Already over capacity, Chamblee Charter High School may receive several hundred more students before August 30 under the No Child Left Behind initiative for schools who fail repeatedly to achieve federal benchmarks.
But parents are firing back and have asked DeKalb School officials to rethink their decision to make CCHS a receiving school for 2010-11.
According to school officials, parents and other sources, about 200 ninth graders are scheduled to start school at Chamblee sometime before August 30. The school already has 198 students from previous admissions through NCLB. The students, according to sources, would stay through their high school careers at Chamblee, if the transfers are approved.
Last week, the county delivered four trailers to the school’s property and is in the process of refurbishing them, supposedly in anticipation of the extra students.
Lakeside and Druid HIlls are also seriously over-capacity largely due to transfers of all kinds. With a current enrollment topping 1,800 students in a building with a capacity for 1,350, Lakeside has over 20 trailers on-site to accommodate the overflow.
However, Arabia, which is not yet even at capacity and also must serve as a "receiving school" for transfers, has been allowed to set up an "annex" facility - housing their transfer students at the Lithonia High School Campus.
In response, there will be a Community Meeting at Chamblee Charter High School TOMORROW night, Tuesday, August 24, at 6:00 pm to discuss the situation regarding student transfers.
We have been told that Bob Moseley, the Deputy Chief Superintendant, and other DCSS officials will be there.
Apparently CCHS was just notified of this meeting this morning and are relying on parents to get the word out.
Please come and show your support for Chamblee Charter High School!
===
UPDATE: In the words of Emily Latella, "Nevermind!"
The meeting has been cancelled.
103 comments:
Chamblee annex at Elizabeth Andrews HS. Was announced last week on WSB.
Let's hope that's true. The Elizabeth Andrews Campus is lovely - brand new - lots of room.
The usual DCSS tricks--making critical announcements too late for people to marshal a full response. Certainly anything announced this morning, was known Friday if not earlier. This is what DCSS does to us teachers, and they will continue to do it to parents as long as they get away with it. The County needs a "Point Person" who can effectively communicate with parents and teachers in a timely manner. It's way too hit-or-miss. There should be regular updates on DCSS matters that impact our educational community.
I also hear there are plans in the works to move the magnet program out of CCHS. Is this true? Does Redovian or Speaks know about this? Where would they move it too? I heard this from a parent in the carpool line at Huntley Hills this morning.
Visit the article online at www.thecrier.net and you'll see some interesting responses from readers. Including at least one parent who is offended that there would be any objection to THEIR child being put in that school. The plot thickens.
I've heard some rumblings about the magnate move as well. Can they do this to Charter Schools without the Charters permission?
I agree with the earlier poster regarding meetings. Parents, who have lives. need to have a few days notice about emergency meetings. Wasn't Moseley at CCHS' Curriculum Night? Seems to me they make decisions first and then ask for public input, though it's already a done deal.
I heard the same thing as Anon 12:59. Given that the impacted people will be the students that have not started yet, this meeting should be to reassure CCHS that their voices were heard.
Consolidating the magnet programs into a central campus was one of the suggestions thrown out during the Citizens Planning Task Force. Not sure how much traction it got but if it frees up space in the middle school, it will probably get a lot of consideration.
I remember back when they closed Nancy Creek and moved Kittredge into that facility, the reason given was that they wanted all the Magnet Schools to be in the same area. Are they thinking about moving Kittredge again? Will the Magnet Program at Chamblee Middle move too? Where in the central part of the county would they move these schools? Elizabeth Andrews is at the Palace in Stone Mountain, right? Does DCSS consider that Central? Isn't that facility closer to Gwinnett than most of DeKalb?
Lovely to see the unfounded rumor mill cranked up again. The magnets are fine where they are.
Redistricting is needed everywhere to balance out the system. NCLB is making an unnecessary mess out of enrollments. Save the so-called failing schools by loading them up with extra teachers, instead of randomly shuffling kids.
What unfounded rumors are you talking about?
I agree redistricting is needed everywhere! I think DCSS finally hired someone who knows how the software works with redistricting and redrawing lines.
Not sure about the rumors, I heard the Citizen's Task Force talked about moving all Magnets to the central part of the county. There was also talk during that time about the condition of the facility at CCHS and what could happen if that school had to close and be rebuilt. I think the talk was only a temporary one, while a new building was being built. Looks like there are tough times ahead for the district. Let's hope we get great leadership hired, with no ties to the current leadership, and leaders that can make the tough decisions about paring down our bloated Central Office and get our priorities reset for our teachers and students.
. . . OUT of DCSS to either alternative districts or private schools.
Rumor has it these students will be taking their parents with them.
When are we going to get serious?
When are we going to start the Chamblee / Dunwoody Independent School District?
It's past time to leave this DCSS nonsense behind!
