Valid points, but....?

I had quite a few critics on my last post make some valid points. Unfortunately, I couldn't help but wonder, were they Buist parents who had trouble sleeping for a change? Sorry folks, but I've lived this life too long. So long, I don't even appreciate true criticism when it comes my way. I apologize to those true critics who have nothing to do with Buist. But a mother's past has little relevance to what a positive future she is trying to make for her children. How many of you have the nerve to have your life story blasted in the Post and Courier? I certainly don't.

No one owes Ms. Capers more of an apology than our Superintendent. Our superintendent made quite an ass of herself in Wednesday's paper. Yeah, I said it. Sorry, I'm not here to please. I'm here to vent and hopefully make a change in the right direction. She said, "My heart broke when I read...about a Charleston mother..." Sniffle, sniffle...Yeah, yeah...according to my sources, you knew ALL about this Charleston mother and her children's story BUT you didn't give a rat's ass until that story wound up in the front page of the Post and Courier. Then you have the tackiness to "invite" Candace Capers back "into our schools." Dr. Mac, she didn't leave "our schools." She just went East of the Cooper, where so many of our white parents went long ago. They were just lucky 'cause they could afford to MOVE there, unlike so many others. Yeah, we also know how you shuffle the black kids to James Island under NCLB. My sources tell me there is NO bus that transports downtown kids to Mt. Pleasant. Why is that?
I also say, "Blah, blah, blah", on your administrators and their lack of resumes, too. Four out of those six Principals you praised in your commentary are first timers, Dr. Mac. I'm not knocking them. I'm just saying you have some nerve praising them. There's no resume, yet somehow you made it sound like there was one. These are all changes you've made in the last few months, yet you act as if these people attributed to your projected improvement rating. And please don't put our CDA "on the West side" under your leadership. We're tired of has-beens like Mr. Benton and we're certainly tired of guinea pigs, Dr. McGinley. Give us some credit and admit these schools need some serious help. We'll pray you made the right decisions with your "superstar" administrators. But in the meantime, will you please give Ms. Capers a damn bus so she can get her kids to a better school? You know? Like you do those Buist kids.

There's a Hero Among Us

Candace Capers is the parent CCSD wants us to be...or not? She is an active parent. According to the Post and Courier, she's so active she chose to take her children out of our district's failing schools and get them East of the Cooper...where the real schools are. You know? The schools rating Excellent on their report cards, making AYP EVERY year (not just every other year or worse). Moultrie Middle is a middle school which actually offers foreign language, something her 6th grader would not be receiving if she kept her at Sanders-Clyde or worse, Burke Middle. Those Mt. Pleasant schools actually require their children to read AND paraphrase.
God bless her. She's a hero. Thank you, Ms. Capers, for speaking the truth too many of us are afraid to utter. And good luck to your children who are truly receiving an education we cannot provide them on the peninsula.
And shame on you CCSD for not providing them transportation!

KJ is Mayor!

For those critics who claim I never have anything positive to say, this one is for you. Here's some good news! Kevin Johnson will be the first African-American mayor of Sacramento, California. Mr. Johnson has made a difference, refusing to accept mediocrity in our public schools. He believes in charter schools and as a result has started his own schools. He believes all children can learn no matter what their zip code.
These are happy times! Go KJ!

Thoughts on the new School Board candidates?

I'm not really sure what to think. Clearly, I believed Marvin Stewart was a much stronger voice for District 20 than Ms. Green. Why Ms. Green decided to run again is beyond me.
Losing David Engelman on our board is huge. He truly believed in holding CCSD accountable for the money they spend...which is clearly NOT going into the classroom.
Chris Collins? God help us all. He seems like a nice guy, but I'm not sure he knows up from down. He's a perfect "Mayor Riley pick", if you ask me.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Sanders Clyde hits the New York Times

