Mayor 'Disturbed' by GRPS Board Comments
Tuesday, September 18, 2007By Dave Murray The Grand Rapids Press
GRAND RAPIDS -- Mayor George Heartwell says he is disturbed by comments from some school board members who said families should move out of Grand Rapids if they don't want to send their children to city schools.
"I know the day will come that Grand Rapids Public Schools will be the schools of choice for parents in the suburban districts," Heartwell said today. "But until then, I'm disturbed by some of the attitudes from these board members."
Heartwell said keeping families in the city is "critical" to the long-term success of Grand Rapids.
"We can't afford to lose any more families to the suburbs," he said. "These families that could leave but decide to continue living in the city contribute to the tax base that helps support the city schools. And without that tax base, the schools will further deteriorate."
On Monday, some school board members lashed out at parents and their reasons behind choosing to transfer out of Grand Rapids schools. They spoke in defense of Superintendent Bernard Taylor's stance on denying student transfers unless there are special circumstances.
"It's just blatant racism," board member Arnie Smithalexander said after the meeting. Minority students make up about 75 percent of the city school district.
"They don't want to send their kids to our schools because of the way our kids look. And if they want to send their kids to Kentwood, Grandville or Hudsonville, then fine. They should move there."
Taylor a week ago met with parents concerned about county superintendents making it harder for students in charter and parochial schools to transfer to suburban districts. Families now must compete with others in the choice program, or hope their home district agrees to release the students.
Many charter schools don't offer high school programs. In the past, most charter school parents who live in the city but never have sent their children to city schools were allowed to send students to the suburban high schools.
On Monday, a majority of the board members said they support Taylor's position, and Vice President Lisa Hinkel said the parents have three choices.
"I'd tell them they are free to move to the district of their choice, or they could pay tuition to whatever private or parochial school they want," she said. "Or, they can lobby the for-profit company that runs their charter schools to provide a high school. They should go to National Heritage Academies and demand that they listen to their needs."
Last week, several parents and a representative from the Michigan Association of Public School Academies met with Taylor and his top staff members to discuss the policy.
Leaders said the change came after attorneys suggested the charter and parochial parents had been receiving an unfair advantage. But districts that have taken charter transfers in the past didn't set spaces aside for them this year under the revised policy.
A representative of the charter group said Kent County's choice plan is one of the most restrictive in the state. Parents said they wanted the transfers out of Grand Rapids Public Schools for safety and academic reasons, pointing to standardized test scores.
Taylor described last week's meeting as "very contentious," and dismissed claims that other superintendents tightened the choice plan at his request to halt enrollment losses.
"I do not believe I have coercive powers over my colleagues," Taylor said.
Taylor said his staff received 954 transfer requests this year and approved 623. He said parents of the other 331 students failed to make the case that the city schools could not meet their needs.
Taylor said he has asked the Kent Intermediate School District, which oversees the choice plan, to consider some changes.
"I'm being made out to be some kind of villain, but I'm just following the rules," he said.
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4 comments:
I am extremely disappointed after reading the following statements:
"It's just blatant racism," board member Arnie Smithalexander said after the meeting. Minority students make up about 75 percent of the city school district.
"They don't want to send their kids to our schools because of the way our kids look. And if they want to send their kids to Kentwood, Grandville or Hudsonville, then fine. They should move there."
First of all, I believe not all parents are making this decision because of race. Many parents are choosing to pull their kids out of GRPS due to academic reasons and negative media coverage. However, these parents fail to realize the bigger picture. As stated in Sunday’s paper, September 16, “In many districts with lower-achieving scores, there is some incredibly powerful teaching going on…We are all too often led to believe these are not good school districts. And that’s a travesty.” Everybody wants a quality education for their children and we are seeing our parents react from misconstrued beliefs and fear.
I live in Kentwood and the public school my daughter goes to is extremely diverse. Also, 79% qualify for reduced/free lunch. Since I am involved in public schools, I have more of an understanding of the MEAP scores, AYP and Ed YES! However, many parents do not. This is the area our public schools need to focus on and educate our parents, not lash out and accuse people of being racist! That in itself is a general statement and is unfair.
It does not supprise me that the race card is used if you want to choose another school. This is use by poeple who do not want to listen to others who do not agree with them. This is one of the reasons why we moved our kids to a charter school.
The public school likes to use the fact that parents are not involved enough with there kids school, not showing up for parent-teacher meetings and so on. But now when some parents come to a meet to discuss reason why they want a transfer, they are told just to move out of the city if you don't like it. Well, that fit me just fine. I live in the city but I must send my kids to Kentwood, go figure if the city need the state funds so bad. Fat chance I will vote infavor of the next Mill increase when its needed.
(I'm sorry, I posted my comments about Mayor Heartwell in the wrong area, hence the repeated posting)
Good for Mayor Heartwell! I'm never in total agreement with any political person, and I've certainly had my own disagreements on various issues with our current Mayor, but I heartily thank him for his statements. Despite our differences of opinion, I've spoken with the Mayor one on one some time ago and deep down he's a good man. Let's hope he doesn't back down from his stance on the statements made by some of the school board. Keep it going, Mr. Mayor!
Smithalexander's statements, in my opinion is racist in and of itself.
I have a few questions for Mr. Smithalexander:
1: Of the parents that are using 'schools of choice' and are of African extraction, are you saying they're racist? Are you saying those parents are racist of their own race?
2: I'm of European heritage. You wouldn't know it by looking at me or my children, but I happen to have nearly 40 blood relatives that to one degree or another have an African heritage. Are you saying if I were to choose 'schools of choice' that I'm racist against some of my own family members?
3: With your utterly crazy statement and assumption, is it any wonder that those who want to send their children to other school districts choose to do so? You're a school board member, and you're making statements like that!?! You, Mr. Smithalexander are exhibit one in my book on why we shouldn't send our kids to the GRPS! You've made our point!
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