone in college. Who cares if you are 2A or 3A? What matters is what is good for the future of the brothers and sisters of tomorrow, not about the size of the school. I hope that everyone could look beyond color and start looking at the future.
I want to comment on a couple of articles that has been published on the county redistricting. Let’s go to the article that was written on Obamamania. Southeast school had a celebration of Obama being sworn in as president. At this celebration there were guest from our Central office. Our Superintedant got in front of Southeast Elementary School full of students, teachers and parents and quoted that while we are here celebrating, there are parents in the county that do not want their children going to school with children that are the same color as our 44th president. How dare him calling me rasist. My children go to Cont/Sav school that Savannah is 65 -70% black. At the Committee meeting Friday, he apologized, saying it was taking out of context. How else are we to take it? We live out in the county where we have followed the rules and gone to the school in our district, good or bad. The graphs that were published in the paper yesterday clearly showed where the problems exists. Rochelle had 45% to transfer out of the district. These transfers were granted by the administration, so Central Office created that BEAST. Today there were numbers put out on demographics for the LCPS. You want to talk about being racially unbalanced. Hopefully those numbers will be published soon. Mike Mosley stated in Sunday’s paper that the counties boundaries would become obsolete if the children could still transfer. OK, Mr. Mosley, you hit the nail on the head and it didn’t cost us $28,000.00 for you to tell us. Fix the problem in the Kinston High district first, Or what we could do being Kinston has so many empty class rooms, we should close down NL & SL, rename Kinston High to a more county wide school name like Central High. Think of the money that would be saved in our county. All programs that are offered at NL, SL, and Kinston can be at one location, no transfers, less School Board Members, less teachers, full classrooms, children introduced to all social aspects of life,4A school, maybe another “state ring” in “all sports”, and a racial balanced school. Just what the good doctor ordered.
why are the blogs not showing up?
SAY NO TO SCHOOL REDISTRICTING
Until the real problems are corrected, moving “County Cluster” students to fill “City Cluster” numbers is an unacceptable solution. Chris Lavender’s 2/1/09 article, “Transferring Blame”, states that 81% of students (any race) who transferred out of Rochelle since 2006 went to Frink.
Think about it. To make it easy, for example, say 100 students transferred from Rochelle. That means 81 students went to Frink. My understanding is once they reach Frink they automatically transfer to North Lenoir. Those students, my folks, are taking the place of 81 students from our 8th grade class at Contentnea-Savannah who legitimately should be able to attend North Lenoir. Redistricting would likely place our students at Kinston High. Our students have attended county located schools since Kindergarten and have planned to attend North Lenoir, because face it, kids raised in the county are very different from those raised in the city and we like it like that. That is why we live in the county.
Enforcing the current “City Cluster” feeder districting would correct the “number” problem. LCPS needs to work on why students do not want to go to Rochelle when they have been in “City Cluster” elementary schools. Then there would be no problem at Kinston High.
Parents and guardians, you need to take responsibility for looking out for your child’s best interest. Redistricting affects you and you need to become involved before it is too late. Voice your opinion now, do some research, and ask questions. Do not wait until the May public meeting and expect to be heard.
Southern Lenoir County, please join us in Northern Lenoir County and push for NO REDISTRICTING. You know how we feel, lets support each other.
Thanks
Well I guess things are never going to change.
At the Board of Education Meeting this evening the Board voted and passed a $36,000.00 item to pay Sitterson and Barker (Barker being on the new redistricting committee by the way) to do the budget audit for the 5th year (at least) in a row! Also, this item was not put up for other bids. Cline stated that this was a good price and they have been good to work with. Well of course they (Sitterson and Barker) are for $36,000.00 and a lot of back scratching I’ll just bet they are good to work with! Just another way Cline and friends are misappropriating the children’s funding!
Also, I hope Cline and friends enjoyed their good meal of-
Meatloaf, Fried Chicken, Cabbage, Boiled Potatoes, rolls, tea, yellow cake with chocolate icing. At the last meeting we had to listen to how our lunch program has a BIG deficit and we heard Fillipelli state the system may need to consider another increase for next year. Give me a break- the kids had chicken sandwiches and grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch today and then North Lenoir cooked and fed the BOE the meal I just named above! It is appauling and a vagrant wasting of funds!! It seems to me if the lunch program is in jeopardy and the cost of lunches are going to be increased for families next year then the school system does not need to be feeding the Board and and anyone else at Central Office. I checked with our neighboring Pitt County School System today and they do not provide their BOE meals before Board Meetings, Wayne County does not either. So what entitles Cline and Lenoir Counties BOE? It is just more wastful spending of funds we DO NOT have.
Let me go ahead and weigh in now, before the comments get out of hand again. I am an English teacher at KHS, so I have an interest in this debate.
I also live in Hugo, which is a 12-minute drive from Kinston High. Should I still be living there when I have children, unless redistricting solves the problem, my children would attend North Lenoir, which is more than half an hour away.
People, please educate yourselves on the issues. Redistricting isn’t talking about taking children out of neighborhood schools and transferring them to schools across the county. It is for people like my neighbors and those who are a stone’s throw from KHS who are placed in the old county districts, more than twice as close to KHS but still outside the old city schools’ lines.
People like to talk about how redistricting will waste money. I fail to see logic to this at all. The committee has worked hard to get students into schools that are as close to their homes as possible to save money on transportation. I’m sure the population density in this county has shifted significantly in the 17 years since the city and county schools merged. Redrawing the lines is long overdue.
As for those who still want to question the academics at KHS, I, like my colleagues, would encourage anyone to visit our school before passing judgment. I work with a group of professionals who are knowledgeable, devoted educators.
You can look in our student newspaper, The Viking Press (which I watch a dedicated group of KHS students produce, from scratch, each month), to see that our test scores are headed in the right direction. Do we still have work to do? Yes. But seven of 11 tested areas saw improvements from last year this time till now, and most of those areas saw double digit increases. Any young person who chooses to succeed has all the tools (s)he’ll need to do so at KHS. Need proof? Look at the seven seniors (possibly more at this point) who have already been accepted into UNC. Look at the countless others receiving large scholarships from an impressive array of universities.
So far, I think what I’ve mentioned in this posting represents two of the biggest “arguments” put forth by opponents of redistricting. I hope I at least helped put some of it to rest.
First of all - Thanks for creating this blog. Too many toes, feet ect. were getting stepped on with the LCPS blog that they couldn’t take it anymore. Oh sure they will tell you it’s because it got too ugly but we all know the deal! All though we know that it want do any good because of all the backscratching that has been done but at least Kinston can see where most of its residents stand on redistricting. WE DO NOT WANT IT!!!! There is a reason we chose to live in the district we live in and that is because of where we want our children to go to school. Leave it alone and find something else to tick us off about!
It is certainly comforting to know we have such a talented and caring group of individuals on our School Board, as well as our Superintendent and his staff.
At the most recent meeting of the School Board there was a very short discussion on a bid from Sitterson and Barker to perform the budget audit. Dr. Terry Cline stated that he was satisfied with this firm and their price, that they did a good job and had done the audit for THE LAST FEW YEARS and was not going up on their price. The entire Board voted to award the contract to the firm.
Even if not required, most organizations, especially when entrusted with public monies, request bids from numerous firms to audit their work and performance and look to the competitive bid process to be good stewards of the public money and ensure a working system of checks and balances.
Although Dr. Terry Cline is of the opinion that the Taxpayers are getting a good price for the audit, we learned later in the meeting that the School Board has in fact been paying much more proportionally for their audit work than surrounding counties which are much larger and have many more students. If it is too much trouble to or he does not know how to send out requests for bids to do the audit work he could at least pick up a phone and call some of the Superintendents in our neighboring counties for advice. Perhaps if he had a more involved auditor during the past few years he might have been made aware that he was exceeding his budgeted funds by some $5,400,000.00 (FIVE MILLION FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS) or more.
If Dr. Terry Cline or any of his staff knew about this deficit and did not report it as soon as notified we may have a problem with The Transparency promised by some of our School Board members.
I also learned about the “FREE SUPPER PROGRAM.” Apparently this program is alive and well in the Lenoir County School Administration building. At a recent Board meeting (1-12-09) a discussion took place concerning a deficit in the Lunch program and the possibility of raising the prices for each child’s lunch. However the Board and Dr. Terry Cline and his staff apparently have enrolled in the “FREE SUPPER PROGRAM”. How can they justify “FREE MEALS” for themselves? Are they providing reimbursement for these meals or showing these “FREEBIES” when they file their income tax reports. Maybe a new auditor could explain that the FREE SUPPER is not in their benefit package and perhaps lift the rug this one must have been swept under.
Come out to the next meeting (3-02-09) and see who you voted for and what they have done for and to you.
Be sure to grab a meal before you come.
Ok, since NL is going to 3A next year, why are they going to redistrict? Then NL will have less students and KHS will have more students but will be going to 2A. How stupid is this.
Like the discussion about redistricting above and in the local paper the last month or so, I am struck by the observation that many individuals are willing to discuss and help identify problems and preceived problems affecting the local school system, but the elected individuals and school officials may not be among those numbers.
Some effort should have already been expended contacting and talking with individuals that feel it imperative to send their student to ‘another’ school. This should be done by someone outside the system who can maintain the confidential identity of those parents and their opinions while collecting the information that the Central Office probably would prefer to never hear. It is so much easier to proclaim what is wrong or what will ‘fix’ the problem without ever having to be faced with the “REASONS” parents and students feel COMPELLED to make this more expensive decision for getting an education.
A rather well known Psychologist is heard to say several times each week ‘You cannot correct something that you will not identify AND own up to!’ Over the last 35 years this school system has expended a lot of ink and time proclaiming how well our students are performing and making strides toward higher achievements yearly WHILE we languish near the bottom of all states in the United States and all counties in North Carolina. (Or at least too near the bottom to quibble about either caegory.) This is not an indictment of our students because I have always thought they were as capable as any in the State or Nation irrespective fo economic status. But it does indict the system that points to miniscule increases in test scores as the only indication needed to prove their efforts at student achievement.
Why not identify those areas that are really great and leave them alone while actively looking for and acknowledging those areas where we fall dismally short. Efforts could then be addressed toward improving those low areas while maintaining those areas that are really good.
But like redistricting, we are told from the top what it will take to “fix” the problem and will allow the current administration to demonstrate their efforts to improve education. I use the parallel example to show that there is, and has been, a feeling of intellectual superiority of the leaders of education that transcend any one administration that have continually taken from the programs that were working and diluting that effort down to programs that do not work and calling that progress.
Redistricting appears to be an attempt to correct school problems by administrative fiat instead of identifing what is not right or what is not working and seeing if that can be fixed. The analogous situation in educational achievement is test scores.
In both areas, redistricting and education, we would be well served to identify and maintain those program areas, schools and students that are doing well while identifing and acknowledging those program areas, schools and students that are not. “You cannot fix what you will not acknowledge.” By taking the time to identify good and ineffective areas, as presently configured, we can improve our kids education across the board.
We have spent years trying to improve test scores by pushing them from the bottom and we are attacking school attendance the same way. I submit that one can “Pull a rope BUT one cannot PUSH the same rope.” We can “pull” test scores up but we will not be effective pushing the scores up. In the same way, school attendance will not be “fixed” by administrative redistricts while very sincerely listening to the ‘whys’ from the affected individuals, no matter how uncomfortable, should yields results quicker and cheaper. Based on over 30 years of observation, the school board is elected BUT works for the Superintendent, and seldom represent the interests of the electorate. They are supposed to follow the law AND tell the ‘current’ Superintendent what is happening, right and wrong, in OUR community.
Have you ever asked “How top-down is working for us?” Perhaps we need to try ‘bottom up’ since the whole reason for collaborative work, that is being taught in our schools, is to improve the overall product by including as many legal, credible ideas as possible.