I have to admit, I don't read the New York Times. But as word spread that Sanders-Clyde was on the front page of yesterday's paper, I had to pick up a copy. Personally, I think the writer's depiction of our "city of race and class divisions as old as the time-mellowed neighborhoods in this Old South shrine" was right on target.
What shocked me was our very own Dr. Rose so blatantly admitting something was amiss with the test scores at Sanders-Clyde. When did she realize this? Did she notify Dr. Goodloe from the beginning? When Dr. Goodloe stated she wanted Mishawna to duplicate her "success" at Fraser, did she mean what I now think she meant?
CCSD knew something was going on. So did the State Department. It's not rocket science. Whether Dr. Rose was upfront from the beginning...we may never know. Yet she certainly "saved face" with the New York Times, didn't she?
At least there's a few school board members and parents who don't mind speaking the truth, no matter how hard CCSD tries to hide it.

Low expectations continue

When I read the morning paper, I just shook my head. Last night, our school board voted to give our Superintendent an "$8,000 performance bonus and $300 monthly travel allowance increase"...if the district scores "an absolute rating of average," which of course we won't know until AFTER the November 4 election.
Not only do we applaud average, we give bonuses for average. That pretty much sums it all up for me.

who to vote for who is underdog voting for????????

I want to take a moment and talk to you about the upcoming election. Of course in this heated school board election you all have your chosen favorites. I wanted to let you all know why I am voting this way so that you can choose your own.
I am only talking about the Charleston County school Board because this is the main subject on this blog. I will not get into the national races or any other this isn't about that.
Charleston County School Board (2 seats to fill North Charleston)
Elizabeth Kandrac -she knows what the system is like and still wants to help fix it. Less of a Learning curve here.
Mattese Lecque-her former position at the Department of Justice and service to her country impresses me-lets hope she is tough enough for this group
West Ashley Seats (2 seats to fill)
David Engleman-He has nothing to gain and usually votes sensibly. Honest much more than not.
District 20
Marvin Stewart-He has been fighting for a longtime and still has it in him. I admire that. Also he cares about district 20 makes reasonable conclusions. Toya doesn't she only cares about her situation.
GO MARVIN STEWART

Too bad no one is running for district twenty if anyone hears of some write-in's let me know. If not write in Joe Riley--he claims that he cares...lets see if he does.

Chirs Fraser...does he know Wilmot Fraser?

I always crack up when Buist supporters come out in force on this blog. I can tell you about our kids' illiteracy rate and you could care less. I could tell you our kids are NOT being taught music, art, or foreign language and you say our community isn't doing enough. We'll agree to disagree on that foolishness. There's no convincing you everyone deserves the same educational opportunities...no matter where there live or who their parents are. So, I'm changing the subject on the Plessy v. Ferguson supporters.
When I saw Charleston County school board candidate Chris Fraser's sign in front of the "Cigar Factory" condos, I couldn't help but wonder...does Chris Fraser know the Wilmot Fraser we know? They spell their names the same. Are they related?
Wilmot Fraser is the former Principal of East Bay Elementary (k/k/a Sanders-Clyde). While he is now in a better life, his son also named Wilmot Fraser has been a strong voice for our schools.
Yet the irony of a white man named Fraser with his sign next to our Fraser Elementary, named after Wilmot Fraser...a school many of us are convinced is "up next" in CCSD's real estate auction is just too much to ignore.

When current school board member Brian Moody announced he would not be running for reelection, yet endorsed Chris Fraser "the real estate developer", we heard Chris Fraser say,“I am very excited for this opportunity to run for a seat on the school board. There is no issue more important to our community and economy today, than improving the number and quality of graduates who enter the workforce. I have seen first hand the students in these schools and believe we need to create the best environment for these kids to grow and learn.” So is he saying he's actually visited our downtown schools? I doubt it.
My next question to Mr. Fraser would be: Why is your sign next to the Cigar Factory? Will Fraser Elementary be Fraser Elementary Condos (Part Deux Cigar Factory) in a few years?
We all know the talk is to merge Sanders-Clyde and Fraser...Maria initiated that when she made Mishawna Principal of both schools. No rocket science there...