A neighbor who serves on the citizens advisory committee says they discussed moving all of the magnet schools to the N. Druid Hill Campus (where Kittredge used to be). But he said it was just a discussion because they realized closing Nancy Creek was a huge mistake and caused a lot of overcrowding at the neighboring schools. But, he told me there was no strong support for the idea of moving all the magnets back to N. Druid Hills. It was just a discussion.
I just sent an email to Jim Redovian asking about (1) the AYP transfers to CCHS and (2) whether the magnet students will be moved out of CCHS, CMS and KMS to a central location. (I also telephoned him and left a voicemail.)
As soon as he replies I will print Jim Redovian's response on this blog.
I wonder why they're holding a meeting. I heard that at curriculum night at CCHS on Thursday evening, Bob Mosely announced that the 9th grade transfers would be placed at an annex at Eliz. Andrews. Was that merely speculation or did he say it was a done deal?
Amen Anon. 2:09
I think our conversation, regarding ISD's, needs to start Sept. 1st at the DCPC meeting, as soon as Tyson, Beasley, Moseley and Redovian leave the room.
By the way, Mike Jacobs is willing to help us. We got an email from him this morning, let the discussions begin!
There is no property on N. Druid Hills that is ready for a large number of students re the magnets.
Something probably needs to change with the magnets, though the advocates are loathe to admit it. First and foremost, the funding needs to be the same as non-magnet schools. Second, they need to be geographically central.
At this years, KMS lottery, over half the applicants came from 6 schools all of which are the highest performing schools in DeKalb. Many of these students leave the magnet program before high school, with more and more leaving before 7th grade.
There is not widespread support for magnets in DeKalb except from the families using them.
C'mon Chamblee Dunwoody ISD parents! You guys don't have faith that DCSS Superintendent (in waiting) Doctor Morcease Beasely can do what's best for our children and turn this ship around????
Redovian has been very pro-charter clusters and is working with a group of parents trying to make it happen.
Independent school districts can only happen if the state Constitution is changed. Why not ask Mike Jacobs if he will lead the effort?
Also, before you invest to much energy in this, ask your neighbors if they would support a tax increase to pay for an ISD. Make sure you focus on older neighbors and private school parents. City of Decatur spends several 1000 more a year than DCSS and has the tax rates to prove it.
I am all for it and I would gladly pay the taxes, but I gotta tell you many of my neighbors would not.
"Many of these students leave the magnet program before high school, with more and more leaving before 7th grade."
Gee. . . I wonder why that is. DCSS offers such a great quality education to ALL of our children. I just can't understand WHY these magnet students (and families) would be fleeing the system as fast as they can.
Can someone explain this to me?
Tomorrow's announced meeting at CCHS, with Bob Moseley, has been canceled! I wonder why? Word just came from the Chamblee PTA!
Two state reps have told us they will support the constitutional amendment.
My older neighbors are unhappy that their single biggest asset -- their homes -- have lost significant value.
My older neighbors are very unhappy that a big reason their home values have declined is because families of school age children prefer to buy in better school districts (Decatur, Gwinett, Cobb, Forsythe, Atlanta, you name it) or buy smaller/cheaper so they can afford private schools.
If it'll improve their home values, my older neighbors will support it.
"Redovian has been very pro-charter clusters"
And to date he's helped create exactly ____ charter clusters.
Maybe Jim's relection campaign slogan should be: "Effective leadership in action!"
School taxes are clearly higher in Decatur. And their property values haven't lost a beat during the housing crisis of the past two-three years. Even the run down older homes in Decatur sell fast at a high value. The school system isn't the only reason why, but if it's not No. 1, it's No. 2 or 3.
(And unlike DCSS, Decatur actually vigoriously checks residency. No Ron Ramsey-type's just taking up space over there).
And to date he's helped create exactly ____ charter clusters.
Maybe that's because the legislation allowing charter clusters was just passed?
If they were thinking about moving the Magnet program out of CCHS, I would want to make sure it would not affect the resident gifted or accelerated students. I'm sure the resident students are taking advantage of the magnet teachers and if they did move the magnet students what would happen with the gifted certified teachers?
In the case of KMS, my kid went to Montgomery and is now at CMS. He is in accelerated Math as well as other High Achiever courses. I feel we did the right thing, since the KMS 6th graders are still there and will have to make their move to CMS for 7th grade.
CMS has been great! The principal and counselors have done very well with communication and my son is having a blast! We're residents in the area and are very lucky to have CMS as well as CCHS. We hope CCHS get their issues solved before we get there, we're also ready to help them, since we'll be feeding into there for 9th grade in a few years.
"Many of these students leave the magnet program before high school, with more and more leaving before 7th grade."
Why?
Because there is no place for them in DCSS. They are not wanted. DCSS doesn't care about them. And the parents of non-magnet students resent them.
With leaders like this,
You are exactly why I wouldn't seek public office. You think you know it all, but know so little. The legislation was just signed this summer and is just now in effect.