In response to Mr. Harper’s comment, Mr. harper- have you attended a School Board meeting lately? I can tell you that the “top-down IS NOT WORKING FOR US! As a matter of fact some of the “top” is trying everything they can to keep things less than TRANSPARENT if you know what I mean. The are trying to pass this re districting as fast as they possibly can. But yet we are called by Dr. Cline “those parents that are trying to derail the redistrcting”. He doen’t have a clue nor does he care what happens to us in the county. He just wants the jewel in his crown to get their numbers up and another ring on his finger.
It is sad, very sad with the state of our school finances that we have to watch those elected on the Board do what they do with the funds of our students. And watch the blatant back scratching good ole boys mentality!
Well. Well. Well. I just read the minutes from the School Board meeting which took place on 2-09-09. The minutes do not reflect all the action which filled the room that evening. Of particular interest and NOT noted in the minutes, those in attendance could infer that an UNAMED BOARD MEMBER OR MEMBERS requested that Dr. Terry Cline provide information the UNAMED BOARD MEMBER OR MEMBERS would like to examine. The REQUEST apparently asked for the information in five (5) days although it was not clear exactly when Dr. Terry Cline actually received the REQUEST or how long he had been sitting on it. Dr. Terry Cline presented copies of the REQUEST to all Board Members present at the meeting and stated he needed their GUIDANCE on how to handle this REQUEST. He ( Dr. Terry Cline) apparently was not pleased with having been asked to provide the UNAMED BOARD MEMBER OR MEMBERS with this information which concerned fifteen (15) items of information. Board Members, Dr. Seaforth and Mr. Bruce Hill (from the County Liquor Office) stated amazement that anyone would want to inquire into the items contained in the REQUEST. Finally the School Board Attorney was asked what his opinion would be concerning the UNAMED BOARD MEMBER OR MEMBERS REQUEST. He (The Attorney) consulted his law manual and stated in his opinion that a Board Member would be entitled to make such a request and as a Board Member should have access to any information on file concerning the Lenoir County School System and it should be delivered in a reasonable amount of time.
Dr. Terry Cline stated that he could provide the information but it would cut into his time visiting schools and doing other work for the Board and that he had several employees going on trips in the coming week which would slow up a response to the REQUEST.
During the 1-12-09 School Board Meeting, Dr. Seaforth asked to address the camera in the room and indeed looked directly in the camera and praised Dr. Terry Cline as the MOST TRANSPARENT SUPERINTENDENT he (Seaforth) had ever worked with.
One has to wonder what these representatives do not want others to see. Maybe all Board Members should have inquiring minds. Perhaps the School System would NOT have a deficit of FIVE MILLION FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($5,400,000.00).
I urge the Good Doctors (Seaforth and Cline) to step up to the plate and show us what TRANSPARENCY really is.
PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH.
See you at the next meeting.
We need a blog solely for the subject of cafeteria food. Dondi, thank you for bringing the details of the BOE meal to the public eye. I was without words the very first time I went to the school to eat with one of my children. The so-called cheeseburgers that were served that day would turn your stomach. The meat was cold, the cheese was hard, and the bun could not even be pulled off without tearing apart. My first question: What happened to COOKING LUNCH for the children??
I attended Moss Hill Elementary during the time when Mr. William Harper was principal. I can recall the wonderful smells of a freshly cooked lunch lingering in the halls. As we went through the line, I could see the steam coming from the food and hear the cooking pots being washed. I looked forward to lunch.
Why are the meals so pre-processed? Is it because the school day has been crammed with so many other things that there isn’t TIME for a decent lunch? Our children can’t learn these “all important” new subjects without proper nourishment. (Would test scores go up with better food?)
It’s tacky of the school board to enjoy such a lovely meal when the food provided for the kids leaves so much to be desired. The quality of the food doesn’t warrant a price increase.
AGAINST REDISTRICTING!
I am a concerned parent of 3 children (one @ N.Lenoir and the other two @ Cont./Savannah). I am amazed at all the leadership roles not following rules & THE LAW as they should be.
First of all since, LCPS is in the hole by 5.2 million how can Dr. Cline continue to have several employess going on trips in the upcoming week, when we have NO MONEY!!!! It seems like the auditors would have notified someone or raised a red flag when they realized that the money was going into deficit status.
Second of all, I look over this redistricting commitee and see that no one from Contentnea/Savannah represents us. I am thankful for Sharon Baird, C.L. Braxton and Tony Turner who have children that attend Cont/Savannah and are very concerned about the redistricting process. We as parents need to step up to the plate along with teachers, principals and others to give our opinion and feelings on this redistricting process. The next meeting will be on Feb. 23rd at Southwood Church w/ Mr. Mike Mosley speaking. WE ALL NEED TO BE THERE!!!! If you can’t be there call these school board members: David Fillippellis, Joey Bryan, Keith Seaforth, Bruce Hill, Garland Nobles, Billy Davis, Rita Hodges.
And last but not least, instead of uprooting our children and sending them to a school THEY DO NOT WANT TO ATTEND, how about looking at the kids that are in the wrong school system and figure out why they were tranfered. They need to be sent back to the correct school in the district that they live in. THAT IS WHERE THE REAL PROBLEM IS. Why does these city kids want to attend N.Lenoir? Is it because it is a better school OR is it because of the programs that is being offered that Kinston High School does not have?
Well, we live in the NL district, but do see that KHS is much closer, it does make sense. It appears that the same 5 or 6 keep whining about this and that, geez, we know KHS does a better job at getting students ready for college, get the facts, if your kid wants to farm(funny, most of the ones whining are not farmers)but you can go to NL, better yet, you may want to see if they offer farming at APA. Come on folks get with the year 2009 not 1960!!
Currently the “Redistricting Committeee”, if it can even be called that, is considering combining the two lowest performing middle schools (Savannah and Rochelle) to create the “FLAGSHIP” high school. Someone please explain how that will benefit the students, or Kinston High? Bottom line, KHS is labeled as low performing already, and combining more of the same makes no sense. What could be addressed immediately, without the time and expense of a redistricting study, are the transfers. Why have any and all transfers from Rochelle and Kinston High continued to be granted when head count at KHS is obviously the highest priority of the Adminisration? There are estimated approx. 100 students at NL who should be attending KHS. I personally feel that every parent should have a choice about which high school their children attend, since we are “ONE” school system, but if the Superintendant is pressing KHS enrollment, the transfers should be denied first. We appreciate some of the KHS teachers in their defense of the academics of the school, but looking at the test scores, etc, gives me no confidence that KHS is a better educational environment for my child. Why do you think so many kids transfer out? Lastly, if the Board accepts the Committee’s proposal to channel Savannah students to KHS instead of North Lenoir, that will only add approx 80 students next year to KHS enrollment, and many of those who feel strongly about the subject will choose private school or another district. Therefore, Western and Southern Lenoir County pay attention, because you will be affected. Savannah enrollment is not enough, in number or overall performance, to improve KHS.
For the record, North Lenoir has not met state standards the past 2 years. They, like KHS, should be in the turn-around process, but because the state does not have the funds, they are not. I’m not trying to bash the school, but set the record straight. I get tired of seeing, as someone stated, the same 5 or 6 ranting and raving about how horrible KHS is and how much superior NL is. Personally, I do not have any high school age children, but do not think it is fair to judge one school as better than another when their performance, while maybe slightly better, is still nothing to write home about.
The KHS student that lives in NL district, you obviously filled out a transfer to go to Kinston. I can only assume that you are in the IB program there? I don’t condem those that go to Kinston so please don’t condem those that want to go to NL. All the students that attend NL are not farmers, I for one am not and I went there, so did my two girls. By the way, their not farmers either. But I will say, that we do live on a farm. As for the whining, we want to go to the school of our choice, you know, just like you did.
Well. Well. Well. You never know what you miss if you don’t attend the School Board meetings. I met a number of people in the audience who can and will answer questions. TAKE NOTE….DO NOT TRY TO ASK A BOARD MEMBER A QUESTION…YOU MAY SIGN IN AND PERHAPS BE GRANTED 3 MINUTES TO COMMENT ON A SUBJECT IF IT SHOULD HAPPEN TO BE ON THEIR AGENDA. Maybe as Board Members begin to campaign for their coveted seats they will grant audiences or be more inclined to converse with the “COMMON FOLK” of Lenoir County.
The hard working and close community of our Lenoir County Schools Central Office piqued my interest. It must be nice to be able to work so closely with family and friends, apparently closer with some.
It seems that Dr. Terry Cline and his wife have both found employment within the School System as has the wife of Vice Chairman Joey Bryan (a Lenoir County employee himself), along with the wife of Mr. Bruce Hill( a Lenoir County employee), as well as the wife of Dr. Seaforth, and the wife of Mr. Garland Nobles. Chairman Fillippeli’s wife is not employed by the School System at this time but his sister-in-law has been granted employment at the Central Office for the Lenoir County School System. Ms. Rita Hodges and Mr. Billy Davis have apparently not used the School System as an EMPLOYMENT SERVICE. It is nice that the other School board members can share these common interests with their family members.
Although the Superintendent and some board members are CHAMPIONS OF TRANSPARENCY, one would have to wonder how these fortunate opportunities came about for so many family members and of course one would also have to wonder how all these nepotistic relationships have been allowed and continue to exist, especially when the STATE PERSONNEL MANUAL as of March 1, 2007 states:
Employoment of Relatives (Nepotism)
Members of an immediate family shall not be employed within the same agency if such employment will result in one member supervising another member of the employee’s
immediate family, or if one member will occupy a position which has influence over
another member’s employment, promotion, salary administration, or other related
management or personnel considerations. The term immediate family includes wife,
husband, mother, father, brother, sister, son, daughter, grandmother, grandfather,
grandson, and granddaughter. Also included is the step-, half-, and in-law relationships
based on the listing in this Paragraph. It also includes other people living in the same
household, who share a relationship comparable to immediate family members, if either
occupies a position which requires influence over the other’s employment, promotion,
salary administration or other related management or personnel considerations.
Of course just because THE STATE PERSONNEL GUIDELINES prohibit these practices why should Lenoir County Schools and the Lenoir County School Board adopt any such guidelines?
Just as our Superintendent fills as many positions as he wants, including those the State tells him he does not have approval for, sees no need to put major purchases out for bids, feeds the Board and Central Staff as well as providing employment for close family members which apparently leads the School System to a FIVE MILLION FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLAR ($5,400,000.00) deficit, do not worry, HE KNOWS A GOOD DEAL WHEN HE SEES IT.
Let us offer THANKS to anyone who can navigate the obstacles that have been put in place to hide these actions by those who proclaim the TRANSPARENT NATURE of their actions.
I can hardly wait for the next Board Meeting.
Anyone else beginning to see a TREND DEVELOPING?
I don’t see the problem. The school system is designed for the benefit of the board and the administration, not the students. Once you realize that then everything falls into place. Why have influence if you can’t use it.
They can make whatever decision they want. The bottom line is that NO ONE is going to make my children change schools. My children attend Frink and North Lenoir and that is EXACTLY where they’re going to stay.
The people running Kinston and this county have run enough taxpayers away.
With another idiotic decision the rest of the taxpayers are going to leave and then there will be NO ONE left to tax the living crap out of to support their vote-securing social programs.
In addition to my previous comments, I would like to remind the School Administration, City Council, and County Commissioners that employees of Spirit Aerosystems will soon be visiting Kinston to scout relocation areas, and you hope they choose to live in the City of Kinston, and support the schools within the city limits. Nothing the Redistricting Committee is considering right now will aid in that effort. If the proposal to combine Savannah and Rochelle into KHS moves forward, you will lose more potential residents to Southern or Western Lenoir County, or other counties altogether. If redistricting is deemed necessary, whatever redistricting plan adopted should prove to balance and improve the school system overall. The current proposal does neither.