The news also reported that "Fraser is principal broker-in-charge of Grubb & Ellis | BarkleyFraser a commercial real estate firm. For the past two years he has served as chairman of The Education Foundation, an initiative of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce that builds partnerships between the business community and the schools..." Nothing more needs to be said there for me...Then we hear, "During his term, Fraser helped convene local leaders in business and education, and helped strengthen the relationships between the two to determine workforce needs and requirements."
Hmm...in other words, sounds to me like, we need to make sure Mayor Joe has his bed-makers and fry-cooks.
I want to know if Chris Fraser has kids in our schools (not magnet schools like Green and Meyers) and if so, where?? C'mon Chris Fraser, prove to us you're in this for the RIGHT reasons.

Sniff, sniff...I smell a rat!

School board member Gregg Meyers was able to pull off some free advertisement for his girl Toya today in his letter to the editor in the Post and Courier. Mr. Meyers makes reference to the "charter school Kool-Aid", yet if you want my honest opinion, Mr. Meyers and his girl are drinking way too much "magnet school Kool-Aid." You know, the "separate and unequal education" we folks down south REALLY appreciate.
Mr. Meyers says, "if you've had the Kool-Aid, you don't want any questions asked of charter schools." The same could be said about your magnet school Buist Academy, Mr. Meyers. Buist Academy: that crazy school downtown where it just so happens Ms. Green's child entered with flying colors as well as your own. How many kids did you have go through that school, Mr. Meyers? 6? 12? You're as lucky as Darius Rucker on that county-wide list, huh?
Students enter as District 20 residents, don't live in District 20, and yet they get to stay at Buist as District 20 residents "'cause they didn't know they couldn't move." Mr. Meyers led that crowd and I can smell him from here.

Big Bad NCLB

Shame on that federal law mandating that our students need to be proficient. What's wrong with Basic? Basic means are students are "minimally prepared." According to the Post and Courier, SC State Superintendent Jim Rex "criticized the federal law..." Rex blames the federal law for making our schools look bad. Well thank God somebody thinks basic isn't good enough for our kids.
Our state report cards define Below Basic as: "did not meet standards, must have academic assistance plan, the local board policy determines progress to the next grade level." Yet, according to our own Burke Middle 2007 report card, 62.4% scored below basic in English, 62.9% in Math, 77.8" in Science, and 76% in Social Studies. NOW HOW DID THEY PASS TO THE NEXT GRADE LEVEL??
According to the state report cards "Proficient" is defined as "well prepared to work at the next grade level; met expectations."
The top score is labeled as "Advanced", meaning "very high score; well prepared to work at the next grade level; exceeded expectations."
Forget that. We're not asking our kids to be advanced. That crazy federal law is actually asking for schools to increase the percentage of kids "well prepared to work at the next grade level." Now from what I understand from the Post and Courier article in today's paper, elementary and middle schools must have 58.8 percent of its students score proficient in order to make AYP as opposed to 38.2 percent last year.
Wow, we're actually expecting more than half of our students to be "well prepared to work at the next grade level" as opposed to barely one-third. Sounds like those high expectations of the federal government are getting the best of the low expectations of the local school system.
I say, "Thank God for No Child Left Behind." Get off your behinds, CCSD, and get with the program. Our children deserve more.

Say What?

CCSD's latest attempt to improve our schools includes all Title 1 middle schools starting school 2 hours later than usual two Wednesdays a month for professional development.
Yep, you heard it right. The children who need the most instruction are actually receiving less instruction. Word is Burke middle school students didn't know what to do with themselves. Parents had to go to work. Children disturbed neighbors opening car doors, invading one house over another. Well, duh, they're in middle school and they're unsupervised...waiting for the school doors to open.
Let me guess. The "educational scholar" who came up with this brilliant idea doesn't have kids, right?
According to a reliable source, when the District 20 board questioned Dr. McGinley about the foolishness of such an idea, she appeared "clueless" and said she'd check into it.
Why can't we have a Superintendent that has a PhD. in common sense?