What is resented at CMS is the fact that a teacher who was known to be a problem was switched from the magnet program to the resident program, to stop the complaints.
When Sandy Spruill's children when through the magnet program, I think it was a different beast, maybe even requiring interviews and teacher recommendations.
Parents pull their children because once they get to CMS, CCHS, SWD, etc, the program isn't the elite one they had hoped for.
Moseley is a bad choice for just about everything, but why the system keeps sending him to lead meetings, with good or bad news, is beyond me.
Actually, he was Dr. Lewis' sacrificial lamb.
@Stay Tuned - I wouldn't be holding my breath waiting for a Redovian response. If history is the best predictor of future behavior you won't see it !
And to those of you who think the magnet students are " resented ". Not true, but always good for an inflammatory statement. From the parents that I have spoken with, they are displeased with the disproportionate allocation of rapidly shrinking resources. I hear " And why should I be okay with 35 children in my class when Kittridge has what, 18? - Maybe 20 now? " And, frankly , I think that they are correct - Why should they be?
Moseley is a bad choice to send out for parents. He also calls parents names, "background noise" when we pay his over inflated salary. This guy should have been gone long ago. Let's hope the new Super does what he needs to and gets rid of the former CLew cabinet. They had to know that Clew and Pope were doing what they were doing as his right hand person he had to know!
UPDATE: In the words of Emily Latella, "Nevermind!" The meeting has been cancelled.
To all of you who want to resist changing the magnet programs, what is your stand on school closings? Do you think schools should be closed to save money? I do.
But I also believe that no group should be protected from painful cuts and this includes the magnet programs.
You can't have it both ways -- change them, spare us. It doesn't work that way.
I don't mind school closings, if they can be justified. However, I am against school closings when DCSS leadership ignores county planners, uses false demographers report and when BOE members uses an excuse, "we're closing schools in the other part of the county, so we have to be equitable."
It happened with the most diverse school in Dekalb county just 4 years ago. The other two schools in the area are now beginning to burst at the seams.
Elizabeth Andrews High School is designed to help students catch up on credits. Over half of the students are 18 or over. Is this the environment 9th graders should attend? The area of the school is new but the enrollment is over 600 students. The space is limited due to all of the original County office being relocated in the building.
Too bad the meeting's canceled. I wanted to ask Bob Moseley about his "background noise" comment. Nice to know one of the top 3 administrators in the entire system thinks of parents that way.
Congratulations DCSS. Another meeting where you present half-baked ideas and act surprised that both parents and students are disappointed in your lack of planning. Creating an annex over the course of about one week, with no teachers, courses, or classrooms in place. I will be interested to learn where the few students accepting this consolation will actually be "housed" during this school year. Hmmm, maybe those kids will be able to transition to CHSS.
A few years ago, another one of the years when almost no DeKalb high schools made AYP, the system set up a school at the now closed N. DeKalb Technical School. While enrollment was never huge, they actually had students stay until graduation.
I think some parents and students are just so desperate for a change of venue that any option is viewed as better than the one they have.
This is often a reflection of the home school, but it can also be a reflection of the student. Sometimes a student or a parent thinks a clean start will turn things around.
What I am having a hard time understanding is why the parents of the students assigned to the annex at Lithonia aren't making more of a stink. If Arabia Mt. has seats, then those seats need to be filled, but you and I demanding it, isn't going to make it happen.
The students at the annex's test scores will be part of Arabia Mt.
Several teaching jobs at Arabia Mt. annex have now been posted on PATS.
I am a student at Elizabeth Andrews High School and my teachers are upset about the Chamblee plan. Half of my teachers are going to be without a classroom now. I heard that DECA has 4 or 5 empty classrooms. Why not use them. My school doesn't have any empty.
8:02 Anon. We feel for you! However, as long as we have this leadership in place, we can expect decisions like this to be made.
So now we hear, the Palace's own Elizabeth Andrews High does not have the space, yet Arabia Mtn. does? What is it with this Arabia Mtn. DCSS treats it like it's Mecca. Is Arabia Mtn. too good to have trailers or something? Are they too good to have their classrooms filled to capacity, like all the other schools in the county? I'm just saying.. No wonder Jay Cuningham was so thankful that the DCSS leadership kept Arabia Mtn. pristine and free of trailers.
What is going on? Folks, we MUST ask these dolts, running our system, TOUGH QUESTIONS!
What is a student doing posting at 0802? Class starts at EAHS at 7:30. Also, there are over 500 available seats at EAHS. Please stop with the misinformation.
And why is DeKalb School of the Arts exempt from receiving students transferring under No Child Left Behind? Do they not have emtpy seats in their new space? Or is it simpley that, like Arabia Mtn., it is inexplicably protected at the cost of punishing the other schools?
DSA has no empty seats. And you have to apply, then audition to get in.