In response to “lives in NL district” - WE do live on a farm and do raise some farm animals. My son is interested in possible vet school. He wants to go to NL. He should be allowed a spot in this program since it is not offered at KHS. Don’t use us to fix the problem until you get your numbers right by correcting those transfers occuring now, I’m sure KHS has good teachers and offers programs for students interested in other things. I am against this redistricting because all the schools are not equal in programs they offer. I’m glad it works for you and I hope you get everything you need to excel in what you choose to do after high school. You were allowed to make your choice and I want to do the same.
There is no doubt that when you are talking about what is best for our children you are going to get a debate. How can a citizen of Lenoir County that send their children to a school that is not in the public school system say what is right for mine? There are also citizens in the county that say we should be silent and not speak up for what we feel is best for OUR children. By the way, their children go to private schools. It would be the same thing as an elected official saying, no way, your children are NOT going to a private school, we will choose the school, you just sit back and let me handle your children’s future, I think there feelings would be different. In other words, you are sending your children where you want them to go, let us have the same choice. To the Contentnea parents, it’s time to start speaking up. In case you don’t know, your children will eventually go to a middle school, and then onto a High School. Your children’s future schools they will attend is getting ready to be determined, don’t you want to have a voice in this? Start with your elected Board Members, they were voted in to represent the whole district, not just certain parts. They were voted in to represent ALL schools, not just one.
In your comments you use the phrase “support the schools within the city limits”, until you folks understand this is not a city/county thing and it is designed to help the county as a whole. According to the way you few talk, how in the world does Greene county schools operate…my,my sending the kids from the City of Snow Hill to Greene Central with kids from all over the county. Someone commented how different the kids were, how do they learn? Wow. In business you have to think beyond your situation today but years down the road. If folks would think about future families instead of their own, but its hard when as Americans we are all spoiled to begin with. Good Luck School Board and just do what is best for the county not a select few.
Greene County has a different situation and actually that makes it very fortunate for them. The town of Snow Hill is small enough that it still has that “county” feel. The students have grown up with each other because their students and schools have always been together through the same four schools. You can’t really compare our county with theirs, “we’re different”, and we are thinking down the road, apparently farther than you are.
Greene County apparently has the best ideas, after all Arendell Parrott Academy, who can afford the best, hired their Superintendent, not ours, to lead the way. Maybe it would be best if we had just one primary, one elementary, one middle, and one high school in a central location. The “transportation” issues would be easier as buses could service a specific area and make drop-offs and pick-ups at each school.
Thanks
Well, Well, Well. Found some interesting reading from July, 8 2008. It would seem that “Hawk356” was ahead of the curve when he/she wrote the following. “ It is highlighted by the publics and Bryan’s blind endorsement of ridiculous decisions made by an incompetent Superintendent and Board. Example, the hiring of Harvey the II as Principal. This man has had no administrative training before he was hired. and don’t know if he has even started administrative class work at this point, and am sure that he hasn’t passed the State’s test required to obtain a license. Wait maybe I’m confused; nope it’s his Daddy who has a state license, but to practice law, In Kinston. To not open a search for a principal or even look with in your own district to Educators with 30 years of experience and with Administration degrees who are appointed as subordinates to someone with 0 experience is a Slap in the face to the citizens of Lenoir County Which continues to happen to this very day, although the new appointees may have a little more experience.
It’s amazing that the Board would appoint such a man to be Superintendent with out giving the students, parents, and community of Lenoir a chance at the best qualified person by developing a search committee. The public crucifies Dr. Raines because of Nepotism but no one said anything about Dr. Cline and his wife all of the sudden having a job, or the numerous other instances of nepotism throughout the county in administrative positions, that puts Dr. Raines situation to shame.
All I have to say is that only 8 of 19 schools made AYP. That means in 11 schools NL, Kinston, etc. not even 60% of the students are proficient. So to the citizens who think Spirit is going to save the town you are wrong. Their employees will come from ECU, PITT, and few from LCC who more than likely will not be Lenoir County graduates as indicated by these years and the past 5 years of test results.
But I guess that’s not his fault either because it didn’t happen under “his Watch”. Oh and to the community and board, this man has been Superintendent for a year and a half before LCPS was in debt. So either he didn’t know about it, didn’t “forecast correctly”, or whatever lame excuse; it all equals Incompetence.
To a leader who leads by intimidation, bullying teachers, pacifying parents and other interested parties (politics) for personal gain, who tells employees not to express ideas, who threatens employees with not receiving tenure if they vote the wrong way, and someone who is not tolerant of diversity other than his own(preaching to employees, disregarding other peoples faiths, violating 1st and 14th amendment rights for students and staff), I say Character Education would be a good idea along with resignation or a Board buyout. Comment by hawk356 — July 8, 2008 @ 7:43 pm “
Despite what the “TRANSPARENCY TWINS” (Dr. Cline/Dr. Seaforth) preach, It seems that things have gotten less transparent in the Lenoir County School System.
I’m one of the “5 or 6” misquoted by LivesinNLdistrict and For the Record as “whining and ranting and raving”. I have not said anything against KHS or for NL, except that I want my son to go to the school that offers the courses he is interested in and where he is legitimately assigned. Again, redistricting is not going to correct the problem. LCPS and the BOE need to find why no one wants to go to Rochelle, stop the transfers, and enforce the current districts. If they can’t do this, they should at least offer the option of a “choice” of High School since all programs are not offered at each school and this is such a definitive time for our students’ futures.
I agree with Ruth Hollowell. To correct a problem you need a solution. First though you must identify the real problem. I have talked with parents in the Rochelle district who transferred out. They transferred out for a reason. It was not KHS. Some of them will return to KHS and others have made friends who will go on to NL and they want to go with them. If someone was charged with finding out what could be done to fix whatever the problem is at Rochelle, then we would not be having this debate. The students who currently live in KHS district would be attending and the numbers game would no longer be played. Listen Up!!! Fix the real problem first. Talk to parents who bypassed Rochelle and find out why. I think the middle schools basically offer the same programs, the difference in programs occurs at the high school level. I only want my son to be able to take the program he is interested in. If he is not going to be able to do that, then maybe we should consider the early college instead. KHS or the early college do not offer what classes he was going to take. If the IB program is the alternative for him, he might as well get a jump start on college and just forget high school.
As far as the anti redistricting goes where does your child go to school? And tell me other than a number how will the redistricting benefit anyone other than KHS. You know what I think we should do, fire the super, and the rest of the board and start over and see how things go. We will get someone to represent the “county” the way it should be. And don’t give me this crap about oh its “not a county, city thing”, Yes it is if you were raised in the city you have a totally different mind set than of those raised in the county. I am not saying one is better than the other I am just saying there is a difference. If you don’t believe me go check the schools out for yourself. Actually I challenge all parents, siblings, BOARD MEMBERS, and everyone else to do your own comparison. Go to the schools and tell me what you like, dislike about each. I think that the county schools are much better than the city schools….but that is my opinion and I am entitled to that. I just don’t think someone should be made to go somewhere they don’t feel comfortable. Everyone cant afford Parrott, or Bethel!
I am also against the redistricting! One of the reasons I chose to build my home here was so my kids could go to the school in this district. To take that away from us is wrong! It seems to me the Superintendent and school board should be working together for what is best for our kids. If that is not the case why were they voted in? Why don’t we vote them out? Many people do not take the time to go and vote but complain with the outcome. If elected officials fail to represent the people it is time for them to go. See you at the next election!!!
There have been statements made that this is not a “city vs county” thing and that we are all in the same school system. If that is the case, then why can’t we just let our children go where they/we want to go? Like myself, probably the majority of the people commenting, are parents that drive your kids to and from school EVERY day, so transportation is not an issue with us. My son will NEVER ride a school bus to and from school as far as I am concerned. I drove a bus and I know how things are on those buses, especially now with some of the elementary students riding with middle school students-that’s just not right! If the school board is so determined to redistrict anyway, why not let the ones that drive to a from school anyway, sign a waiver so that we can drive to whatever school works best for our children? It seems that they have been allowing transferring for that same reason to take place for MANY years in the past, so why not continue it? I am not taking away from the ones that ride the bus everyday. Believe me, I think that they are as entitled to go to whatever school better suits their child’s needs, but the cost of transportation seems to be the BIG issue here with the board, and they wouldn’t have to worry about coming down my road to pick up my child!
I am totally AGAINST the redistring as well!! I know you’ve heard this many times, but we also…just sold our house, and are in the process of building one in the school district that I had wanted my children to go to school in. Now for someone to tell me that my children may not go to those schools really IRRITATES me!!!!!! Who are they to tell us where our children can go to school at? They do not know what’s best for our kids…we the parents know what is best for our children. I agree with the above post in saying they needed to be voted OUT if this is the best that they can come up with!!! This is the STUPIDEST idea I’ve EVER heard of!!!!!!!!
Re: Committee Continues Redistricting Discussion by Chris Lavender 2/18//09
“This is not a parent issue,” Cline said. “It’s a Lenoir County issue.”
Based on the following committee member figures, you decide whose issue it is:
Chairman, Vice-Chairman, 7 School Board Members, 14 Central Office Staff, 10 Principals, 10 School Staff, 4 High School Students, and 29 Community Members. That is a total of 76, 43 directly attached to Dr. Terry Cline. That is 57% who will be “inclined” to vote for Cline.
And don’t forget. There are 2 students representing KHS and only 1 each from SL and NL. Note also that not all principals and schools were invited. Get a copy of the committee members and you’ll recognize names of loyal supporters of Cline and surprise, non-parents, and parents or children in private school. Why should they have any say in where our children go to school?
“This is not a parent issue,” Cline said. “It’s a Lenoir County issue.” Who in the world does he think makes up Lenoir County?!?!?!?!?!? All he needs to do is gather up his body guard and come out from behind locked up Central Office and visit the schools and see the parents that make up Lenoir County! Don’t forget we parents vote, pay taxes and support Lenoir County. It is VERY MUCH a parent issue !!!!!!! I am anxiously awaiting a comment from Cline on how this MUST have been a misquote. Because this is the most hilarious thing he has said in quiet a while! Does he even listen to himself when he speaks? Or was this an occasion when he did not have his script to read from?
What would the numbers show if there were no transfers allowed and every child was attending in their correct district?
KINSTON NL SL
ENG 1 58.9 % 66.5% 73.9%
ALG 1 41.8% 54.0% 72.75
ALG 2 41.6% 46.6% 70.0%
GEOM 45.0% 50.4% 68.1%
BIO 32.9% 64.6% 42.5%
CHEM 36.8% 44.1% 50.0%
Phy SC. 37.7% 57.6% 47.7%
PHYS 55.6% N/A 48.3%
CIV & EC 37.3% 69.4% 55.3%
US HIS 43.4% 52.1% 44.7%
I wanted your readers to see these scores and see if this might be one of the reasons for redistricting. This info is at ncreportcards.org if you would like to check any school from elementary to high school!!! This is the Percentage of Students’ Scores At or Above Grade Level! You make your own decision on this!!!!!
sorry that might chart didn’t go in as I had it in the comments!! If you take the first score is Kinston ,second is NL and third is SL!! Sorry
The following stories are now available on http://www.kinston.com:
Debate continues on redistricting plan:
http://www.kinston.com/news/committee_53032___article.html/lenoir_county.html
Redistricting Committee Seeks Direction:
http://www.kinston.com/news/committee_53066___article.html/moseley_school.html
If you can’t figure this out go to ncreports.org and click on Lenoir Count and then click on the school that you want to see.