Ms. Green vs. Mr. Stewart

So the District 20 seat on the County board is down to two candidates, incumbent Ms. Toya Hampton-Green and Constituent board member Mr. Marvin Stewart. For me, its no contest. Ms. Green represents the status quo. She doesn't care that our District 20 kids aren't even receiving a minimally adequate education. Mr. Stewart calls it like he sees it. He's a breath of fresh air from the politics of this town. I had to laugh when Ms. Green said "she's a team player and Stewart is a naysayer..." CCSD isn't educating our kids, Ms. Green. CCSD isn't providing any choices or effective solutions. So whose team are you on?
Keep talking Mr. Stewart, we're listening.

Sanders-Clyde's Sucess: Real or Faux?

So Charleston residents have learned the success of Sanders-Clyde may not be as it appeared. We won't know anymore until the SLED investigation is complete. However, we've heard the rumors and they're not good. I can't help but wonder what Dr. Goodloe was really thinking when she told us she wanted Mishawna Moore to duplicate her success at Fraser Elementary, making her Principal of both schools.
I'm also wondering about Dr. Rose's role in all of this is. Isn't she the Director of Assessment and Accountability? Is she checking MAP scores and noticing any red flags? Or is she too busy rigging the Buist lottery? Can we trust CCSD on anything?
Whether there's been cheating going on at Sanders-Clyde or not, we're clearly cheating our kids. We don't need to wait on the SLED investigation to determine that.

Go, Chicago!

Should we pack our bags and head to Chicago? According to an article in today's Post and Courier, over "1,000 Chicago public school students skipped the first day of classes Tuesday to protest unequal education funding..." Evidently in Chicago, they blatantly underfund their inner-city schools. So will someone here, please explain to me how it works in Charleston? According to the Post and Courier a few weeks ago, funding isn't the issue, yet we clearly don't have equal education.

Buist bloggers

Well the Buist bloggers are out in full force on my favorite critic's blog. Gotta laugh at those crazy people. They actually think their kids are smarter than ours. Smarter kids deserve a better education. I missed that Supreme Court ruling. They even think it's okay that they use Mommy and Daddy's address to get that better education. Mr. Demetre? You got some nerve showing up and mouthing off at the board Monday night, don't you? What about that Wally guy? Mark blahdenburg, too.
What a trip. The biggest trip was our girl Toya telling us if the board wants to go after "parents who haven't told the truth" then we need a committee. SHEEEET, girl. Where have you been? Better yet, how dumb do you think we are?
Thanks for the laughs, Buist babies, keep 'em coming. We welcome your crazy comments here.

New school Year Drama

Well a new school year has started and a new year of school issues. Don’t we all just dream of the day that we can send our kids to school, know that they are going to get the best education they can without that drama? Lets recap the drama so far
Goodloe....I mean McGinley wants to consolidate schools. Didn’t we go through this before? Do they think that we have forgotten? I am sure that McGinley is going to give the public some study that says larger schools are more conducive to learning. Isn’t the current situation downtown a product of consolidation? Wouldn’t a better idea be to make these schools better so that they will be able to compete with private schools and other excellent rated schools so students came to them? After all the CCSD is only after themselves and not the students. It is all about the bottom $ line at 75 Calhoun. That and resumes.

Next on day one the CCSD sends out the truant officers to get kids into school. While I would think that this would be a good idea for those that are known kids that are usually not in class lets bring out what is really important. If the kids aren’t there in the first 10 days the CCSD will not get paid. That is the real issue. Everything is about the dollar sign, when is it about our kids education.

Last the Charleston Charter School for Math and Science opened and McGinley left in the middle of the ceremony. What example is she setting for students everywhere? Students should not get up in the middle of class...student rule 1 respect your educators!

