"From The Heart" by David Pickler, Unified School Board Member

Dear Friends,

I am pleased to present this week's edition of "My Two Cents."  This is a weekly publication filled with insights, anecdotes, and reflections on topics that I am passionate about.  It is also an opportunity for me to share my personal thoughts and experiences with my friends and associates.  If you would like to unsubscribe from this email, please feel free to send me an email.  I hope you will enjoy this edition and enjoy your weekend. 

Sincerely,

David Pickler

Reply to: picklerda@aol.com

 

 From the Heart  

"The Legacy of  Shelby County Schools"

SHELBY COUNTY SCHOOLS

1867-2013

The End of an Era

 

 

     This is a very difficult column for me to write because I have had the honor and privilege over the past fifteen years to serve and advocate for one of America's greatest school systems, Shelby County Schools. As many of you are aware, on July 1, Memphis City Schools ceases to exist, forcing a "merger" with Shelby County Schools. This transfer of the responsibility for educating the 110,000 public school children within the City of Memphis from MCS to SCS is the direct result of the actions of the MCS Board of Education on December 20, 2010 to vote, in a narrow 4-3 decision, to surrender their charter. This action was ratified by vote of the people of Memphis in a referendum that saw well less than twenty percent of registered voters cast ballots to "transfer the administration of MCS to Shelby County Schools." Most voters believed that they were transferring responsibility of the education of their children from a struggling MCS to the primarily suburban, high-performing SCS. Unfortunately, that is not what occurred. 

Almost immediately, legal strategies were implemented to effect a "hostile takeover" of the Shelby County Schools governance, administration, and policy structure by the majority MCS interests. Within the Memphis and Shelby County area, two school systems had been operating for well more than a century. Memphis City Schools was created as a type of special/municipal school district to serve the children of the largest city in the county (as well as the State of Tennessee). Under Tennessee law, absent a municipal or special school district being in existence to serve the educational needs of the children, all public education is administered by the County School District for each of Tennessee's 95 counties. At the time of the surrender of the MCS charter, approximately 110,000 children were served by Memphis City Schools. It was a predominantly urban district with significant challenges due to poverty concerns, but also due to a lack of leadership and direction from its dysfunctional school board and revolving door of short term Superintendents, each with their own reform agenda. Shelby County Schools was predominantly rural and suburban, serving nearly 50,000 children. While receiving dramatically less funding than MCS on a per pupil basis, SCS had a legacy of excellence, with very high graduation rates, parent participation and engagement, and student achievement performance. SCS was considered to be one of the best school systems in the nation, due at least in part to a track record of consistent leadership by district administration and the school board. When the surrender ratification vote was taken, suburban residents were denied the right to have their voices heard at the ballot box. 

Over the next several months, the Memphis legal strategy was to move to dismantle the leadership structure of SCS. As a result, on October 1, 2011, a federal judge ordered the creation of a new school board with 23 members, the seven former members of the SCS Board, the nine former members of the MCS Board, and seven new Board members to be appointed by the County governing body. This action set into motion the process that has seen virtually every vestige of a once great school system to be methodically destroyed and overtaken by the policies and personnel that doomed MCS to mediocrity.

 

     As we approach the formal "merger" date, very little remains of the administration that the people of Memphis had voted to transfer control of their district. Both Superintendents have demanded buyouts and left. Many senior administrators and school leaders have voted with their feet and left the district. The former MCS is slowly being taken over by Charter school operators and State-run Charters. And the people of Memphis and Shelby County have begun their own personal exodus to surrounding communities and counties. The long term implications of these decisions to relocate residences and spending patterns to areas where educational choices are more attractive is potentially disastrous to the economy of the region.

 

     For nearly 150 years, Shelby County Schools built a legacy of educational excellence and student achievement that was the envy of districts across America. Strong leadership, visionary and supportive Boards of Education, engaged parents and families, committed community and business investment, and highly dedicated teachers and staff all were essential ingredients to creating an environment for excellence. While SCS was traditionally one of the lowest funded school systems in the country, its academic performance and commitment to maintaining a culture of mutual respect and family empowered this little district to achieve true greatness. The last act of the independent Shelby County Schools family of Administrators, Board members, parents, community stakeholders, faculty and staff was to achieve District-wide accreditation. This recognition of the excellence of SCS was the culmination of a three year review process of deep and wide research into SCS operations and academics. This accreditation validated and memorialized the true legacy of a great school system, as a place where every child was empowered with the opportunity to achieve their dreams and fulfill their potential.