DO NOT FORGET-
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD 7:00 PM
SOUTHWOOD MEMORIAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH
DR. MICHAEL MOSELEY WILL SPEAK ON ISSUES RELATED TO REDISTRICTING
I would love to know how long the rehersal was for the production that was put on Wed. at the Committe meeting? Everyone knows how out spoken Kinston Highs principle has been at previous meetings. Yesterday, he was’nt as loud, Then out of the blue Mosley throws his hands up. It seems that Dr. Clines puppets are doing a great job! Let’s see, Dr. Cline states that it’s a parent issue not a county issue? HELLO!!! Who do you think makes up the county? Mrs. Mintz your comment that we need to look at what the county wants and not one group. In case you had any dought, us in the North and South part of the county DON’T want it!!!! The “Group” that does are those that are trying to get the numbers up at Kinston High.
I am in total agreement with Domino about the theatrical display we were given yesterday. Just another way to “derail” the parents that know what is best for their children. But if you remember we are very much on top of what (the transparent)Cline and friends are attempting to slide under the rug yet again! If you were in attendance yesterday you would have seen and heard just how things really are. Cline and friends never batted an eye at Moseley’s proposal which leads all of us to believe that it was just a BIG SHOW with fried chicken yet again!! You good folks in the Southern part of the District– if I were you I would not relax about this. Just because you think your part of the county is untouchable– I would not rest on that assurance. Everyone heard Danielle Parrish say that Moss Hill didn’t need to be bothered with and their were nods and agreements but don’t think Cline and friends aren’t looking at your numbers and your scores as well.
Here’s they way I see things working out…
Moseley has made a big show of throwing his hands up with the way things are going. This is due to “no one on the committee is in total agreement on a lot of the plan”.
He(Moseley) gives it to Cline who is to take a choice back to the BOE whether to move forward and make it happen or stop it and leave it like it is.
Then the BOE will give Cline either the green light or the red light.
If Cline gets the green light and the BOE allows him to forge ahead he will “hand pick” another “smaller” committee and the puppet master will continue to watch his puppets dance for him.
If he is given the red light- (which makes the most sense for right now) then it is put to rest for now and the students in the effected city and counties will be better off.
When the city of Kinston and Lenoir county begin to grow and all these GTP industries and their families move in and our school numbers go up then I will be the first person waiting in line to be on a Re-Districting committee but until all of this happens it needs to be left alone.
Could someone tell me what the purpose of the committee was in the beginning?? Was it to draw the new lines or was it to make a recommendation for or against the redistricting? I cannot see how it is not a parent issue. That’s like saying that the 5.4 million dollar debt is not a taxpayer issue. Looks like we wasted another $28,000.00 dollars. Add that to the debt, I guess. Let our kids go where they want. Until we experience our growth and I hope we do, lets concentrate on improving our current situation. I hope that this doesn’t pass before the voices of the people are heard. After it is voted on, it is to late to speak for 3 minutes at the end of a meeting. Remember the BOE are elected by the people.
DO NOT FORGET-
REDISTRICTING MEETING
WITH MIKE MOSELEY
MONDAY 2/23/09 AT SOUTHWOOD MEMORIAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH
ALL ARE INVITED
DO NOT FORGET-
MONDAY, 2/23/09
REDISTRICTING MEETING WITH MIKE MOSELEY
7:00 PM
SOUTHWOOD MEMORIAL CHRISTIAN CHURCH
(NEAR WEST WATER PARK)
Unbelievable Clines response that it is not a parents issue. What part of Lenoir county does he think it’s going to effect. Parents are the only ones it will effect. Why should former member Connie Mintz be asked her oppinion on the matter. She is a former member for a reason we voted her out and I encourage people to look out board members and remember and remind may more need to be voted off. It’s does’t take thousand of dollars to study the problem. Ask anyone and the first thing they will tell you look at transfers. Redistricting is not going to force people to send their child to a school. What it could force is for enrollment to be down even lower but parents will look to private or home schooling.
One MAJOR issue that the school board is HIDING is that students that attend KHS and ARE NOT IN the IB program are penaltized for not taking this program when they apply to colleges. The colleges look at these students as lazy because they made the choice to have a life during high school instead of 2 and 3 am nights doing homework. Students at NL & SL are not penalitzed for there school not having the program. They are looked at as all our applicates are. Why would want to penatlize our children by sending them to KHS. I attended KHS but would not send my children there now. No one is asking how the redistricting will effect the only CLOSED school in the district BANKS!!!
HP Drifter… Rita Hodges was a teacher at KHS so she used the school system for employment too and is now getting her retirement pay!!!
IMPORTANT
There is a Redistricting meeting Monday night, February 23rd, at Southwood Church. It begins at 7:00pm. Anyone concerned should attend. Chairman Moseley will be there to lead the discussion. Surely he will field any and all questions and concerns about the subject to uphold the Administration’s commitment to transparency.
I do wish there was a way to connect this blog with Bryan Hanks column today: So, what do you think about redistricting? Be sure and read it if you haven’t. The following were my comments.
Folks, I do recommend you to go to http://www.kinston.com, look for blogs, then School Redistricting and read the comments in their entirety. When you do so you will get a different feel for what was actually said and the manner in which it was.
Mr. Hanks, I really feel if you had children in the school system, you would have a different opinion.
In your story you say, “But I fully support what Lenoir County Schools Superintendent Terry Cline is trying to do: Make all the schools in the county as equal as possible while sending children to the schools closest to where they live. Why should children in some parts of the county have better schools and teachers than kids in other areas of the county?”
In response to the first part of your quote, sending children to schools closest to where they live is not going to make schools as equal as possible. It has been brought up that Rochelle and Contentnea-Savannah (Middle) are the lowest performing middle schools. Put them together at the lowest performing high school, KHS, and you still have the lowest performing high school. In response to the second part of your quote, that is exactly what we are saying, until you make schools equal in what they offer, especially high school level, why should students want to attend one that does not have what they need? And who created this mess, the LCPS and BOE. It is not a transportation issue or something they did not do back in the 1990’s. It has come from allowing city cluster students to transfer out, especially at the Rochelle level and therefore away from KHS. That problem needs to be fixed first, before redistricting.
Mr. Hanks, to you who said, “How has Greene County survived for nearly five decades by combining county and town students?” and LivesinNLdistrict, who said, “In business you have to think beyond your situation today but years down the road.” - Greene County students have been given equal opportunities by attending the same schools from Primary, to Elementary, to Middle, to HS, not something Lenoir County does. Until LCPS looks at their situation today and corrects that first, years down the road, KHS will still be the lowest performing high school, redistricting or not.
Mr. Hanks, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for quoting me from the blog in your article on Sunday, but I would have loved for you to have put the whole blog and not just a small portion. Today as traveling through the county on the south side, I was thinking about how this whole redistricting issue has come about. Am I wrong to say that it is the transportation? It doesn’t matter where you live at in the county you are going to travel. Some further than others. Those that live on the farthest part of southern Lenoir County that have to travel to South Lenoir would be approximately 25 miles. If you live in Buckelsberry and go to North Lenoir it is approximately 25 miles. If you live at the northern part near the Pitt County Line “Tick Bite” to North Lenoir it is 13 miles, to KHS its 13 miles. I’m not quite sure where in Hugo Michael Moon lives, but I did a MapQuest from some friends house that lives in Hugo near the Fire Dept and to Kinston High it was 16 minutes and to NL it was 20. I guess it would depend on the route you took. But, I would have to say there is a transportation problem when you have a bus from two different schools going into the same sub-division. And, one would have to ask why has this been allowed to go on? There are definitely problems; number one problem would be the report card for our School District, not just one school but all. I have to agree with others like Kim Braxton and Ruth Hollowell that combining two of the lower performing middle schools to a failing Kinston High accomplishes nothing. It does bring the numbers up though and it’s sad to say, it seems that is the main objective.
I too have a bone to pick again with you Mr. Hanks. I totally agree with Ruth Hollowell’s comments but I feel that I should reiterate some of her points and make a few others. In your article you said the you “fully support what Lenoir County Superintendent Dr. Terry Cline is trying to do:…” Dr. Cline insisits that that he isn’t the one doing this…”he has nothing to gain” He has stated numerous times that he has been instructed by the board to do this study so why do you say that it is what he is trying to do? Seems like a contradiction there. With the exception of the attendance lines for the elementary schools, Southeast, Northwest and Northeast, there is still “no compelling reason” (quoting C.L. Braxton at the last redistricting committee meeting) to redistrict. Now to the next part of your statement “make all the schools in the county as equal as possible”. I have been to every committe meeting but I have never heard this issue addressed. We have not discussed changing what is offered at the 3 high schools or how to bring test scores up at each high school. Most of the talk has been about redistricting Cont/Savannah to Kinston High. As Ruth pointed out, that means combining the 2 lowest performing middle schools in the county into one high school. Please tell me HOW is that going to help Kinston High or make all schools equal? Several of us who oppse this have tried to redirect the committee into addressing the problem of why so many kids already in the Kinston High attendance area transfer out. The administration has helped to create the decline in the number of students at Kinston High by allowing so many transfers over the years. Fix that problem before you disrupt the lives of our students in the county who have gone to the schools in our district.
In another of your articles recently, you said that the “redistiricting was well on its way to becoming a reality” and I asked you where you got that information. I certainly hope that you as a reporter are reporting the facts and that you do not have some inside infromation that the public is not aware of. Remember that Dr. Cline said during this process, the committee and the administration was to remain “transparent.”
Since you do not have children in the LCPS system, I don’t see how you can be so sure that you are for redistricting. Again, I cannot find any good reason to redistrict the middle and high school attendance lines.
The decision to redistrict
(or not) is as important as any decision the School Board will face. It should be addressed as such. There are many who feel (and have expressed) that any folks on the Committee who have a tie to Dr Kline feel intimidated and will reluctantly vote to redistrict despite how they really feel. The final vote by the Redistricting Committee MUST be by secret ballot to avoid this pressure. Committee members MUST feel free to vote how they really feel!!
This redistricting issue will never get settled until folks are allowed to address the ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM. That ELEPHANT is race. Clearly it is the central issue in everyones mind but most won’t bring it up. Until this issue is brought out on the table and discussed, how can the best decision regarding Redistricting be made????
Glad to help,
What in the world does ” moderation” mean?????????????????? Is that “censured” ??
D
I want to propose a possible compromise to the redistricting debate. With the start up of Spirit Aerosystems on the horizon, I would think the population of the city and county could experience a positive gain in new, well-paid residents. With none of the schools currently at capacity, why would redistricting be done now when the full impact of the new workforce is unknown. Some of the best real estate deals in the county can be found within the city limits and within the current KHS district lines. Several neighborhoods within the city limits have seen a exodus of retired and fixed incomes residents due to the rising costs of utilities and taxes, as well as now having more house than they need. Spirit will most likely be looking at a workforce with aviation experience and Eastern NC has that to offer with the many military bases surrounding the GTP area. I can see a positive influx of new residents that would be attracted to the nice homes at very good prices within the city limits. The utilities are higher, but not many people factor that in home buying decisions and these will be fairly well-paid individuals. KHS does offer an excellent staff and good academics to those who seek to further their education at the college level.
Some of the reason this argument is so passionate is that there is no time to react if the change is implemented as soon as next year. There are siblings within a single family who will be going to different high schools. Why not table any redistricting until the Spirit effect is seen, and then start with the rising middle school students where there is more time to adjust plans and expectations of the families involved. High School is such an important time in the future of our children, uprooting them with such short notice and while no current high school is at capacity seems premature.
Thank you to Mr. Mosely last night for publicly acknowledging that there is more to redistricting than simply redrawing attendance lines. His agreement that “broader issues” should be considered was the response when questioned specifically about factors to include demographics, socioeconomic status, school performance, etc. . Moseley also stressed that all concerned parents should call your School Board Members to discuss this.
The School Board will make the final decision.
