Schools Draft Design Guidelines (N&R)

Why haven’t we been doing this all along?

In another example of why all construction/real estate matters should be taken out of GCS, the district apparently has a three month window to draft new design guidelines for new schools.

Three months…wow.

Thursday’s N&R points to the fact that they want this done in time for the May primary, when the mega-Bond is supposed to hit the ballot.

N&R excerpt:

Guilford County Schools officials hope to start meeting with about 200 educators, parents, government leaders and others in March as it drafts design guidelines for new schools.

The district’s facilities department has less than three months to develop these standards before a May 6 school construction bond referendum.

“It’s a relatively tight time frame so we’ve got to stay on task with it,” said Joe Hill, the district’s facilities consultant.

The department has hired New Orleans-based Planning Alliance to coordinate the process; the school system is paying the consultant $80,000. The firm’s director, Sue Robertson, will oversee the workshops, starting in early March, Hill said.

Planning Alliance has developed specifications for several North Carolina schools, including Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Lee and New Hanover counties

The specifications would define standards for class sizes, athletics facilities, technology and other areas.

The district also intends to update its seven-year-old design guidelines, which focus on infrastructure, including heating and cooling systems, plumbing and roofs.

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E.C.

Snowday Makeups for 2/14/08

From GCS:

Today, schools in the district were closed to students due to inclement weather. To make-up for the instruction lost, students will attend school on days previously designated as teacher workdays. Make-up days for student instruction missed due to inclement weather on Thursday, February 14 are as follows:

• Hampton Academy: Monday, February 25

• The Early College at Guilford: Wednesday, March 12

• Oak Hill Elementary: Monday, April 7

• GCS middle colleges: Friday, April 18

• Schools on the traditional calendar: Wednesday, June 11

No make-up day is needed for extended-year schools. Each year, potential make-up days are designated when school calendars are approved by the Board of Education. The potential make-up days assist families and school officials in planning for anticipated days missed due to inclement weather. School calendars may be accessed on the district Web site,

http://www.gcsnc.com/information/allcalendars.htm

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E.C.

I don’t support amnesty, I support discipline

(N&R)

Several stories have come out over the last couple of days referencing parents and “community leaders” who are asking that suspensions…be suspended in the wake of the December fight at Grimsley H.S.

Allen Johnson at the N&R makes a good point on his blog:

I understand these parents’ concerns. And I hope these parents were as involved and concerned about their children before the violence that thrust the school into a state of fear and chaos.

I also agree that mediation is a good idea to resolve the differences between the rival neighborhoods. And the students need to learn a hard lesson about the consquences of violent behavior.

But I can’t automatically support all of these students returning to Grimsley. Some may be better served in an alternative school setting.

I agree. Rolling back suspensions in a blanket manner would equate to amnesty, and I don’t support that. When the process of education is disrupted in order for a score to be settled, I have a problem with that.

That said, I think some sort of mediation is in order, and I applaud Grimsley CARES, who are trying to do much good within. But considering how out-of-control our schools are now, how would ever teach our children right from wrong if we say ‘it’s not okay to fight, but it’s okay in this situation?’ I don’t agree with that.

E.C.

The Fake Newsweek Rankings…are really fake now

Every year, we’re treated to a myriad of press releases from this school or that school being number one, according to Newsweek Magazine. They’re the ones that come out with a silly list annually touting who are the best high schools in the county, based solely on how many students enroll in Advanced Placement courses.

GCS is no exception.

Now, we learn that those rankings really may not mean much; in fact, we can now confirm  what was released today from ETS and the College Board, who sponsor the AP programs and exams,  contradict the Newsweek rankings. Their rankings never tout how many earn a passing score of “3” or better.

News & Record:

Of all the students who graduated from North Carolina high schools in 2007, 18.5 percent earned a passing grade on at least one Advanced Placement exam.

The local statistics are above the national average of 15 percent, according to a report released this morning by the College Board, which oversees the college-level course program.

Okay…but the kicker:

 Locally, some 8,300 Guilford high school students took Advanced Placement exams in 2007. That number has been steadily increasing over the last few years, up from about 6,900 students in 2004.

Of all the Guilford students who took that exam last year, less than half received a score of 3 or better, a grade often necessary to earn college credit for the course. The College Board considers grades of 3 or better predictive of success in college.

Pow…right in the kissa!

Less than half…I can’t wait to see downtown explain this one.

E.C.