^^^
That isn't a valid argument. Classrooms can be created and teachers hired/moved. N. DeKalb Tech wasn't even a full time school when they placed students there and made it one.
NOPE. DSA is the golden child.
Chamblee, Lakeside and previously Dunwoody had no extra seats - that did not stop the transfers. I'm sure many of those transfer students have the talent to get into DSA.
There is no excuse for DSA to be exempted from all of the fun.
. . . and still NO RESPONSE from Jim Redovian to the email and voice mail concerning AYP transfers to CCHS!!!
Where is this guy? Perhaps some of the bloggers who always defend him could get a reply and post it for us.
Speaking of which . . .
I think the poster above had a typo.
The campaign slogan should NOT be "Jim Redovian: Leadership In Action."
It sould be: "Jim Redovian: Leadership INaction"
My understanding is that the transfers are not coming to Chamblee. Board members are under tremendous scrutiny by SACs and now by angry parents whose children have been denied the transfer they were expecting.
Every word they say is being scrutinized for any sign of breaking SACs policy. My source in the central office says the parents are looking for any sign of wrong doing on this. They want their kids at Chamblee -- crowded or not.
By the way, I am not defending Redovian or any other board member. I don't have a dog in your fight. I do have a friend or two in the central office and was just sharing what I heard over the weekend.
I also don't think it matters who is on the board, but that is a post for another day.
To make sure I understand, the AYP students will still be counted as a part of the Chamblee student body, they simply will be located at an annex at Elizabeth Andrews. Since they are arriving as 9th graders, I wonder if they would eventually move to CCHS or would the annex continue with added 9th graders in subsequent years? This assumes they remain at the annex in lieu of their home school.
Anon
Last year, the annexes were such a failure in terms of enrollment that they were closed before Sept and the small number of students were absorbed into the annex's real school.
I guess a lot will depend on retention. How many students actually show and then how many stick it out freshmen year? That will probably be part of the decision making process.
When DCSS placed a receiving school at N. DeKalb Tech, they actually graduated a class from there. Those kids stayed for years.
Thanks for the clarification! I forgot about the annexes closing last year.
It makes you wonder if DCSS placed an annex at McNair or Avondale (lot's of space) for one of the schools that made AYP what the reaction would be.
@ Stay Tuned - Hate to say I told you so but I am certain that you didn't really expect to hear from Jim Redovian. And, I am not sure it matters how much scrutiny the BOE is under - he didn't respond before the latest hoopla so why would he now....
Sadly, I anticipate he regrets being a " no action " when he could have been more involved. Too little , too late. Just go now.
Last year the system did place an annex at McNair. I want to say it was an annex of SWD and it was an utter flop. I can't recall where the other one was, but it to wasn't well received.
SACS has no say-so with regards to NCLB policy or its adherence by a school system. These annex sites are perfectly legal under NCLB, I'm not sure why you think SACS would be involved.
SACs is involved because of Board meddling on anything at the moment.
It isn't the issue, it is the behavior.
By the way, I think that there were forces behind the scene that helped have the Chamblee annex formed. My understanding is that board members have been involved in this conversation for weeks.
Board Members were originally told that there would only be 50 spots at Chamblee. All of a sudden it is close to 200.
Someone within the central office clearly messed up or was it intentional? You tell me.
The board is not involved in this...It's my understanding that Ms. Tyson has taken charge of this since Moseley, et all, so screwed it up.
But why is Ms. Tyson involved? Who forced the issue? And why did this get so screwed up? Was it intentional?
Elizabeth Andrews does not have room for 500 more students. All of my classes are full. Sometimes students go in early to use the computers. And most of my friends are 19 there. 9th graders don't need to be there.
Tyson had a plan all along to only allow 50 into CCHS. All of a sudden Berry is told by Moseley and Beasley to give everyone their first choice. If you ask me, Moseley is setting up Tyson for failure. If I was Tyson I would ask Moseley for his resignation immediately. Moseley love to create a problem and then come in and save the day, it justifies his job. I say BYe Bye Moseley. hey Dr, B. I wouldn't get too comfortable either. When the new Super arrives the entire former cabinet of Clew should and I hope will be gone!
I also heard something about Beasley deciding that the long standing DOLA option wouldn't be available for AYP transfers this year. I think that the way DOLA worked as an AYP transfer is that the student would take a full load of classes online.
But I am not sure...
Instead of allowing children to leave schools that do not meet AYP, it should be the faculty, staff & administrators doing poor jobs of leadership/instruction that need to relocate. I have always heard, "**** rolls down hill." And that is exactly what is happening to our children in the Dekalb County school system. It is time that all students of Dekalb County receive the proper education they deserve! Parents and concerned educators need to be advocates for all the students, not just looking out for their own. As they say, "it takes a village to raise children!"
Amen, 6:48!
Angry Mama Bear,
You are right on!
Hear! Hear!