Passing the ball

Well, the ball has officially been passed. Dr. McGinley is leaving it up to the board on how to deal with Buist. She says the board "needs to give the administration direction on how to enforce the policy." Well, Doc, you didn't seem to have any problem enforcing the policy at St. Andrews Math and Science, so what's the problem?
Funny to watch ol' Mr. Meyers finally show his true colors publicly. Mr. Meyers, who told these parents they can move? Anyone with half a brain knows that would never stand up in a court of law and you know it.
Mr. Brandenburg? Well I can't help but wonder why his panties are all in a wad. UNLESS, he has something to hide. And what's the deal with this "district document from February 2007"? Parents have "relied on an understanding" they can fake an address to get into Buist, Mr. Brandenburg. That's what they've relied on. And who let them believe that? Well Miss Sallie Ballard, of course. Or was it Dr. Rose? If Dr. McGinley wanted to truly make things right, she should point those "ladies" to the door.

District 20 board chair Pam Kusmider "hopes the board does what is right for downtown residents." Don't hold your breath, lady. Aren't you the one filing lawsuits and civil rights' complaints? Since when do you "hope" the board will do the right thing? Give me a break.

Honestly, Mr. Douglas seems to be the only one who makes sense in the article. He says "students who entered (Buist)...because of their peninsula residence still should be living downtown or be asked to leave the school." Sounds pretty simple to me.
So why does Dr. McGinley need to pass the ball? Enforce it, girl. That is, unless you want to prove what so many of us believe to be right. "We" let people use whatever District 20 address they want and live wherever they want because CCSD wants to keep black District 20 residents out of Buist. You think we all live in the projects and as a result we must be rotten apples. Hey, District 20, where's THAT OCR complaint? Prove us wrong, Dr. McGinley. Do the right thing.

The Charleston Joe's

Did anyone else read Sunday's paper and notice the irony in it? Okay, I may officially be a cynic...something I don't call myself with any pride attached to it. Chief Mullen has been receiving a bit of bad press and our Mayor Joe is not happy.
So to help him out, did our Rev. Darby actually speak of gentrification as if it was a good thing?
His quote regarding Chief Mullen's progress as "running well" is this: "Its not as bad as it was. We don't have much parking and debris piling up,...This is the effect of progress of King Street. It's a changing place, a neighborhood in transition, going through gentrification." HUH??
His good friend Mayor Joe takes the time to write a whole commentary on how wonderful the Chief is. On the editorial page, Mayor Joe reminds us of how important it is to treat each citizen equally. Well, gee thanks, Mayor Joe. We sure appreciate your willingness to ensure our right to drink a "can of beer or cup of double malt" is just as illlegal as those in the French Quarter drinking a "glass of wine...or "the mythical mint julep on High Battery." It's just too damn bad you don't think those same double malt drinkers are worthy of a DECENT EDUCATION. Yeah, some of us can actually read, Mayor Joe.
So, I guess we should thank you for cracking down on those mint whatever drinkers. I appreciate you making sure we're being treated equally on that end.
So what happened? Don't get me wrong. I have nothing against the Chief. But I can't help but wonder. Did Rev. Darby and Mayor Joe sit down with their mints and malts to come together in support of Mullen?

She forgot?

Dr. McGinley seemed unaware that we have separate residency verification rules for Buist Academy until Diette Courrege brought it to her attention a few weeks ago. Now Dr. McGinley FORGOT to address these disparities with the board? Are you kiddin' me?

Let me give you a brief review. Buist is flooded with false addresses. The District 20 board turns the names in two years ago. The County board creates a new policy to send parents to jail if they use fake addresses. Nightline comes. Principals are overwhelmed with ridiculous paperwork. (That is, everyone except Principal Ballard at Buist...she's getting her hair done). The false address folks remain at Buist. No one goes to jail. No one is even fined. Why? Because the CCSD board creates stupid policies and then doesn't enforce them. We kick a few kids out of St. Andrews. All the while pretending we've addressed the problems at Buist.
Sorry, Dr. McGinley, I'm not buying it. We pay you too much to forget something like this. Maybe if we had a consequence (like denying your car allowance for a month), you wouldn't be so forgetful.
Those of us in District 20 won't forget. We're still waiting...

