By Rabyn Ratliff
VALDOSTA — A number of parents and community stakeholders attended the Valdosta Board of Education’s regular meeting and public forum Monday, held at West Gordon Elementary School.
Following a brief board meeting, which included a unanimous vote to name the system’s new Early College Program the Valdosta Early College Academy, the public was invited to share concerns and comments.
Of the topics brought up during Monday’s forum, the issues of minority teacher recruitment, inadequate recording of the board meeting/work session minutes, and the selection of student programs within schools rendered most of the evening’s discussion.
Minority teacher recruitment
For several decades, the system has been working rectify the issues of a 1970 civil action order, which, in summary, found that the system needed more minority teachers, as well as a more diverse and balanced representation among faculty and administrators within schools. A number of citizens, including Willie Head, Ralph Council, and student George Foreman, shared their concerns regarding the issue.
“In 1971, this system agreed with a consent decree from the courts to hire black teachers, and the system was given 90 days to get in order ... that was in 1971,” said Head.
In response, Superintendent Dr. Bill Cason shared some of the current initiatives in the area of teacher recruitment.
“We have a new recruitment plan in place, and we’ve increased our efforts this year toward the recruitment of minority teachers. And, we’re going to additional colleges to find African-American teachers, Hispanic teachers, and others,” Cason said. “We are also reassigning staff to help balance out some of our schools, and the Department of Justice has given us a while to work on it. I believe that once this plan is fully in place, you will see the results right away, I think.”
Having heard the vow of the school system to address the issue many times before, Council said “I was here 10-12 years before 1971, and there was a recruitment plan then. We don’t need a recruitment plan, we need a hiring plan.”
Inadequate
recording of board meeting/work
session minutes
While conducting research on the local school system, Dr. Mark George of Valdosta State University’s Sociology Department, shared his findings with the board in regards to certain information, specifically decisions passed by vote, being omitted from the recorded minutes.
“I’ve looked over the last two years of minutes, and it seems that decisions being made are not being documented in the minutes,” said George. “In the minutes, there is no mention of a vote on the 100-point system (a discipline initiative at VHS) and the IB (International Baccalaureate) program.”
Additionally, George challenged the board to look into their own records, while looking to develop a strategic plan for building the system.
“I think any organization, business or school, would want to know where they’ve been so they can determine where they’re going,” said George. “You can’t have a strategic plan and vision if you don’t have all the data.” According to Cason, all discussion within board meetings is not documented, “Only the main points make it into the minutes, based on the agenda items, such as actions and policies, but not general discussion,” said Cason.
J.C. Cunningham, a system-wide mentor, also addressed the issue. “None of the minutes ever said that the 100-point system or the IB program were adopted, and if you don’t think these are pertinent points, I don’t know what is,” he said.
Selection of
student programs
The issue of record-keeping during board meetings led into discussions of the IB program, a program which is currently in the final planning and preparation stages at VHS. Some parents and community members shared their opposition to investing into the program, which is geared at higher-performing students.
“Why are you willing to spend $8,000 to implement the IB program when we currently can’t make AYP with the programs we have, and when a large majority of our freshman are failing,” said parent Willie McCutchin, whose children have completed VHS AP/Honors courses.
In response, Cason said, ”We spend many dollars addressing remediation, but we can’t forget about those within the high spectrum. We must challenge them as well.
Cason said the system is working to evaluate the effectiveness of current remediation programs.
Cason shared words with those attending, as he comes into a new potion locally, but one he has long been familiar with.
“We may differ on programs and the administration of those programs, but I want each of you to know that I have your children at heart and where they are, and where they are going,” said Cason.