NOTE that Mosely also referenced the new Northeast Elementary School which, when complete, will only be slightly in excess of 50% capacity. Southwood parents, you should be alarmed by this! The Administration will see to it that the new school is fully utilized.
I agree wholeheartedly with Ken Deal! Why not WAIT and see what happens when Spirit moves in and brings in more students. This thing MAY work itself out? The school system was made into “Lenoir County School System” in 1992 and all seems to have worked fine since then. I wonder if they are in a crunch now to save that transportation money because all that money had to be paid back and our “savings” are depleted because no one but the board and staff know where the money went in the first place. In the meantime, I’m going to keep calling the board members, going to the meetings and doing what I can to irratate them all to the point that they want to just throw up their hands in defeat.
The decision CANNOT be made without discussing the ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, IE, RACE!! When will the process include that discussion? It is the issue everyone has in mind as they discuss alternatives. To draw redistricting lines without considering race is to have sex without considering how to take care of the baby.
Why redistrict now? Kinston hasn’t seen any growth in decades, the schools have a huge deficit and the unemployment rate has reached double digits. Busing students all over the county doesn’t seem like a viable solution to the predicament that LCPS face. What redistricting will do is make it more difficult for parents to become involved in the schools their children attend. Schools are intended to the nucleus of a community, but if students are bused out of their communities, parental involvement in schools will decline. Imagine the single mother living near Southwood Elementary whose child is redistricted to Southeast Elementary. Money is tight, there is even less spare time than money and now her child attends school in a neighborhood that she feels like a foreigner in. How likely will she be to join the PTA, put her child in extra curricular activities or volunteer in the school? Being involved in a school so far from her community will cost her too much time and money. Now imagine the reverse. The family in the city who’s child is bused into the county. Add to that scenario a lack of dependable transportation and the likelihood of parents participating schools seems bleak.
If the schools aren’t performing at the same level, perhaps the BOE should take a look at the funds each school is receiving as well as the quality of teachers at each school. Maybe we should just redistrict the funds and teachers.
The “white elephant” in the room is NOT race! If that was the case, there would be no white students in Lenoir County since the schools are predominately black.
I can assure you, when I discussed the possibility with my black next door neighbors the possibility that their kids may have to go to Southeast and Rochelle like my kids they were as horrified as I was.
Wake up! No one, black or white, wants their kids taken out of a well performing school and bussed to a school that has not met its’ AYP in four years.
Are you doing any research or are you just assuming it is all about race? Did you hear Ms. Hodges’ discussion at the last board meeting? The grounds at Southeast have to be swept daily by city workers due to the “inappropriate garbage” dropped on their campus at night. Translation- needles and condoms. Southeast is in deplorable shape, with leaking skylights and temporary walls. Also, the foot traffic across campus during school hours is a constant safety concern.
Here’s an idea - you take YOUR kid out of a good school in your neighborhood and ship them off to a school that cannot meet its’ AYP in a dangerous neighborhood. As for me, that is unacceptable to do to any child, black or white.
Stop using race to play the perpetual victim and look at the facts, both in terms of crime statistics (www.familywatchdog.com) and school performance (www.ncreportcard.gov). Watch the school board meetings. Do your homework. and do a little less assuming.
Let’s look at the brand new school Northeast. This is a school that is going to have state of the art technology, a grant that will provide many extras that the teachers and principal will need and the county has also opened up teaching oppurtunities to all of the brightest teachers in all of the Lenoir County school system. We also know that when it is opened Northeast will only be at 50% capaciity. Now, why doesn’t someone in authority close Southeast and get those kids and staff out of that negative environment and put them at Northeast where it is safer, in new condition, and an all around better learning environment. This is what you would get- happier children, happier staff, and better grades!
I agree with t6texan- stop with the race card already. Race is not an issue. Race is only an issue with those who WANT it to be and those who WANT to stir up that kind of garbage. Can’t you come up with something better than the RACE ELEPHANT?
For those of you who are interested …
Mrs. Rita Hodges, member of the Board of Education will be speaking tomorrow night (Wednesday, February 25th) at 7:30pm at Contentnea/Savannah School Cafeteria.
She will be talking with us and answering questions about the redistricting. Everyone who is interested is urged and invited to attend.
I must respond to the asinine comment from Phyliss about Kinston’s IB program. Students are NOT penalized for not participating in the program. As a matter of fact, when it came to scholarship dollars, the AVID students from Kinston High School received almost as much as the IB students last year. Kinston has a very high percentage of students that attend colleges and universities, and to say that they are penalized for not participating is ridiculous. Why the negativity with the IB program anyway? Students may stay up late doing work, but many do not. Students are able to pick and choose which courses they would like to take so they can focus on their strengths- similar to AP. The ‘highly touted’ NL and SL offer AP classes. Will you do anything to prevent them from taking those as well? Some students do choose to do the full diploma program, but not all do. Now that I have negated Phyliss’s ridiculous statement, I’ll point out a truth. Just look at the number of students from all 3 schools that have been accepted into universities and colleges, and which universities they are. I think you will be very surprised. Seven early acceptances to UNC at KHS….NL? SL? I won’t speak against them. Just check the numbers.
Can anyone please give me an email address for Mike Moseley?
I just want to clarify some statements I made Monday night. Email address please.
I have yet to understand why there is a need for redistricting. Is it to balance numbers, improve busing, or what?? When the school system is in debt $5.4 million dollars why spend an additional 28 thousand for this study. Why not fix what we already have. How can you spend the amount of money we are spending on new school construction and attempt to redraw the lines after the start? What is the goal or mission of the redistricting committee? It is a parent issue. I intend to call my board members and I hope everyone else does. These members were elected by the people and for the people. I hope that there is not a vote before the people get a chance to voice their opinion at a board meeting. Having an opportunity to talk for 3 minutes and the end of the meeting is too late. I have yet to see a map or guidelines so I can only speculate or depend on word of mouth as to who will be affected. Can someone show me a map???
There are NO maps that will be distributed and the ones that were posted on the school site (if they are even still there) are illegible. They have shown maps at school board meetings but these are taken up at the end of each meeting as they are “proposals only” and the committee does not want them circulated.
As I understand it from the meeting Mike Moseley spoke at on 2/24, no maps will be released until the committee makes its’ recommendations and the board begins to make its’ decisions. Then and only then will the public be allowed to review the maps and to speak their opinion. To my knowledge the meeting on 2/24 was the first time parents have been given a forum to ask anyone questions. It is my understanding Rita Hodges from the school board will be at Contentnea/Savannah this evening. Maybe you could have better luck getting information then. Good luck.
Having recently retired from teaching at Kinston High School, I would like to simply write that Kinston High School is a wonderful school, and those who claim otherwise are mistaken. Please note that many students from different backgrounds attend Kinston High School. While some KHS students may be underperforming, many are outperforming the vast majority of students in the nation. It is only Kinston High School that has earned the prestigious International Baccalaureate Diploma, and it is only Kinston High School students who are presently capable of obtaining this diploma. North and South Lenoir chose not to apply for the program. Both of my own children graduated from Kinston High School. Both are very successful. We would choose Kinston High School again today.
Contentnea/Savannah Meeting
Thanks to the School Board for allowing parents to share concerns regarding the redistricting debate. We appreciate the interest in such a hot topic. Obviously many disagreements on the subject. Ms. Nix was concerned about the references to “Low Performing” labels, but that is the label on placed on KHS by the State of NC.
Agree completely with Don Hollowell and Tim Duggins. Wake up Lenoir County, and take back the power of the vote. The Adminstration works for the taxpayers. It is becoming overwhelmingly apparent that the majority of taxpayers in this county do not agree that redistricting is necessary at this time. The School Board should, and hopefully will, vote accordingly on Monday night.
All Contentnea/Savannah and Southwood parents should contact your school board members ASAP. The vote on the subject will be Monday night, March 2nd.
KB
the only thing apparent is that there are several of you that are upset over the Now issue and you don’t care about the families to follow, as a taxpayer of this county I want what is in the best interest of my tax dollars Now & Later. Say what you want, its still about Race. Even if it was about statistics, why would you want to see a school in your county fail? It is time for this county to Wake Up and realize Redistricting is way OverDue! As usual Lenoir county is way behind the way the other counties in the state district there schools. It is because of people as listed above that keep Kinston & Lenoir county tied back. As Obama says Let’s move forward together.
In response to LivesinNLdistrict, who wrote” As Obama says Let’s move forward together”. Please enlighten us as to which PUBLIC SCHOOLS he and his wife have chosen to have their children attend.
To Lives in NL district:
I agree with what Mike Moseley said in the meeting at Southwood Church on 2/23. Even if the redistricting is agreed to, there are other problems that the school board has to sort out. It is not about race, sir, unless you think Mr. Moseley is a racist too.
The fact of the matter is, you cannot take a child out of a well performing school and put them in a school that has not met their AYP in four years. Review the No Child Left Behind Law. You cannot “move ahead” when you are handed an education that is lagging behind. You are going to have to do something else besides invoke the name of Obama and assume everyone is against you by making charges of racism.
Redistricting may be necessary, but the bigger concern is getting all the schools in Lenoir County up to standard. Also, as Mr. Moseley pointed out, the schools are not equitable in the programs they offer and it makes no sense to have to send a child to a different school in the county just to get the programs they need. Call you school board representative and ask how the schools can be brought to standard and made equitable in their programs. Whether or not redistricting occurs, we have to ensure a quality education for all our children. And while we are on that topic, I am wondering why more parents from Rochelle and Southeast are not protesting for improvement in their schools. There are concerns there that have nothing to do with racism.
Thank you “Lives in NL District” for the debate. You are welcome to reach me anytime and we will meet for dinner to discuss this. I feel certain I know who you are, and you know how to reach me. The anonymous accusations do not lend credibility to your position.
While you seem hostile and accuse many of those respsponding above of not supporting the common interest of Lenoir County Schools, that is not true. Many of the above, including myself, could have chosen private school for our children, but have purposely not done so. To date I have been mostly satisfied with our district schools, Contentnea, Savannah, NL. The real issue is not race, as Contentnea and Savannah, which both my children have attended, are both predominantly minority. But why would you expect the parents in CSS district not to oppose the redistricting to KHS when the kids living in the district will not even attend the school? They are the ones you need to direct your hostility toward, not us. If they had supported their district schools as we have all along, we would not be having this issue today.
One of the most important responsibilities of a school board member involves being good stewards of our financial and material resources. With that in mind, how could our board members possibly vote against redistricting? Mrs. Nimmo has been quite vocal in her opposition of redistricting. I drove the distance from her home to both KHS and NLHS. She lives 1.2 miles from KHS and 8.2 miles from NLHS. Over a year’s time, our system will transport her child 2952 miles to go to North Lenoir (the same distance that it is to Seattle, WA) compared to 432 miles to Kinston High (the same distance that it is to Murphy, NC). Another vocal opponent is C. L. Braxton who lives 8.1 miles from KHS and 16.9 miles from NLHS. Those who live closer to the Pitt and Craven County lines show greater differences than that. There can be no justification for causing the taxpayers of Lenoir County to pay the extra costs in fuel, labor, oil, tires, etc. to transport children from these areas to NLHS simply because a few parents so strongly object. Would you ever choose to drive to Seattle, WA to get the same product that you could get in Murphy, NC? What the 10-15 parents who have created such a disturbance choose to overlook is that their children would be fine at Kinston High School if they (the parents) would keep their narrow-minded, negative opinions to themselves. Their children, who have been together in school for nine years, would move together to Kinston High. They would not be separated from the relationships that they had established during their elementary and middle school years. I was so glad to read that our new board member, Billy Davis, also agrees that these children should go to the school closest to their homes.