Time will tell...

So if everyone's petitions are certified, we have Toya Green, Russell (what was his last name?) and Marvin Stewart running for our District 20 seat on the County board.
No offense to the Russell guy, but I honestly don't remember your last name. Miss Toya "I don't represent District 20, I represent the County" makes me want to vomit.
So my vote goes to Marvin Stewart. Thank God we have a choice for a decent representive on the county board. Why the hell is the Toya chick running again? Are her strings still being pulled by the Mayor? Her husband Dwayne was smothered by Robert Ford in the primaries. Did that impact her decision? Oh, if those walls could talk. Anyone with half a brain can see she's absolutely miserable during those board meetings. So why go through the pain?
Time will tell as to how this plays out. From what I understand, Marvin Stewart wants all schools to receive the funding certain magnet schools receive. He's also in favor of charter schools. What a breath of fresh air. He actually wants EQUAL EDUCATION. Toya seems to have no problem sending her daughter to Buist Academy while the rest of us wonder if our child will have a certified English teacher in the classroom...never mind PE, Music or oh, yeah...Spanish, French, and SAIL! I guess Miss Toya thinks magnet schools are okay...so what about charter schools? We don't have any charter schools testing kids for admission and EXCLUDING certain children like your magnet school, Miss Green. I look forward to the debates when you attempt to explain yourself.
Thank you, Mr. Stewart.

What's going on?

Once again, I'm reading The Chronicle wondering what Dr. McGinley is thinking. She's reading it, right? I can't help but think Pren Woods a former Burke graduate, turned Burke teacher and Marvin Stewart (also a Burke graduate) have more sense than our administrators. Their words are harsh, but they speak more truth than our top paying CCSD officials. We throw gimmicks at our low-performing schools as if we still can't figure out what it's going to take to educate them. It's not rocket science. How about READING, WRITING, and ARITHMETIC?

I Vote For Books

What does it take to improve our schools? On one front page story of the Post and Courier, we're told Dr. McGinley is proprosing a plan for "a typical classroom to have: a Smartboard, a ceiling-mounted projector; two student computers; a teacher laptop, a laser printer; and a document camera, which projects any image or object on a display screen." Are we suppose to be impressed? Who decides she's the expert on what it takes to improve our schools?
On another front page story, we're admitting our libraries don't have enough books for our students and "the quality of books is a serious problem." Considering the fact we are giving diplomas to students who can only read at minimal levels, I say let's go with the books.

School Choices

According to the Post and Courier, CCSD is trying to pretend they're getting a jump on SC Superintendent Jim Rex's school choice plan. I have to quote it. The article states, "The West Ashley constituent school board has unanimously endorsed a plan that will enable its middle school students, regardless of where they live, to attend whichever middle school they want, either West Ashley or St. Andrew's middle schools.
Wait a minute. I thought it said students could choose whichever middle school they want, so why not CE Williams Middle School? Oh, yeah, that's just for the magnet students from St. Andrews Math and Science or Ashley River Creative Arts. Students living down the street from CE Williams can't even attend the school unless they enter a lottery AND WAIT. Peninsula residents know all about that waiting. Don't hold your breath because it's not happening. I'm just disappointed in the West Ashley constituent board for pretending along with CCSD that they're actually offering choice when they're NOT. Personally I wouldn't want my child going to either West Ashley or St. Andrew's middle school. Neither school has ever met Adequate Yearly Progress as outlined by federal law. Both schools are either rated Unsatisfactory or Below Average. So what's the BIG CHOICE?
According to their websites, survey results show 81% of the teachers at West Ashley Middle are satisfied with the learning environment. Yet only 60% of its students are. At least the students are willing to speak the truth.
On St. Andrew's website, 82% of the teachers are, once again, satisfied with that learning environment, but OOPS! the parents and students' surveys were LOST IN SHIPMENT. Hmmm...
I know CE Williams is no picnic, either. We know about the pot smoking in the bathroom and the robbers disbursing money on campus thanks to the Post and Courier. Yet, they seem to get that AYP every now and then and their state rating has been "Good" four out of the last five years.
CCSD, you have such a long way to go and yet you seem so lost in which direction to turn.