Easier said than done Angry Mamma Bear! I like the idea in theory but here is the problem:
If you can not demand discipline, respect,acceptable behavior and parental involvement (home/school), I don't care what teaching team you send in. they will fail.
You could send in Ron Clark and MB himself and they would fail!
@Angry Mama Bear & Cerebration-
Really? REALLY?
Maybe I should re-address that to Cerebration alone, whom I would have thought after all the time running this blog would understand.
I'll tell you where the "****" rolls - right on the heads of teachers.
You think it is the fault of teachers that schools don't make AYP? In that case, let me lay a proposition before you. You take all my "worst" kids - and please note the quotation marks - the ones who don't speak English, who work jobs to support their families, the ones who can barely afford food.
Send them to the brilliant, AYP-making teachers you hold in such high esteem. If they are such awesome teachers, they know how to handle these issues, right? They know how to achieve the super high scores that my department has received among disadvantaged students, even as my school didn't make AYP due to issues of graduation rates and overall sub-group scores.
I am a good teacher. Every teacher in my department is a good teacher. I don't care where your child is in school, send her to me and she will LEARN something.
So, go ahead. Push for my termination. Way to advocate for the children.
Just imagine the possibilities if teachers had the right to teach and students had the right to learn. Imagine a classroom free of chronic disruptors and other behaviorial "toxins." A class full of children ready, willing and able to learn would be any educator's dream!
This does not describe the present day classroom. The lunatics do infact run the asylum! And I'm not talking about the DCSS administration. That is another story altogether.
My child attends one of the feeder schools of CCHS. The area continues to grow and parents love our schools, teachers and principals. The best thing about our school and others in the area, is that there is a ton of parental buy-in. We're involved and always strive for our kids, teachers and schools to excel. Failure is not an option!
I just got back from Curriculum night at our school. We're adding classes! Our current numbers for PreK-5th is 655 students and the teachers are grateful that they are at a good school with an excellent principal and parents.
The good news for our school, to keep the DCSS tradition with the other great Elementary Schools in our area, our principal has asked for 2 "Learning Cottages".
What's with DCSS, 4 years ago we had 3 schools with seats to grow along with our area and they take one out of the mix, "to be equitable with the other 3 schools closing in another part of the county." Now the other two are bursting at the seams. One has 4 or 5 cottages and the other has requested 2. The parents in the area tried to warn them, with facts about the growth in our area, but Mr. Moseley insisted that our school would never need a cottage and called us "Background Noise." Mr. Moseley, me thinks you and your black book of numbers has become the background noise and you need to look for a job somewhere else!
One thing is for sure, I thank God for our school leaders, teachers, support staff and parents everyday! Our school is great and even though this is our last year, we'll continue to fight for our neighborhood public schools.
as the days go by more and more, I think this board is slowly becoming a place for people to #&*( instead of working for solutions for ALL students not just the well-off ones.
I think this board does have its merits, but I think that its only contributing to teachers who are good leaving the county.
and to be honest, this Dunwoody, Lakeside, Druid Hills, ect ect group is really getting to me and I teach in the "Central District" or as I call it the Demilitarized Zone between North DeKalb and South DeKalb.
Nice touch referring to the "invasion" of CCHS. Why dont we just go ahead and degrade the kids even more by calling them refugees.
Hey Anon 9:05! Were here to try and work on solutions. The problem is when we give the DCSS leaders, facts, ideas to solutions, ways to fix problems and just try to have a conversation, we're faced with leaders that call us names, the leaders refer to us as Background noise, as a previous poster said, and they ignore us. All we have are the 3:00 public comments at the BOE meetings. Even there we are faced with blank stares and NO comment.
I go to our parent council meetings and try to ask tough questions, One time, Mr. Moseley was editing the questions, that we had written down on cards, before asking them to his former boss Clew.
Things are not right in OUR school system and I thank God for this blog so the stakeholders can share their gripes, ideas, facts etc.. Yes we do have our trolls, but what blog doesn't. Cere does a great job keeping it honest. Also, if something false is typed here, there are many who can refute it quickly.
There has been an invasion of kids looking for a good education, I want to welcome them into our schools. But when it starts to affect the kids who live in the district and their ability to learn, what do you expect us involved parents to do? Just sit back and let more schools collapse? Come on! If you teach at a school that needs help, help us help you! What do you need? What does your school lack? Come on instead of b*&^hing about us, tell us what we can do to help you! We're in this together!
Anon, 9:05 pm
I have a slightly different perspective. I think the anger you hear is coming from a relatively small number of posters including a few who are bitter about a decision to close a school that was small and not showing much upward trajectory in growth.
The Chamblee High situation is complicated. It was clearly botched for all involved, probably on purpose to stir up things for Ms. Tyson. In the system's defense, they had realtively few transfer requests last year, so they may have been taken off guard. However, there really are no excuses for what has happened since the application deadline.