 

     As we move into this "shotgun wedding" of a merger, the future of public education in Shelby County is uncertain. It is highly anticipated that each of the six suburban municipalities that comprised SCS will establish their own school districts prior to the 2014-2015 school year. With the Tennessee legislature removing any limits to Charter school approvals and severely limiting the ability of local Boards of Education to effectively limit Charter school approvals to only those most qualified to operate high quality Charters, and with the State continuing their move to takeover under performing former MCS schools with State run Charters, delivery of quality public education will be significantly challenged in this community. 

That is another ultimate tragedy of the political motivations that propelled four members of the MCS Board to push so hard for the charter surrender. Their zeal to destroy Shelby County Schools and promote further urban-suburban division may have, as its ultimate consequence, the utter destruction of public education as we know it in Shelby County. This could destroy Memphis' long term economic prospects . Memphis and Shelby County are filled with dedicated community servants who care deeply about their city and region. As is often the case, education can be used as a political pawn in the chess match of governance. Unfortunately, that can result in check mating the educational opportunities for those most at risk. And that is the ultimate defeat. Shelby County Schools legacy of excellence will be reborn in the six suburban communities. The resolve of suburban residents to fight for educational excellence and legislative success to empower the independence and autonomy of their schools is a testament to their commitment to their future. God Bless Shelby County Schools.

 

Video - Vote YES for Millington Schools!

TOWN HALL MEETING

**********CALL TO ACTION!!************

TOWN HALL MEETING

to discuss our Millington School System

 Thursday, June 27, 2013

Civic Center

6:00 p.m.

Mayor Jones will be discussing how we CAN support a school system. Please come out in support of  Millington Schools! Bring signs and wear your buttons! We must show solidarity in this turning point in Millington history.

**********COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT**********

Retirement Reception (surprise)

to honor

MR. JOHN PRICE

Sunday, June 23rd  (today)

Patriot Bank, 8376 US Hwy 51 N

2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

After 41 years of service at Millington Central High school, Mr. Price is retiring. He has been instrumental in raising the success rate of our students in upper math courses. Whether you were fortunate enough to have had him as an instructor or are just a Millington resident, please stop by today for a minute to thank him for his service to our community.

SIGNS

Hello All,

I have been out this morning getting signs out and met with the Mayor. I should have word no later  than tomorrow on a Town Hall meeting. Please go by the cleaners and pick up signs that you need or email me what you need and where and I will get them to you. The push is on keep writing letters and spreading the word get them out to vote.

Thanks,
Doug

Proposed policy changes for AP, Honors and Dual Enrollment classes.  
Another example of why we need control of our own schools!

Dear (Insert name of Board of Education Member) ,

I’m writing to urge you NOT to approve the policy regarding Advanced High School Courses .  Implementing this policy at this point is detrimental to currently enrolled high school students.

Instruction Policies2  for June 2013 BWS-Bd Mtg.pdf (http://eagenda.mcsk12.net/Agendas/eagenda/Shelby%20County%20Board%20of%20Education%20Board%20Work%20Session%20-%20June%2018,%202013%20on%20Tuesday,%20June%2018,%202013/ABCBDFA0-0EDF-4063-BB05-681E4D10265DAgenda.htm)

This policy changes grade calculations for AP, Honors and Dual Enrollment classes.   Making this change at this point in the year seems inappropriate and ill-advised because high school students are already locked into class selections for next year.  My son, a Junior at Collierville High School, carefully weighed the advantages and disadvantages of A.P., Dual Enrollment, and Honors classes.  The new grading scale changes the class selection dynamic.  Eliminating the 5 or 3 points added to the semester grade will also change the way grades are reported on a transcript.  Given that many college scholarships are awarded based on GPA, this change could negatively impact scholarship opportunities.

There is no “grandfathering” listed for this policy change; therefore students in the classes of 2014, 2015, and 2016 will have transcripts with a mixed grading scale.  Changing the grading structure during a student’s high school career can negatively impact the college application process.  Every high school transcript produced for the next 3 years will need an explanation of the multiple grading scales used and require additional resources from our depleted guidance staff.  College admissions officers will need to be educated about the change and many colleges will struggle to create a process to “normalize” or “equalize” every grade for every class for every year.  This difficulty will be exacerbated by the lateness of this policy change.

Major changes such as this can be best applied to an incoming freshman class so that students have the same grading scale for all 4 years of high school.

At a time when we are trying to encourage students to take higher level courses to prepare them for college, this grading change “mid career” is discouraging.  This change occurring when students are unable to consult with guidance counselors and teachers is unfair. 

I urge you remove the Advanced High School Courses policy change for further review to be implemented beginning with the 2014-15 school year and BEFORE students make their course selections for 2014-15.  I also recommend further review concerning grandfathering in students who have already matriculated into high school.

P.A.M.S. members getting word out to vote YES for Millington Schools

Thomas Sellers / June 13, 2013 

By Thomas Sellers Jr.