I attended the meeting at Southwood Church and it was a joke. Mr. Moseley did not answer 95% of the questions. He keep referring to ask “your representative or school board”. The only thing that he stated that really made any sense is that he thought that if they continued on with the redistricting there are other issues that needed to be addressed such as schools offering the same programs. I definitely DO NOT support the redistricting for the simple fact that you are pulling my child from a higher performing school and placing in a lower performing school in a not so safe area of town. I know that probaby offended some people but you can go through the Kinston Police Department crime reports and see it is true. Everyone in the Southwood area does need to contact GARLAND NOBLES as listed on the lenoir.k12.nc.us website as our District 4 representative and tell him we DO NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN. Clay Howard was at the meeting at Southwood Church and stated he was a school board member at one time and we need to contact Garland Nobles and let him know exactly how we feel. Mr. Billy Davis (school board member that is against the redistricting) was shaking his head along with telling Mr. Howard what to say. For our kids sake, STOP this REDISTRICTING!! Our children have enough problems to deal with now rather than having to worry about moving away from their school and friends. Think of the psychological impact this will have on them.
STOP REDISTRICTING!! Call board members!! Go the Board Meeting on Monday, March 2 and join us!!
For those who are interested-
Dr. Keith Seaforth will be at Contentnea Savannah tonight at 7:00pm. The meeting will be held in the Media Center.
Do not forget the Board of Education monthly meeting will be on Monday, March 2nd at 7:00pm at Central Office.
It is important for all parents to come out to listen and to observe what is going on in our schools.
To LivesinNLdistrict: I have to jump right in there with Kim Braxton. What do you mean “it is all about race”? Don’t you know as Kim stated that Contentnea/Savannah is predominantly minority? HOW MANY TIMES AND WAYS DO WE HAVE TO SAY “IT IS NOT ABOUT RACE!” It is about going to a low performing high school when there are so many who live in the Kinston High district that don’t go there. How much sense does it make to redistrict those of us who have attended the schools that we are supposed to and overlook the real problem of why those supposed to go to Kinston High transfer to another school?I would also like for you to tell us why redistricting is overdue? If you say that the reason is to balance the schools, then do you mean racially or academically? If you answer racially, then you are going to have to pull kids from the southern half of the county and that means bussing. That would not meet the hope that kids can attend the school closest to where they live. If your answer is academically, then that opens up a whole new discussion on teachers and their ability to teach what is required of them. So just what are saying is the reason to redistrict?
McDuffy,
Thank you for attempting to divert attention from the real issue of transfers from Rochelle and Kinston High.
Since transportation costs are of the utmost priority, I wonder why the Administration has not made issue of the bus that runs from Frink Middle School to First Baptist Church in Kinston every day, clearly to transport these students away from the schools they should attend. 25 get on the bus in the morning, 28 ride in the afternoon, from Frink to/from First Baptist Church, which is not a residence, and which has no before or afterschool care. That equates to 14.7 miles each way, 29.4 miles per day, 5300 miles per year, cost to Lenoir County Schools, to transfer at least 28 children away from the school they are assigned to, resulting in lower than desired enrollment at Rochelle.
Why would the Administration pursue the controversial redistricting plan when such as the above continues on a daily basis without question or scrutiny? I personally think the parents should have a choice in where the child attends school, but I would never expect the school system to provide transportation to another school of my choice.
Your mileage figure, in our respect, is incorrect. Regarding our family and the Nimmo family, we provide our own transportation, but thanks for the specific effort to try to make a point in the matter. We realize other students do ride the buses.
There are quite more than 10-15 people who oppose this redistricting plan. You should have attended some of the area meetings.
Lastly, Thank you to the NUMEROUS citizens who have phoned us in support of the opposition to redistricting.
All concerned parents should call your Board members and plant to attend Monday night’s School Board Meeting.
McDuffy, if you look at the proposed maps no matter how you draw the lines there are going to be people that are closer to a particular school, than the one they are slated to attend. Transportation is not the issue, the state allots capital funds for transportation based on the miles traveled districts, very little local money goes towards transportation. An example: Pitt county 3 years ago redistricted based on Demographic and Socio-Economic status to try to improve the education at all schools which increased total transportation costs. IF you would like to contact me to discuss the facts, I’d be glad to talk with you. By the way it’s 14.5 miles to NL going down Felix Harvey and 13.2 going down Cameron Langston.
McDuffy,
It ’s none of your business whether the Nimmo’s and the Braxton’s live right on KHS or NL’s property or not -they have NEVER used the county’s dime to transport their children; nor do they need the county to transport their children. Do they not have just as much right as you to vocalize their opinion? Or is it the fact that they are not agreeing with you and your opinion? Also, before you wasted your time and your gas you should have actually thought of whether these families used the bus system or not, or are you actually clever enough to have looked them up in the phone book and just did a map quest? It may surprise you that there are actually tax paying families that don’t take advantage of the county like some others do.
I am happy to clear up the misconception concerning the bus that transports children from First Baptist Church to Frink each day. NO, that bus does not cost Lenoir County Public Schools any additional money as that bus picks children up from their homes in Colonial Pines on its regular route to and from Frink. It stops at First Baptist Church and children are allowed to ride that bus only if there is space available. Again, this bus costs no additional money to our system unlike the several buses that run from the northeast end of the county which cost thousands of dollars each year to transport children who should attend KHS (the school closest to them) to NLHS.
Anyone who thinks this issue is not all about race has no idea what is going on. Do you really think any parent of high school age kids at nl or sl want to be added to the zoo at Kinston High? Just visit khs during class change to see how you feel to be in that zoo of foul language, groping and verbal and physical attacks. it is the way these kids were raised and it will not change. To expose kids raised with a mother and a father at home to this is atmosphere is criminal.
Glad to help, DS
To McDuffy: First let me start by saying I am NOT narrow-minded. I do not appreciate your attack on me personally. I am opposed to redistricting because my son does not wish to participate in the program offered at KHS but the one offered at NL. I am also concerned with the short time frame given to the committee to make a recomendation to the board. I do appreciate you spending your precious time and resources to map out the distances from my home to each school. I could have saved you the trouble since I travel both ways a fair amount of the time should you like to call and talk with me about this subject. ( unlike you I identify myself as to my true identity) We have attended LCPS for nine years and as of today, we have provided our own transportation 100% of the time. It has not cost the LCPS system one red cent and will not. I do agree that we need to look at cost in relations to busing and if a student goes out of district then they should be responsible for their own transportation cost, not the system. I encourage you to get the facts on where I stand before you make an assumption about me on this blog. I have no problem talking to you face to face if you feel you need clarifications. Otherwise, keep this blog open for your own opinions and worry about yourself. I don’t need anyone to speak for me, as you probably already know by now, I can handle that all by myself.
McDuffy,
I am a child of one of those “narrow-minded” parents. First of all, I don’t ride the bus, so I am using none of the county’s taxes to get transported to school. Ever single last day since I began Kindergarden I have been transported by my parents or by a friend’s parent. Second, I don’t want to go to KHS because the classes I want to take aren’t offered there. I want to go to NLHS so I can be part of the FFA. Is that offered at KHS? No. It is like I had my life planned out in front of me and the school board is crushing all of that.
I would like to know why any kids are bused from their homes to First Baptist Church? Only if there is space? Isn’t the bus owned and maintained by Lenoir County Tax payers? So if I need a ride I can just stand out by the road and if there is room I can catch a ride? Heck we all ought to start doing that and save on our own gas money. What about the kids being bused from Southeast to Southwood? Since the school is so low performing the students have a choice. But high performing schools are going to be forced to go to low performing schools? Something is wrong with this picture. But then again our country is moving to a socialist country rewarding the do nothings so what else is new. Borrow money don’t repay it and the government will take care of it for you. Geez what has happened to our county and country? Time to take it back through the polls! Vote these dingbats out!
Thank you to Dr. Seaforth last night for listening to the concerned parents of his district.
We also appreciate Bruce Hill’s attendance and attention to this very controversial matter.
As they both witnessed, the Contentnea/Savannah district, while small in number, can manage to rally together for the best interest of our children.
SUMMARY OF PARENT CONCERNS
Per Jeff Tsai, the elementary schools inside the City of Kinston are the largest inefficiencies regarding bus transportation. This can be correctly easily, and should have already been done.
First, the transfers from middle school should be eliminated, with few exceptions. The curriculums of the elementary and middle schools are the same, therefore transfers are generally not justified. This will immediately correct enrollment at Rochelle and Kinston High.
The timeline imposed by the Administration for redrawing lines county wide is too aggressive. Broader issues such as performance, demographics etc. should be considered, the end result should be high schools which are curriculum and demographically similar.
McDuffy:
Did you measure the difference in miles for the school board members? Their kids are going out of district to go to different schools. Didn’t mention that, did you? They are driving by lower performing schools to go to more preferred ones- you better do something!! Look up Fillipelli’s address on mapquest and get cracking! I guess your concern with conserving fossil fuels and the ozone does not stretch to these hypocrites, does it?
Also, does anyone ask why the redistricting committee does not practice impartiality, and is stacked in Kline’s favor with shool employess and his spouse tipping the scales? Also, why are entire areas of the county, such as Pink Hill, not even represented?
Also, why are members of the redistricting committee being allowed to blow off meetings? Should they not be replaced with people who actually care and keep up with what is going on?
Did McDuffy discuss the gas and city employee time wasted at Southeast picking up “inappropriate garbage” - I bet in a years time that garbage would reach Murphy too, if laid end to end.
Maybe you should use your stalking skills for more impartial reporting.
Lay on McDuff, and damned be the one who first cries “Hold Enough.”
I just have a couple of questions, if anyone would help me out.
Are the elementary lines in danger of being redrawn? I see a lot of issues with high school and middle school, but my daughter is in the C/S district, and I’m afraid she will be made to go to a different school. I’m pretty sure we are closer to C/S, but with that new school being built right down the road, is there a danger of taking kids out of our school and making them go there? I haven’t heard that there are maps, but maybe someone knows different? We are pretty new to the area, and she is just now getting comfortable with new friends and teachers. I would hate to see her taken away from that.
As for the high/middle schools, why won’t the school board see that every school has the same curriculum? Why should one part of the city/county be offered something but another one isn’t? That doesn’t seem quite fair to the kids.
Thanks in advance for any info
Eveyone is talking about what is going on with Lenoir County Schools but what about what is going on at KCA. If the school closes, were will the displaced students go?
First off David Shevok, some of your comments are VERY VERY rude. You should be ashamed to of saying something like that about Mr. Joey Bryan (if you were wondering his name). The “zoo” comment about KHS was rude. I have several friends that go to school there and that is very offensive to the students of KHS and others. Yes if you walk through the halls you may hear foul language but you are going to find that anywhere you have teens. Its not only KHS, its everywhere, so really that is pretty much irrelevant, and doesn’t matter.
Also I live in Colonial Pines, and I have always been able to choose what school I would like to attend. We moved here in the middle of my first grade year. At that time I was at Northwest. I continued there the rest of the year, and next year because I HAD THE CHOICE. In third grade I moved to Banks because, most of my friends from church went there. When we were choosing where to go, Northwest was still k-3. At sometime I would have had to switch to another school anyway, so I did. From there I went to Frink. I am now an eighth grader at Frink. Next year I plan to go to NLHS, because most of my friends will go there, it IS IN MY DISTRICT, and I have the choice where I would like to attend. Although people may think me and others choose to go NL because of race, or something stupid like that, it is not true. That is just what we want.
Please allow me and the rest of my neighborhood to continue to have the choice where to attend school.
Think about this one for a bit. Everyone is just arguing over this. Redistricting is just causing problems in our town. We are suppose to be ONE community, ONE town, ONE county. Why does it matter where we go to school? When you look at the books it may seem like its better but is NOT. Everyone is looking at the board and committee. Ask the students what they think about all of this. Its not going to make school any easier if you move us around, put us with new people, and a whole new environment. Its just going to make it harder.
