 LOCAL AND STATE NEWS |
CAVENAUGH'S RACIST E-MAIL EXPOSED AT REDISTRICTING FORUM, WEEK OF OCTOBER 29-NOVEMBER 4, 2009
The Wilmington Journal
Originally posted 10/30/2009
BY ELISE MUHAMMAD
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Dear John,
Yesterday and today I have received a rash of letters supporting redistricting for socio-economic reasons. I fully expect the NAACP and parents in favor of this to be at tomorrow night's forum. Please notify your friends. I would hate for them to be the only ones at the forum. Janice
The above email was read to board members during the last of four public forums held on redistricting of middle schools in New Hanover County on Tuesday. Some audience members gasped and some laughed when it was revealed that the writer was a notably absent board member, Janice Cavenaugh.
Already a hotly-debated issue, Cavenaugh's email screams of the underlying issues of racism, classism and politics that some say is fueling the root of the bussing issue.
Williston parent Tanita Wallace said of the first forum held at Myrtle Grove Middle school, that she was, ''Absolutely appalled at comments made by angry parents who were using unjustified, emotional reasons for not wanting their children bussed. Their number one reason is that it's okay for their children to attend school with a few blacks who get bussed in to their school, but completely unacceptable for their precious little ones to get on a bus and come to the 'hood' and attend school with a lot of black and Hispanic
children.''
Is it racism? Is it classism? Or is it simply that these parents want what's ''best'' for their children?
Wallace and over 60 more people addressed the board on issues ranging from the inconvenience of bussing, to whether these ''isms'' have a justified place in New Hanover County schools and its ability to provide the best education for all students, or not.
Ogden parent Tim Davis said that bussing is a waste of gas and using it ignores energy efficiency and budget concerns.
Angela Davis, a Middle Sound Loop Road resident, said the time that would be spent on the bus is better spent at home or school. Other Middle Sound parents added that longer bus rides place the children in danger of being bothered; students and parents would be less able to participate in school activities, and some added that high performing students should not be sent to low performing schools.
Netta Pierce says although she doesn't like bussing her children (from the inner city) either, but her son's performance suffers when he's not. ''The teachers don't have control and they have a lot going on in their lives, also�when {there are} too many of 'us' in a school - this is what happens.''
Her concerns are substantiated by studies indicating that when a school population reaches 50% of students receiving reduced or free lunch, these schools' performance rates decrease into failure.
Williston is already at 71% pointed out one resident. ''Really,'' she paused, ''we don't need to be more poor. Parents in other areas should be willing to share a little burden.''
That sentiment was echoed by Rev. James Utley of Love Chapel Church, who stated that ''while we came over on different ships, we are now all in the same boat.'' Many parents, including Mt. Olive's Rev. Watson expressed concern that neighborhood schools, while good for some, would not be good for all, at this time.
Inner city resident Linda Pearce balked that, ''It's .. MY taxpayer money that {these privileged parents} want to use to ensure THEIR children, even at the detriment of other children, have what they think is best for their children� Deserting inner city schools is a cowardly way of cutting out the heart of this school system and bad for a business climate trying to attract companies to the area.''
Williston teachers, parents and students expressed pride in their school, but feel the progress made would be greatly jeopardized under maps 2A and 2B, taking their reduced/free lunch rate closer to 80%.
Cavenaugh said the superintendent was not concerned about those rates and added that the increase resulting from these maps would not make a big difference. She told The Wilmington Journal that she favors 2A with modifications that she hopes to present during a work session, before the November meeting, which is Tuesday. Some residents believe the board will vote during the November meeting and some say the decision is already made.
''I was told it was pointless for me to speak at this meeting because the decision had already been made, the votes already brought and paid for.''
Wallace says. Local NAACP President Harold Beatty said many of the NAACP members have similar sentiments. ''We know exactly how they feel and what they are going to do.''
He said the Cavenaugh email was, ''Deplorable''. This statement shows that she does NOT have all students in mind, but that a certain segment should be heard more than the others, and also not bear their share of the sacrifices that we all have to make to ensure that we have balanced and fair educational opportunities.''
Cavenaugh said she simply wanted to make sure that none of the parents supporting neighborhood schools 2a or 2b felt isolated, as she felt a 3B supporter had felt during a previous forum. She told The Journal that she did not send emails to 3B supporters inviting them to Noble and Myrtle Grove forums, because she didn't then realize that such isolation might occur.
Two of the three maps, 2A and 2B generally provide for neighborhood schools, while 3B is the common choice of opponents.
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