Life without Education

On Mother's Day, I think we were all reminded how important education is in our community. We have lost one and another has been accused. Out of respect for the families, I will not offer too many details. Those of you in our Eastside community know who they are. We know the temptation many of our youth face.
We need to all stand up and attempt to teach our children education is the key, not drugs. Yet how do we do that when our schools aren't educating our youth? Continue to speak out. Don't settle for anything less. When your children come home and tell you they didn't do anything in school today, find out why they're saying that. Speak out.

What does AP stand for?

I couldn't help but have a few cynical thoughts as I read the paper this morning regarding Burke's new AP Academy. I felt the District 20 constituent board members summed it up. Mr. Ellis hadn't even heard of it...I wondered how many other District 20 constituents would say the same thing if asked the same question. Do the other District 20 principals even know about it? The District 20 Chair and Vice-chair agreed that we need to address the needs of District 20 students first before adapting curriculum developed to recruit students outside our district. What's the drop-out rate at Burke now? 50%? How are we addressing that? Better yet, how are we addressing our students entering Burke either at best unable to read at their grade level or at worst unable to read at all?

Now, you're telling us there's an AP Academy? Let's go back to Mr. Ellis who I believe is a true representative of our community...I wondered if the reporter asked him if he knew what AP meant? AP stands for Advanced Placement...college courses taken in high school to allow a student to receive college credit. HUH?? I know...we just keep asking for trade. Many of our kids are college bound, but many just want to get the hell out of school with the skills to make a decent wage. They tell us they have a trade program through a partnership with Trident Tech, but they don't and now they expect us to get excited about our kids receiving credit for English 101?
Don't get me wrong. I'm all for keeping our expectations high, but you're not even close to addressing what our kids need. Get real, CCSD. Quit worrying about what's going to make the adults look better and focus on what's going to help the kids DO better.

Interesting stuff...

I've been keeping up with my second favorite blog "The Newless Courier" and I find it quite interesting that Buist postings get the most rise out of people. Why do you think that is? Are there an overabundant amount of Buist supporters and nonsupporters who love blogs? Maybe so...or maybe we just can't let it go which leads to our obsession with blogs.
Why do Buist supporters continue to call people frustrated with the corruption at Buist "Buist haters"? They see the corruption day in and day out...how can you look at corruption and not be frustrated? Unless you are a part of it...I guess that may keep you quiet, huh?
Word is our Buist friends raised over $100,000 on their fundraising night at the Citadel. Need I say more? It's a public school, people...so where's the money coming from? If the lottery truly is the "luck" we're led to believe, man oh man, is Buist "lucky." Luck at drawing in those expert fundraisers...luck in drawing in those restaurant owners, yacht club members, and attorneys to make sure they're keeping their "t's" crossed. And then isn't it special that they so happen to let in a few of our black friends just to make themselves feel better? Gee, thanks. Yeah, I have a friend who is very excited her child from Hollywood gets to attend Buist. But I have other friends whose children are trapped in our District 20 schools begging for accelerated curriculum with no chance of getting into Buist. What about them?
Oh, yeah, FAKE addresses took their spot and have been taking their spots for years. It's that simple. And those Buist "supporters" know who they are, yet they say nothing.
Instead they attempt to call out people who have done nothing wrong but stand up for what's right. And I'd like to personal thank those who have stood up for what's right. Yeah, I read all of the ridiculous crap you wrote on the other blog and it made me sick. How does the saying go about the guilty pointing fingers? It takes one to know one.
We all know George Kefalos never lived at 28 A Addlestone. Why would he? He lived at a beautiful marshfront home on Folly Beach at the time...tax records don't lie, unless you're cheating the Assessor's Office. Is your chin dropping yet? Yeah, that's the address that attorney of law used, people. Patrick Hill's child didn't live at a tiny apartment on Bee Street, let's see, I think it was 40 Bee St., #205..right?...c'mon people. They claimed 4% on Headquarters Island. Do I need to keep going on and on? One poster stated people were "labeled" as cheaters who didn't cheat. Maybe that person will tell me who since they never stated who on the Newless Courier blog. I'll be happy to correct any mistakes made by anyone, just let me know.

