WARdynski on Public Education

The Problem Black Students Still Live With

Access to a quality public education for black/brown/poor students is under a well funded, well organized, and sustained attack in Huntsville, AL. under the capable command of Colonel Casey WARdynski.

Why is public education under attack?  Well, because it's PUBLIC education.  Meaning, every child has access, regardless of race, gender, income or address, which is the opposite of PRIVATE education.  The only reason some (not to be confused with all) black/brown/poor children have access to a quality public education is because the school district is under a federal court desegregation order.

Board President David Blair says the court order is holding back progress, preventing city schools from experimenting with a system in which students choose a school based on what they want to study instead of where they live.
"I would love to see us challenge the desegregation order," said board member Jennie Robinson, who represents south Huntsville.The Justice Department, which monitors compliance with the court order, recently refused approval for a second southeast high school. At Grissom, the only nearby high school, less than 4 percent of students are black.
The Justice Department's action limits growth near the Tennessee River, Robinson said. Plus, she said the court order ignores that there are more than two races here. Last year, Huntsville had almost 600 Hispanic students and almost 600 Asians. Most Asian students attended Grissom or its feeder schools.
She also said some studies show children learn better from teachers of the same race.
Board member Topper Birney said the city school board could better operate without federal approval for every new building.

The Justice Department told the School Board to not even think about being granted Unitary Status.  My Daddy says if you can't get in through the front door then go around to the back door.  Looks like the School Board has finally found the man with a plan to continue to ignore the United States Department of Justice.  Keeping them there black/brown/poor students in their place, I mean their zones.  Snark

In a three-page explanation to The Times, Wardynski said his sweeping overhaul of system leadership was designed "to promote strong leaders into larger schools and into schools for which their talents are particularly suited."
Two of those principal swaps, the transfer of Lynette Alexander to Westlawn Middle and Dawn Ashley to Dawson Elementary, are designed to help the district "restart" low-performing schools. A "restart" allows the district to replace about 50 percent of the teachers and bring in new school leaders.
Wardynski called Alexander and Ashley "two of our most accomplished leaders" and said he expected immediate improvements.
The move also allows a district to cancel student transfers to other schools and erase a school's test score history in an effort to give it a fresh start.

Looks like Colonel WARdynski is doing at least on of the jobs he was hired to do.

In case you missed it, tonight the board had yet another discussion about how to evaluate Dr. Wardynski. The board has proposed five goals by which Dr. Wardynski will be evaluated. These are:
Accelerate Learning at All Levels
Increase Flexibility in the General Fund Budget While Preserving Educational Programs
Build Bench Strength Though Strategic Staffing
Improve Capital Infrastructure
Meet Department of Justice Requirements to Deserve Unitary Status

Today's Must Read
Just how much of a bonus should Dr. Wardynski receive for his work this year? 

Which brings me to the Pinnacle fiasco.  Stay tuned.