Anon 9:25,
You want some advice. It is time to move on. You may get Nancy Creek back, but most NC families are pretty happy at Montgomery and some even fear that the school may reopen. To get Nancy Creek back, KMS will need to move. I can hear the screams now.
Sorry about the misunderstanding, Anon 7:59 PM - I think my agreement in Mama Bear's statement was along the lines of "too many administrators" and too many people jumping the ship of their neighborhood school - not giving a lick about those "left behind". We really do need to advocate for a proper education for ALL - not just a quick fix method to allow transfers in order to quiet a few very vocal parents to higher performing schools.
There is enough Title 1 funding to provide intense one on one - or at least one on 3-4 tutoring in math and English in the early grades. We need to roll up our sleeves - purge the system of (sadly) bad educators at all levels - and provide intense instruction in order to jump start a good education.
That said - has anyone witnessed the Gateway to College program? It's an awesome solution for high school students who struggle. I think that although this is a college-level program, some of the methods could be used in high school settings as well. Let's pull out all the stops --- for every child - not just for the ones with squeaky wheels for parents.
That was my meaning -- if you are a teacher, struggling with a class of students well behind in learning - you should be entitled to an army of support. Not supervisors - support teachers who will roll up their sleeves and help these children learn the necessary material early on. It's simply not right to set "benchmarks" with no support - and then judge a classroom teacher on how students perform as compared across the county, state and country.
I've certainly moved on, being a former Nancy Creek family. I think what the poster was saying is that DCSS refused to look at all the data that was clearly in front of them several years ago. All DCSS did was overcrowd two more schools. I just wish these "leaders" would redraw the lines and balance the attendance districts, like most other good systems do every 5 to 10 years.
I read the previous posters comments. It seems to me the family loves the school, I think the posters talking about Montgomery, they didn't mention the schools name. I was at the same curriculum night, when the principal announced she had requested two "cottages". Where I was sitting, there were several parents snickering about it too.
KMS is a great school and I'm glad it's in my neighborhood. All the magnets in our area are great! it certainly hasn't hurt our property values yet. Let's see what DCSS does with CCHS! My kids won't get there for 3 and 4 more years.
@ Anonymous 8/23 2:09 PM
You are right! Time to move forward on the Dunwoody-Chamblee Independent School District!
Please be at the Dunwoody Chamblee Parents Council meeting on Wednesday, September 1 at 8:45 AM at Peachtree Middle School. Several of us are taking the day off from work to discuss this topic and get the ball rolling. Join us!
@ Anonymous 8/23 4:34 PM
When Sandy Spruill's children when through the magnet program, I think it was a different beast, maybe even requiring interviews and teacher recommendations.
Just to clarify: Only one of my two daughters -- both of whom graduated from Chamblee High School -- was in the magnet program.
What was different when my daughters were at CHS was the principal. Martha Reichrath was extraordinary! She interviewed many applicants before selecting one for a job. Further, she involved parents in the interview process and the decision-making process. She did not just take whomever DCSS sent over. As a result, teachers were highly qualified with first-rate credentials. They were supported, treated like professionals and motivated to do their jobs well. At Chamblee High School there was learning going on in the classrooms.
To Sandy Spruill:
That's the difference between a school principal and a county puppet. The difference between a strong leader and a weak leader.
My prediction is that by next year no high schools will make AYP so the whole transferring students to already over crowded schools will be a moot point. I predict the very diverse, over crowded north-end schools are not going to meet the higher baseline for the enhanced math portion of the graduation test. For 2010 it was 74.9% in 2011 goes up to 81.2%. We will see exactly what sort of job the state and county have done implementing the "new" math as the 2010-11 juniors will be the first ones to take the high school graduation test under the new curriculum.
Granted this doesn't help w/ the current transfer problems but the way the county deals with failing schools is going to have to change radically when all high schools are deemed failing schools.
I've learned that Lakeside did not actually make AYP in the first round of testing. I guess the summer re-tests may have put the school back in AYP standing - for now. But I agree, don't look for Lakeside to continue to make AYP in the near future. Dunwoody is also teetering.
The only DCSS high schools listed with a YES to AYP at the GADOE website are Arabia, Chamblee, Dunwoody, Lakeside and Tucker. (Say, why not send some transfers to Tucker?)
Here's my reply regarding how Lakeside made AYP, which I originally posted on the wrong thread.
It was all explained on the "Again, I ask, "Choice for whom?" thread.
If you look at the state website, you see that Tucker and Lakeside didn't actually make the AYP targets on the GHSGT math section, but they are listed as having made AYP anyway because of an appeal of the formula. "This school appealed the academic performance calculation and requested that the determination be based on 11th grade first time test takers rather than all first time test
takers." Anonymous (August 16, 2010 11:54 PM) said that the appeal was not solicited by the school, but was the state's way of cooking the books. Somebody decided not to count the scores from students who were taking the test a second time because they'd failed the previous year.