It appeared the mission of People for the Advancement of Millington Schools was done when U.S. District Judge Samuel ‘Hardy’ Mays issued a ruling stopping Shelby County’s suburban municipalities from proceeding.
But members of P.A.M.S. knew the battle wasn’t over and now the group is visible once again all over Millington getting the word out about the upcoming vote on the school referendum. P.A.M.S. is encouraging the residents of Millington to vote YES on June 29 and July 16.
“Phase two is necessary because of the decision that was made by the judge basically to make null and void the vote that took place last summer,” P.A.M.S. member Barbara Halliburton said. “Essentially we’re not starting from scratch. We’ve made a lot of headway with letting people know why the issue was so important last summer.
“Having to get the votes done again, so P.A.M.S. is so very needed to people so that the issue is not put to rest,” she added. “First that there is still a need and two, to know that there is a vote. A lot of people don’t realize they need to vote again.”
There will be one day of early voting at the June 29 at the Baker Community Center. And July 16 is Election Day. Halliburton, an executive assistant, joined P.A.M.S. nearly half a year ago. Her and husband Benjamin have two children heading to the first and fourth grade.
“It’s very important to me that they have as solid of an educational foundation as they can have,” Halliburton said. “And I believe the school system being joined together, the Unified School System, is too large to be effective. I believe Millington will lose it’s voice and not be able to have any impact as far as our children are concerned.”
The Halliburtons have been active in their children’s education from day one. With the issue of Unified School vs. Municipal School, Barbara started to do research and attend P.A.M.S. meetings last year.
She said the political wrangling and lack of planning geared toward Millington forced her to get involved for her children and other Millington youth’s futures.
“It’s important to us and me personally because I’m very involved in my children’s education,” Halliburton said. “People know me up a Lucy Elementary. They know my husband. It’s important to us to be involved.
“My concern is for all the kids, if there is going to be a unified system, there’s no holding back of funds in certain area because what you think their future intentions are,” she continued. “That really bothered me. I thought I really need to get involved in this.”
For months, two of the most visible faces of P.A.M.S. has been Doug Dakin and Bobby Percer. Since the group’s creation, all the members have been out handing out information, conducting meetings and using social media to promote the benefits of a municipal school system for Millington.
The group of about a dozen members has a diverse makeup. Halliburton said that is an appropriate representative of the Millington population.
“Different people bring different things to the table,” she noted. “Not even just from a racial standpoint. Even from the standpoint of the age diversity, it’s all very important. I have a different concern because I have small children. Somebody else might be retired and they’re concerned about they’re property value. So that’s one area of the diversity.
“It’s also important because of the Millington School System I’m confident we’re going to have will educate a diverse range of children,” Halliburton added. “So we have to reflect that to make sure we’re supporting all the kids. Just so people will know in the city of Millington it’s not a racial issue.”
Halliburton noted her children’s school and Millington Central High School as example of Millington’s diversity.
“For Millington that’s not even a question,” she said. “Millington is a very diverse city. For me personally, I am a black woman, I have no desire for my kids to be educated in Memphis City School system. Now because of the children that go there. It’s because of the way the system has been run. The results are not there.”
Halliburton said if Millington votes for its own school system, the residents will have a voice on the impact of the tax dollars, who is hired to teach and run the schools and more accessibility.
“People should vote yes because one thing it allows us to have control of our tax dollar,” she said. “It allows us to have access to those people who will be using those tax dollars. It allows us to have some input in the type of curriculum and the activities we would going on in the schools.
“The people sitting on the school board could be my next door neighbors,” Halliburton added. “I can walk over and talk to that person without having all the political backlash of being in a bigger system.”
Halliburton said Millington is in a prime position for economic growth with Veterans Parkway and room for business growth along Navy Road and Highway 51 as well. Her fear is if the school system is subpar, current families will move and new resident won’t come to Millington stunting that growth.
“A quality school system is the bedrock of a growing community,” she said. “If there is no quality school system, then that community is not going to survive because people will start taking off, particularly younger families. When younger families pick a community, buy a home, and choose a place to live, they’re going to choose a place because of the school system.
“If that system is poorly run and the money is mismanaged, then people will not move here,” Halliburton concluded. “And the growth will be stymied. The time is now for us to take advantage of this opportunity and have some control over the future for our children and the city of Millington. It can go down really fast, the city, if this opportunity is missed.”
For more information, visit Facebook site: People for the Advancement of Millington Schools or e-mail pams38053@yahoo.com.

P.A.M.S. member Barbara Halliburton stands in front of one of the organization’s signs encouraging residents to vote yes for Millington Schools on June 29 and July 16. The Lucy resident has two school-aged children attending Lucy Elementary.

http://millington-news.com/news/