PLEASE PLEASE REALLY THINK ABOUT THE STUDENTS. I WILL BE A FRESHMAN NEXT YEAR AND I DON’T WANT TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT WHERE I AM GOING TO GET SHIPPED OFF TO GO TO SCHOOL. I NEED TO BE THINKING ABOUT WHAT CLASSES I AM GOING TO TAKE AND OTHER ACADEMIC THINGS.
Thanks for your time!
-Jordan
concerned student..
I have read the comments, and don’t particularly have a problem with different opinions, but I take GREAT offense to the person who called KHS a zoo. I am there EVERYDAY and that is a lie. I also was amused at the parent with a son interested in being a vet but not interested in IB. My cousin is a large animal vet and when I told him that the parent wanted to take ag classes and not do IB, he laughed hysterically. If your child REALLY wanted to be a vet, he would be begging to be admitted to the IB program. I’m sure his vet school application will look good with ag classes on it (Ha! Ha!). Also, NLHS would be in the SAME turn around position as KHS except the state ran out of money to fund it. So, don’t say you want your children to go to NL because it is a better performing school. Also, because the IB program at KHS is available to ALL students in Lenoir County, when your child wants to go to Carolina or Duke or Wake Forest, then their admissions office knows that your child did NOT chose the most rigorous course of study. I am not a Carolina fan, but getting into school at Carolina is a measuring stick for schools and students since it is the most difficult state school to get into. I guess the fact the KHS has a significantly higher number of students being excepted to Carolina, shows how well KHS prepares its students for success.
To Teacher/Parent: I appreciate your insight into my situation but let me clear up some things for you. First I have not one time said anything negative about the teachers, staff, students, or principal at KHS. I also have not put down the IB program. I know some of the teachers at KHS, students, and the principal as well. He was our principal at Contentnea when my son was there. As for you getting opinions as to whether we are making the right decision about my son’s future I do object to you offering your opinion when I didn’t ask. If I want advice concerning what is best for my son, then I will discuss it with guidance councelors I know and respect. I know my son. You do not and yes he is a candidate for the IB program. He would do well and in case you are collecting as much information as you can about us, I have discussed this with Mr. Whittington and he understands and respects our decision. He said he would love to have him in the IB program if we change our minds. Also, for your information you do not even apply to vet school until your senior year of general college and by that time the school probably could care less if you took IB or Ag classes in high school. I’m sure they are looking at your GPA in college NOT high school by then. As for getting accepted to Carolina, let me say that is not a driving fact for us since the Vet school is at NC State. I think everyone has a right to their own opinion on this subject. I want what I think is best for my son and I don’t appreciate anyone challenging me on this. You do what is right by your child and I’ll do the same. If you are truly that concerned that I am making the wrong decision, call me and we can discuss it. I can’t call you since you choose to not identify yourself.
Mrs. Nimmo, it is amazing you want to get all defensive when someone gives you information you didn’t ask for, yet you feel the need to incessantly leave comments here. One comment would have sufficed. Actually, I think your letter to the editor would have sufficed before we had to read your endless dribble about your opinion on redistricting. If your comeback argument is that vet schools will not care whether or not you took IB courses, then I guess you negated your previous point about wanting to take AG classes because of vet school. It’s ok; I’m sure with the time you spend typing responses, writing letters to the editor, and getting ridiculously worked up over this issue, you can make an illogical statement or two.
Mrs. Nimmo, I realize that vet applications are filled out the final year of college. The IB program offers the strongest curriculum in science that can be offered to any high school student. Also, success in the program would almost guarantee your son acceptance into NCSU. Also, he would be 100 times more prepared for the level of work required in college. That would ensure him of having a better chance of having the GPA to get into Vet school. I really don’t care where you send your child or why, but when you suggest that your child has ambitions that require a strong education with a very strong emphasis on academics, then it just makes it appear that you are hiding behind your real reasons for pushing North Lenoir.
I hope those of you who so strongly defend the “flagship” school actually confront your neighbors who transfer to Frink/ NL/SL with the same level of sarcasm and emotion.
They created the Rochelle/KHS problem by being disloyal to their community schools.
Jordan Lopez thank you so much for writing. I think that you should get all of your friends to write as well, Because in the end it is about you. My brother will be in 9th grade as well next year and I think that there should be a choice. I just wanted to say thank you for your courage. I am behind you 100%!!!!!
!!!!!Hawk Pride!!!!!
And to the parents stop trying to put down the future NL moms they are standing up for what they believe in. My hats off to the few brave women up here who don’t have to put anyone down, always stand there ground, and do it with style. Love you guys!!!!
David, I am not wasting your time. You obviously no NOTHING about the IB curriculum. By the way, it is not the IB, it is an entire program that is held in the highest esteem all over the world, not just in Lenior county. Many states give full scholarships to any students who earn the IB diploma. And yes, there is NO program available in any high school that will better prepare a student for success at respected universities around the world. There are currently three IB students from Lenoir county on full or almost full scholarships at Duke University right now. You are obviously a bored and not very informed citizen. I invite you to visit any IB school in the state and let them share some information with you so you won’t appear to be so uninformed. I’m too kind to say what you really are.
The students at KHS are penetalize from colleges BECAUSE they did not choice this program. We recently looked into this program!!!! This came from teachers and students! Get your facts straight. I have no problem with KHS but fact is fact. Not all children are IB students and if they and their parents want them to go to a school and just take AG classes and not be considered LAZY by the colleges they should be able to. AG students have to apply thereselves to get into the colleges they want. If you want to throw stone about early exceptance then maybe Lenior County should look at Craterets Counties schools they had 3 students last year the was excepted in to IVY League schools. KHS didn’t. Student have to apply for scholorships. It not just a GIVEN that KHS student will get more scholorships. It depends on whos given the money, who fits the requirements and who applies. This also goes to for what schools they apply to. They way you are talking is that ONLY KHS students are smart enought to get in DUKE or Carolina. Get a GRIP
Phyliss, After reading your entry I am not surprised that you might not be interested in an IB program. Your entry would be an excellent practice test for eighth grade English students. The grade would be to find the grammatical errors and words that are mispelled. I don’t think anyone living in Lenoir county is concerned about schools at the beach. Lenoir county has also had students accepted to Ivy league schools, and most people consider Duke an Ivy league school. For the record, it is penalized and choose not penetalize and choice. Also, while Ag classes can be beneficial to kids who live on a farm, we all know that farming is going to the large agribusinesses and the small family farm is disappearing. I would want my child to have a few more options. Students also have to have something on their transcript and in their record to qualify for scholarships. I would certainly think that students in all Lenoir county schools would apply for the scholarships in which they qualify.
Teacher/Parent,
Let’s not throw stones at Phyliss. In one of your posts, you wrote “no” instead of “know”. It’s the thought behind the word that counts, not the grammar, which, on occasion, has been pointed out to me much more politely than you have done.
Thanks for the correction Melissa, although I would hardly compare my one error to Phyliss. All arguments lose much of their effectiveness when they are written so poorly. I would strongly agree that IB is not for every student, but for the students who are capable and have a strong interest in attending a four year university of their choice, it gives them a strong advantage. In 2002 North Carolina State accepted 58.5% of their total applicants, but they accepted 92.3% of the IB diploma applicants. East Carolina accepted 67% of their total applicants, but they accepted 100% of the IB diploma applicants. Davidson College accepted 34.5% of their total applicants, but they accepted 69.7% of the IB diploma applicants. Yale accepted 13% of their applicants, but they accpted 18.9% of the IB diploma applicants. UNC accepted 35% of their applicants, but they accepted 68.4% of the IB diploma candidates. The numbers speak for themselves. Top universities recognize the rigor of the IB program and believe that those students have an edge in knowledge, skills, and preparedness for college. With these statistics, it is hard to imagine why anyone with a child that wants to be a Vet would not be interested in an IB program.
Teacher/Parent,
I do understand where you are coming from, I have been guilty of being the “grammar police” myself. This is such a hot debate topic, and such a sensitive subject, that I think peoples emotions get away with them. I think it is very important that we listen to each other with an open mind. After all, when all is said and done, we all want what we feel is best for OUR child. That may be at the other end of what someone else feels is best.
With that said, my child is still in elementary but eventually I believe she will be in Kinston High, so it is helpful to know exactly what they offer. So thank you for the information you supplied.
It is critical that the School System reduce their budget. This demands that some people be laid off. Teachers (some) are overworked and under paid. Still, 10% of them need to be let go. The criteria must be performance. Let’s face it; there would be zero impact if the 10% let go are the poorest performers. They would not be missed.
The second place to reduce people is clearly the Central Office and staff folks. I was in the building on Vernon Avenue every day last week. The idleness is ridiculous. Many of those folks are just marking time and providing no contributions . Dr. Cline must face the facts and deal with these employees and get their cost out of the Budget.
Thanks,
DS
A recap on Monday nights Board Meeting on the Redistricting; there were three parents that spoke on why the redistricting should not happen, no growth, no schools at capacity. There was another parent on the redistrict committee and she feels its time for this to happen. Mr. Mintz spoke on how nice it was to live in Kinston and that his kids went to Kinston High. Then we heard from Mr. Mosley and Mrs. Lovick. Mr. Mosley said that he came to the board for guidance; next breath said he felt like it was time for redistricting. Mrs. Lovick the co-chairperson agrees it is time to redistrict. Mrs. Lovick, where did your children go to school? Am I correct to say, their elementary school was Northwest, the middle school was, is Savannah? Then onto Kinston High, Why did you not choose Rochelle? According to Ms. Nix, Rochelle is a fine school, you should lead by example! Mr. Bryan says they are asking the county commissioners for money and they need to show something from the school board we are saving money. So, we are redistricting the city cluster, closing two schools, one which would be sufficient for the Southeast children to go to, but they had rather spend thousands or millions refurbishing one. He voted for it. Mr. Seaforth said that he would not vote on the redistricting if it showed enrollment being the issue. On all the slides that were shown and Mr. Filleppeli agreed the only thing the study showed was moving enrollment numbers around from one high school to another. Of course you could only guess which high school would have the highest enrollment. And by the way Dr. Seaforth voted for it. Mr. Hill said that he had spoken with parents, business leaders in the community and he felt like he was representing the whole county, I guess he didn’t listen to all his voters. He voted for it. Mrs. Hodges said that with her background in real estate customers would not look at school lines to see where there child would go, but they would ask about the school district, and the performance of the schools. She voted on the city cluster but not the middle or high schools, Mr. Davis didn’t have a lot to say but did vote to redistrict the elementary and not to continue the high school and middle. Mr. Nobles was absent; we have already heard how his vote would be though. So, there you go. It’s a guarantee that next year your child’s school will be different than the one they currently go to and there will be new faces sitting on the half moon next election. Next meeting is April 6th, I encourage all to attend to see how your tax money is spent, and how those that you voted for represent you.
to teacher/parent.
Funny you have not told what school you teach at…. or your child attends. Let me quess …. you were given the special option of taking your child out of district to the school you teach at? All parents in Lenior County Schools would love to have the option to take their child to whatever school they wanted too because it would be better for them.
First off Kelly Hale thanks for your support. You are right, it really does all come down to the students. We are really going to be the ones affected by this. I really appreciate you telling me that. It is really uplifting.
That’s right HAWK PRIDE BABY!!!!
Also to all the parents, teachers and other writing on the blog, this is not for arguing this is a place to try to state your opinions. You do not have to bash on another school, condemn parents for what they want and teachers getting upset over nothing. We really need to stick TOGETHER. All this fussing and arguing is not doing anything but hindering us. Some of you may not know this but board members do look at this blog. If they see that we are fussing so much and so many people’s toes are getting stepped on and feelings getting hurt they are really going to start wondering.