I am disturbed by Cerebration's comment at 8/25 at 9:55... why not send some to Tucker. Because Tucker is overcrowded as well. We are at 1500 plus students with construction not to be finished until December 2010. Food is being prepared offsite because we do not have a kitchen and the one eating area is overcrowded.
Another problem is that so many people come in with affadavits stating they are living "IN DISTRICT" and there is not enough manpower to check up on it. Our classrooms are overcrowded and we have some students sitting on the floor.
In previous years Tucker High has been open to the "AYP transfer debacle" and welcome to our world.
The same has been done to Tucker Middle. We had the annex situation two years ago with 7th grade at Columbia and "THE COUNTY" decided it was not working and shipped them into our actual building overwhelming the 8th grade population. But alas they are doing it to us again at the middle school with an ANNEX at AVONDALE Middle.
We need to be advocating for everybody in this district and from the Lakeside, Druid Hills, Dunwoody corridor Tucker has always been looked down upon. We have an elementary principal who tells parents don't send your kids to Tucker Middle and yet she is allowed to keep the job!!!! We have too many parents who send their kids to private school in our community but yet others such as myself keep dialoguing with our administration to make it better. On top of that Tucker is an IB School!
Let's face it ALL OUR SCHOOLS are getting dumped on in some form or fashion. None of this is new it's just starting to affect your own backyard!!
I can only hope that the plan for county redistricting happens for next year! Let's face it until ALL Parents get involved in their schools and in their students lives we will have some sort of struggle.
Oh by the way... Tucker High has not had a gym since last year and no field this year until January...
Besides the fact some of the bigger classrooms are part of the construction slated to be finished...
Our kids are coping and Tucker Middle has been wonderful to let us share facilities but in no other terms is really "sucks!"
Some of our long standing traditions have been suspended because of two years of construction.
I am so sick of this "Let's dump on another school" attitude everyone seems to have. How about some construction problem solving?
How can we come together across the county... how about a face to face forum with South and North parents to come up with solutions with a mediator to help us out?
Tucker, despite making AYP this year, is in a Needs Improvement classification, thus the school is not eligible for AYP transfers.
Sorry "constructive" problem solving
"Another problem is that so many people come in with affadavits stating they are living "IN DISTRICT" and there is not enough manpower to check up on it. Our classrooms are overcrowded and we have some students sitting on the floor."
Affadavit??? Why isn't Ronnie Ramsey and his do nothing staff assisting with this? An affadavit means nothing if the Internal Affairs isn't going to follow up.
I'm sorry, but every parent should be required to show residency with two utility bills, and if you are caught lying, then you gave charges filed agsinst you. Decatur and even Fulton Co. do a good job with checking residency. There are lying scumbag parents trying to get their children into the brand new $70 mil Tucker High. Ramona Tyson and Bob Moseley should be smart enough to know this, but would they ever throw down the hammer? Nope. They are too busy allowing staff to tell parents how to lie on free & reduced lunch forms so the system receives more Title 1 taxpayer dollars.
RON RAMSEY IS A DISGRACE!
Does anyone know how many parents signed their students up to attend the Elizabeth Andrews annex? Registration was supposed to occur on Wednesday.
Aha - so it's not until I push back schools like Tucker and Arabia that they start the "defense"... little do they care that Lakeside is over-crowded by about 500 students and is about to embark on major construction (which continues to get delayed year after year - probably due to the fact that they have no idea where to put all the students when construction does commence). Yep - it's as I thought. I'm usually a system-wide thinker - but I get very defensive when my community is not given the same level of concern.
Who from Tucker has given one lick about the crowding and horrible conditions at Lakeside? Who at Arabia? Who anywhere?
Didn't think so. But you expect as much from everyone else when it comes to your concerns. But oh boy - you have no problem having an issue with me when I so much as wonder why you don't have to suffer these transfer squeezes...
uh huh.
I'm shaking my head.
Cerebration- I agree that overcrowding is a problem in all the schools... but Tucker started dealing it with years ago.
Construction is a problem with us as well! Should the county have dumped into Lakeside, NO!! I do not understand their thinking when they say a school has room, because they count Special Ed classes as under capacity when in fact they are at capacity according to their standards. Alas leaving room to enroll AYP students. Do they look at the factors of construction - NO!
Yes, I am protective of my backyard, too! We need to get the Federal Law changed to prevent our schools getting inundated because our schools have worked hard to make AYP.
This year AYP selection according to Beasley and Mosley was taking the lowest peforming, low income student and give them their first choice. Unfortunately, not all but some of these students are either below grade level and behavior problems with no parental support. It impacts all of us.
It's frustrating to all of us, but it is not new to the Tucker community because ever since the new TMS building opened they were dumped on. Did we get press for it - no...
We need to get our legislators to the table and get them to talk about NCLB and CHANGE IT!