No English, No Spanish

The Burke middle school kids have been screwed again. There are 8th graders who have no English teacher. They haven't had a certified English teacher since January. And the kids who thought they were actually going to get a chance to receive a credit for Spanish lost that as well. Their Spanish teacher walked out several weeks ago. How do we tolerate this? Where are the civil rights activists? Where are the community members with a conscience? Better yet, where is our representative on the school board when we need her? If Mt. Pleasant students were dealt this situation, I assure you those parents would be heard loud and clear. Are we all just too beaten down to stand up for what's right?

Stoney Field is a Corridor of Shame, Mayor Riley

Mayor Riley states in the documentary the "Corridor of Shame" that students living in rural areas are not as fortunate as those living in rich cities such as Charleston. Yet, time and time again, we witness our own "Corridor of Shame" right here in our rich city. Stoney Field should never have gotten to the state it's in. What happened? Is it racial discrimination? James Johnson stated in yesterday's Post and Courier that "It only happens in black schools." Or is it simply red tape...with the city and the school district fighting over who should be responsible for the renovations?
Either way, the stadium should have been maintained and that is clearly not the case. The pictures in yesterday's paper said it all. Who can sit on those bleachers? And clearly the faucets aren't functioning in the home team's locker room. We as a community should be outraged. This is OUR only high school on the peninsula.
Bill Lewis states, "We definitley have Stoney Field on our requirements list, along with stadiums in other constituent districts. Our objective is to bundle these all together so they are treated similarly." So what are you saying, Mr. Lewis? Are you saying other stadiums are worse off than Stoney Field? Give me a break. Where's Mark Cobb, Mr. Lewis? Why do we have to turn to the media anytime we need something? Why can't you MAINTAIN our schools and their facilities? I challenge Mayor Riley, Mr. Lewis, and Mr. Cobb to go check out the concession stand this week. But don't eat before you visit...you may just lose your lunch.

SC State's problem says it all

The article in yesterday's paper regarding SC State's dilemma said it all, yet few of my friends have made any mention of it. Evidently, a consultant has the key to our higher ed problems. It's a sad day when we need to hire a consultant to tell us college bound kids should be prepared for college. So the word is... SC State needs to stop enrolling students who "lack basic skills" to succeed in order to boost their graduation rate. HUH????
What are we doing accepting kids to college who lack basic skills? Better yet, what are we doing giving these kids high school diplomas? I wonder how many of these kids come from our very own Charleston County?
I'm sick of our state dumbing down our kids. When are we going to say "enough is enough?"

Partial Magnet School Choice Plan or Not?

Don't worry...I'm not holding my breath. But I am curious as to how Dr. McGinley's Partial magnet school choice plan is going to work out. For starters the word "Magnet" gives me the creeps. It screams "inequities"! Unless, of course, you're talking about Charleston Progressive. Charleston Progressive located directly across from our beautiful Visitor's Center is Charleston County's only magnet school without ANY extra "magnet" staffing. Maybe CCSD thinks because it's a Title I school they don't need to give it any extra money..."C'mon they're getting money from the feds, why should we give them anything extra?" From what I've heard, Gregg Meyers says it depends on what your definition of a magnet school is. Evidently in his mind, a magnet school is a school which attracts children from different areas of the county. That's funny, Gregg...because according to CCSD's formula for staffing, there's clearly something more going on.
So, back to my original question...what WILL a partial magnet school be? Will it receive partial magnet staffing? If we use Buist as our model, staffing our schools even partially may not be half bad. Hell, it's better than what we have, even WITH our Title I money. Yet, will it be enough to turn our schools into partially decent schools? I guess time will tell...