We are not helping the situation at all. If we can just put all of our feelings aside and think about others (students would be great) this would be a lot easier.
PLEASE STOP BEING MEAN IN A NICE WAY..
If you understand what i am saying.
Get off your high horse and realize what this is about..
Well said, Jordan.
Wait a minute now!!!…. School Board member Bruce Hill said he stayed away from the Redistricting Committee meetings so he wouldn’t form an opinion. Hello!!! Shouldn’t he begin to get the facts and hear the input so he COULD form an opinion? Why wouldn’t we want our School Board members to form an opinion.
Oh yes; I forgot this is the same School Board member who said he “was surprised” when the school construction was over budget and behind schedule.
Come on Mr. Hill; you better hear the deliberations and listen to the people so you can do your job, which is to FORM AN OPINION!!
By the way, i have been to almost every open meeting on the redistricting subject and I have been able to form an opinion. Mr Hill, you need to do the same. what are you waiting for???
DS
DS
To everybody,
The Budget issue: Fire the board and elect parents from each district to voluntarily run the county system. They must be taxpaying citizens and have children attending school during their term.
Any concerned parent with adequate time would/should take on these positions for the benefit
of the children in Lenoir Co. Can you put a price on your child education?
The Parents: Do your job as one!!! If your child does not respect you, then why would you think
they will respect the teachers. If discipline and respect were equal in all homes then the schools
would be teaching more with less babysitting time. Being a good parent is not always easy but the
rewards are endless. After visiting schools and talking with many teachers, this is the number one problem in most classrooms!!!!!! This applies to all public and private schools. Discipline cost, if you don’t think so, check out the funding of the prison system!!
If more of these issues along with balanced curriculum were addressed then redistricting would
not be an issue for all families involved. Some things like common sense need to addressed long before
redistricting the county.
I have refrained from commenting, thus far, on redistricting on the Free Press blogs. However, I feel it neccessary to share my disappointment in the comments made about Jordan Lopez..
I have known Jordan since she was a baby. I attended her first birthday party when she broke her arm and couldn’t even be there. It is hard to believe the beautiful young woman she has grown to become and to be so very wise beyond her years!
Jordan and I spoke the other night after the School Board meeting about her views. She was very civil, calm and collected. She is obviously very passionate about her opinion regarding redistricting, as it appears many citizens of our county are. Why is it that a child, who could be directly “effected” by any recommendation or vote that may be made, is able to present herself in such a positive manner, when other adults, many years older, have not been able to do just that?
Making derogatory comments about a child on this public comment blog is uncalled for. Our children deserve only encouragement from the citizens of this county during this very controversial time.
Jordan deserves the respect that any other human being deserves on this earth. Thank you Jordan for being willing to stand up for what you believe in. Let your light shine! Let it shine! Let it shine!
Mr. Shevok,
I just thought I would let you know that I am passing ALL of my class with flying colors. OH NO!! I made one little mistake its the end of the world. I really think it’ll be okay.
Also I am NOT criticizing anyone at all in any of my comments. There is nothing wrong with having different opinions up here. All I said was that we SHOULDN’T put others down for how they feel. So please don’t tell me that I decided to criticize people because they think differently about this than I do. I have not and never will.
I think we can (or SHOULD) all agree that Jordan has had some of the most respectful, well written and thought out posts on this site.
Sometimes people lash out at whatever or whoever they can find. This issue is so emotional for most of us, but we should all remember , it’s about the KIDS, not us and our egos. We don’t have to agree, but we should at least be respectful of other’s opinions.
Jordan,
You just keep posting your thoughts and reasonings, and I’ll keep listening. You make a lot of sense.
Its funny to me that Jordan in the 8th grade has more respect than some of the older adults. Anytime we talk about children people are going to get upset…that’s nature. All we want if for the children to go where they want. If they want to go to KHS by all means go, and if they choose NLHS then go. When it all boils down if we made the kids go to the school in there district we may not have a problem. I mean you have kids now that live in the city but go to a county school. So how about fix that problem before you go move mountains. It takes baby steps to start something and get everyone on board. Thanks Kelly Hale
I would just like to thank everyone that has backed me on this. I really appreciate it.
I have spoke to some of my friends that can and will be “effected” by this, and I’m thinking some of them may post something. Which I am glad because I really think everyone needs to hear form more students. Really see where we’re coming from.
So hopefully you will be hearing from some of my kind. hahaha
Anyways once again thanks for all the support, and hope to hear and talk to you’ll soon.
-Jordan
Did anyone read today’s paper? The shooting that occurred at Southeast school should be of great concern. I know it happened on Sunday while school was not in session and I know it could have happened elsewhere but the fact is that this school keeps seeing more than its share of criminal activity on the campus. I hope that this is taken into consideration at the next redistricting meeting. Do we need to close this school and keep Teacher’s open? Is it possible to make Rochelle K-8 like Contentnea/Savannah? This is a safety issue and wouldn’t it be better for those students to move out of this environment into another neighborhood with less violence? How about going to the new school being built? I think all this is worth considering while looking at the lines and opening up a new school. I heard that at a school board meeting it was discussed about some renovations at that school. Please look at other options that may be feasible. Keep the kids and teachers safe. Take them out of this environment. It just might help increase the test scores if one could focus more on school and not be in constant fear of the surroundings. It also could possibly save some money to close this school. This deserves some thought by the committee as well as the school board.
DS,
If you will notice, you forgot to capitalize your “I”. People in glass houses, and all that.
Stop picking on the teenager (who has been extremely polite in the face of your attacks) and instead get back to the issue at hand. I think we have all established that this is not about grammar.
Have a spectacular day.
My wife and I attended the recent School Board meeting. The overall opinion of folks attending was “we really need to pay attention to who we vote for next election”. What a circus!!!
For those who did not attend, catch a rebroadcast of it on tv. Pay attention to all of the buck passing. They don’t have a clue about what to do. But all of them want to be heard. The only one who did not come across as a pompous jerk was the one who did not attend!
Seaforth only wants to talk but not be held accountable. The ABC guy only wants to say “we all need to work together”, but doesn’t seem to ever have an original thought. He seems like he would get nervous if he were just reciting the Lord’s Prayer. The fat guy just wants to quote the rules. The lady enjoys rocking the boat. And poor Fillipelli seems to be in way over his head.
Folks, we deserve better!!
God help us!!!
DS
Folks, my most recent post is not a slam at all of the School Board members. Rather, a hit of their poor leadership skills and utter inability to grasp the essence of an issue.
I don’t really care where this redistricting issue comes out. i just think it’s a pity that the ultimate decision will be made with most Board members not understanding the unintended consequences of their vote. Some will vote without studying the issues and the rest will vote without having the grey matter to understand the issues. And, lastly, there is Mr. Hill who said he stayed away from all the Redistricting Committee meetings because, — are you ready for this? — HE DIDN’T WANT TO FORM AN OPINION!!! Doesn’t he realize that those meetings are the very place one could hear the most facts and input from the community and use that data to form an opinion that makes the most sense?
Lord, save us from the ignorance of the School Board members.
I would like to thank David Fillipelli, the Chairman of the Lenoir County School Board, for stating the obvious at the board meeting on March 2. The current plan to reconfigure high school district lines accomplishes one result only, shifting students for the sake of favoring one high school over another, when there is no student population growth or capacity issues at any school. The “redistricting study” is a façade to accomplish the aggressive agenda to only increase enrollment at KHS.
The redistricting committee itself is stacked (>50%) with administrative personnel acting under the direct control of the Superintendent. The committee chair and co-chair were both handpicked by the superintendent, and “elected” by those same administrative employees. By design, the committee meetings are only held on weekdays 11:30am until 2:00pm to accommodate school administrative schedules, so it is not surprising few parent committee members are in attendance. There also have been private meetings of the committee chair, co-chair and superintendent, planning their strategies for promotion of this redistricting agenda.
LCPS Board members, remember that you are responsible for setting policies and deciding issues that impact LCPS. The decisions should not be made for you. “Glancing over” the packet of agenda items immediately prior to the board meeting is not adequate in fulfilling your obligation to this school system. Quite honestly, if you are not willing to commit more time to the cause, you should resign your position. I applaud the new board members’ request for detailed information, to help them learn and to understand. If the system is truly transparent as stated repeatedly by the superintendent, why the private meetings, and why the delay in providing any and all information requested by the public or the Board members. Failing to provide requested information promptly to Board members is nothing other than complete insubordination.
To board member Bruce Hill who insists those who oppose the redistricting process have their “heads in the sand”, we have to wonder, whose heads are in the sand? The absolute pertinent issues facing the School Board today are the substandard test scores, staggering dropout rates, declining enrollment, tremendous budget deficits, and how to save three of our schools which are currently labeled low-performing. Until the board prioritizes these items, and the public sees results, you will continue to see students leave the public school system and the continued decline in the quality of education in this county. Redistricting should be the least of your concerns. Students and parents of Lenoir County deserve better representation from the Board and better results from the current Administration.
Thank you Kim Braxton for the compelling points you so valiantly made. It bothers me immensely that the majority of the Redistricting Committee, is made up of folks with direct ties to Dr. Cline. It perturbs me that the Chairman, Mike Moseley, threw up his hands and asked for direction from the new School Board at the February 18th Redistricting Meeting. He then turned around and stated his opinion as to what needed to be done at the March 2nd School Board meeting.
High school redistricting plans are still simmering under the surface and why? I admire the Chairman on the School Board, David Fillipelli, for stating the apparent. It is not needed.
The problems at Southeast have become even more urgent with the recent shooting. Perhaps before the actual renovation begins at Southeast, alternatives such as renovating Teachers Memorial should seriously be studied. The Board voted to continue the redistricting study at the elementary level, and yes I do agree some is necessary, but in doing so first consider safety of innocent children.
Some Committee and Board members need to view your ideas the way people on the outside do, you appear to be actors following a script. The public would appreciate your honesty it you would slow down, step off your stage, open your minds, and realize redistricting is the least of the problems you are facing.
School Board members, think like parents and decide what is more important, time and money spent on unnecessary redistricting or time and money spent on a better education.
I would like to start off by saying that I am against the redistricting. I grew up in this communitiy and went to Contentnea, Savannah, and North Lenoir. When I got married we chose to live in this community and raise our family here. I would have never thought this would be an issue for my children. I have a child at North Lenoir and a child at Contentnea-Savannah. I would hate for either of them to have to go Kinston High. My oldest daughter is very involved in Ag. classes and the FFA (which is not offered at KHS). I was involved in these classes as a high school student and would love for both of my children to have the same opportunity.
I think alot of the problem is student’s that go to the school’s out of their district. Alot of this has been approved by the school board. If every student would have to go to their own school in their district this would not be an issue.
I know it goes on, because I know several parents that have gone before the school board to get their children into another district and it has been approved.
Everyone is talking about redistricting and nepotism. What about employment fairness? I know an incident when an employee reported activities in the department . (whistleblowing) The supervisor hired the husband’s company to perform services for Lenoir County Public Schools. The husband was not an authorized vendor. The supervisor was suspended for a week without pay. Upon the supervisor’s return, the attitude towards the employee became hostile and vindictive. The supervisor retaliated against the employee. The employee was dismissed from the position. Where is fairness in the Lenoir County Public Schools.
So, Here we go again. Why are the only schools being looked are the prodominantly black schools? When in reality all schools should be evaluated. I think the school board just buckled under the pressure.
I’m sure most of you know that there will be a hearing to discuss the recommendations of the redistricting committee tomorrow night, May 27, at 7:00 pm at Rochelle middle school. I realize that there has been very little activity on the blog lately and I hope people will see this and go tomorrow night. We are being given the opportunity to voice our opinions and concerns on the subject so let’s let our voices be heard. Our children matter so we need to speak up for them.