Well, there's that then. I think one of the main reasons the admin dumps on Lakeside and Chamblee is because they know everyone else will shut up and be glad it wasn't them. It's that "scarcity" mentality. Arguing about who has it worse at any given time doesn't do a thing.
You know the old saying from the Holocaust -- you'd better pay attention, because eventually, it will effect you.
Say, weren't those 2 girls who murdered their mother attending Tucker HS illegally? They lived in Conyers.
"We need to get our legislators to the table and get them to talk about NCLB and CHANGE IT!'
That's not going to happen. A better solution is for our DCSS administration to address this in an effective manner.
There are other options available to offer "choice" rather than overcrowding existing schools. Our Superintendent and his cronies were too lazy to take the time to be creative. They took the easy way out and just shipped students from one end of the county to the other.
And it looks like the new super and her sidekick Mosely (who thinks of us as "background noise") are continuing that same tradition. Just transfer the squeaky wheels and wash your hands of the rest.
At the Tucker Middle registration, parents were openly asking other parents to sign an affidavit for them and they were agreeing. Everyone knows the homeless trick and there is no enforcement of dishonesty. Kids hang around until 5 and then just walk to the McDonalds to meet parents who can't get there before 6 coming from the south end. You can't kick them out, because they know their neighbors ae there and you can't kick one out with out kicking them all out. All they have to do is call the county and they get to stay. No backbones
I live near Shamrock, and we have the same problems with kids hanging out in our neighborhood. I have approached the principal and have been told it's not his problem. I just wonder where all of the DCSS police officers are. The kids are hanging on the corners long after the school day.
DCSS does the easiest thing and transfers some kids, instead of addressing the true problems. Therefore all of our schools fail and no one gets a decent education.
When is this going to end?
Remember that Shamrock has an IB program that legitmiately accepts students from all over the county. DCSS does not, however, provide transportation for these students. So some of these kids do belong there, but are simply waiting for rides home.
The homeless thing is new, the feds have really just begun to enforce it in the last couple of years. Or at least DeKalb has just been doing it that long.
Anyway, the affidavits can be validated. At one of my children's schools, the secretary really works it. When someone comes in to register using an affidavit, she makes them follow it to the letter and they have to come back before second semester and do it again.
Gwinnett uses two of the members of their school police force to varify attendance. I am sure they have other jobs as well.
Right now, DeKalb is not supporting the schools in this effort.
I agree that DeKalb does nothing to enforce the residence area rules. And at my child's high school the staff and parents who work at registration do not feel empowered to challenge what appear to be out-of-district students. If the parents insist that they live in the area, they just throw up their hands and enroll them.
In the City of Atlanta, if the parents report suspicious enrollments, the school system follows up, investigates, and then forces the students to leave the school. It could be the middle of the semester and they will tell the family that they must leave. That never happens in DeKalb and the parents who are in the wrong school know this.
I know a family at Lakeside (came from Henderson Middle) using their Grandmother's address, they put a utility bill in their name. However, with the slightest bit of easy research your can look up them up in the tax records and see they live in Stone Mountain. This information was given to the principal who instructed the registrar to follow through. The family brought in a copy of the utility and that was that, end of inquiry. DCSS needs to have policies in place to follow up on out of district families. It is too easy to put a bill in your name. They need to request proof of residence using tax records or if renting a notorized/certified document of proof. This will never happen as it would most likely drop the enrollment in the overall system even further. Costing the county dollars.
Chamblee may feel like a dumping ground, but Tucker sure feels that way too. I think we get hit harder because we are a little closer to the middle of DeKalb. Chamblee should feel a little luckier. The annex for our kids at Avondale middle is a mess. Dr. Beasley, please go over there and take a look. The principal of Avondale MS is not playing nice at all. Dr. Jordan does not want us there and does not hide her feelings. The Tucker teachers now say 'her custodians have not emptied trash in a few days and the floors in the classrooms are a mess. How realistic is it to expect Dr. Cunningham,the wonderful Tucker MS principal supposed to run 2 schools? She sure is trying, but we have`1100 kids in the main site. The AP is trying but you can''t be effective, if the inhouse principal is working against you. Annex is supposed to be totally self sufficient, but that is impossible, if you do not provide another copier, custodians, enough personnel to do all of the things a home site has support in doing. The poor AP over there has a tough job and Dr. Jordan is not making it any nicer. What happened to everyone getting an equal share of the annex? Oh, I know, everyone got their 1st choice, so that is why about 170 kids are at the Tucker annex. Craziness, hope they told the 40 8th graders that they do not automatically go to Tucker High.
Oh, don't worry, the the 8th graders will find a way to all of a sudden move in the area before the end of the year (affidavits) and most will get into Tucker HS.
I heard the same thing happened the previous year. As soon as the 8th graders were informed that they had to go to their home summer school, a miracle happened. They provided proof of residency and came to Tucker's summer school and went on to Tucker high.
Absolutely amazing.
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