Monday, August 11, 2008
By Van Darden
and Wendy Gragg
Tribune-Herald staff writers
East Waco leaders announced Sunday night that they are seeking legal counsel to reverse the closure of G.L. Wiley Middle School, after a two-hour, closed-door community meeting.
More than 400 people attended Sunday’s meeting at Toliver Chapel Baptist Church.
“We have a political agenda, and we are prepared to take this to court,” said McLennan County Commissioner Lester Gibson, one of the meeting’s participants.
Multimedia
Photos: East Waco residents speak out at packed board meeting
Video: Watch what the community had to say
10-18-08 Waco ISD officials pledge G.L. Wiley, Doris Miller school campuses won't go empty
09-03-08 G.L. Wiley group ends lawsuit
08-30-08 Judge backs Waco school board's controversial closure of Wiley Middle School
08-29-08 Judge to rule on Wiley injunction this morning
08-28-08 Talk of racial discrimination again surfaces in G.L. Wiley hearings
08-27-08 Waco ISD trustee, G.L. Wiley principal among witnesses in court hearing on injunction to keep school open
08-26-08 Wiley reopens as Waco ISD trustees vote again to close its doors
08-23-08 Waco ISD administrators to helm Wiley classes on Monday
08-22-08 Judge approves restraining order reopening Wiley for first day of class Monday
08-21-08 Racial discrimination lawsuit and injunction filed to stop Wiley's closure
08-18-08 Waco ISD officials trying to ease Wiley students' move to their new schools
08-12-08 Group taps attorneys to consider challenges to Wiley's closure
08-11-08 East Waco leaders announce effort to hire legal help over Wiley's closing
08-10-08 Interview: Waco ISD school board chief looks past G.L. Wiley furor
08-09-08 WISD seeks healing while East Waco leaders mull future amid frustration over Wiley closing
08-09-08 Mayor voices optimism for East Waco, Wiley students
08-09-08 What next: Advice for Wiley Middle School parents on the start of classes
08-08-08 Waco ISD school board votes to close G.L. Wiley Middle School
08-02-08 Education leaders question value, impact of Texas' school-rating system
08-01-08 Waco ISD state ratings offer mixed bag of successes, frustration
07-25-08 WISD unveils options for G.L. Wiley's future
07-24-08 Meeting tonight to discuss G.L. Wiley's future has been cancelled
07-22-08 WISD board meeting Thursday on options for G.L. Wiley's future, including potential closure
06-13-08 Despite continued low rating, G.L. Wiley gets another chance
05-31-08 Waco ISD officials see improvement in TAKS scores
04-14-08 TAKS scores could decide whether G.L. Wiley Middle School remains open
Opinion
08-30-08 Editorial: Beyond G.L. Wiley's court ruling
08-23-08 Editorial: G.L. Wiley turmoil
08-17-08 Letters: G.L. Wiley closing
08-17-08 Jean Laster, guest column: Waco ISD selective about whom it invites to table
08-13-08 Editorial: Future for Wiley?
08-09-08 Editorial: G.L. Wiley closure mishandled
08-07-08 Editorial: Rush job on G.L Wiley
08-06-08 Editorial: Accountability system failing Texas
08-06-08 Nikka Davis, guest column: Waco, don't fail us now
08-03-08 Pat Atkins, guest column: Walls vs. equal opportunities in WISD
07-23-08 Editorial: Future of Wiley
06-15-08 Editorial: Effort at GL Wiley
» Editorial: Rush job on G.L. Wiley (8/7/08)
» Waco ISD: Middle school TAKS passing rates
Gibson said the community so far had been receptive to contributing money toward hiring legal counsel.
Sunday’s meeting came three days after Waco Independent School District trustees voted 4-3 to close Wiley at a special school board meeting. Board members said low enrollment was a major factor in the decision, not the school’s sagging test scores, which have improved significantly in recent years.
Many of the roughly 200 Wiley supporters present left the school board meeting angered or in tears over the controversial decision, which was made after hearing four hours of public comment on the issue.
Sunday night’s event was originally touted as a communitywide meeting, but as it was set to begin, all news media were asked to leave. The Tribune-Herald went to the meeting after responding to an e-mailed statement from the Cen-Tex African American Chamber of Commerce inviting the entire public, including Waco Mayor Virginia DuPuy and Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce President Jim Vaughan.
DuPuy said Sunday night that her invitation was sent to her work e-mail and she didn’t see it in time to make the meeting. Vaughan attended but said he, too, learned of the meeting late. He said he did not wish to comment about the night’s discussions.
After Sunday’s meeting, Gibson and his colleagues stressed that they would operate not based on emotion but on wisdom and rationale.
“We know officially that the school is closed down,” Gibson said. “If the injunction doesn’t work, we’ve got to live with what we’ve got. (The kids) have got to go to school.”
Waco city councilman Wilbert Austin said the school board ignored the pleas of parents and children at the WISD meeting to keep Wiley open.
“Think how much money it’s going to cost the average mother and father, if (their child misses) the bus, to take their child from one part of town to the other part,” Austin said. “We were more rational than an irrational school board.”
School board member Alex Williams attended Sunday night’s meeting but would not comment.
As for legal proceedings regarding Wiley’s closure, Gibson did not offer specifics but said a temporary restraining order might be one option.
Gibson and fellow community leaders also expressed feelings of betrayal by the school district and questioned the school board’s integrity.
Laveda Brown, executive director of the Cen-Tex African American Chamber of Commerce, said she felt that East Waco had been alienated by school district officials.
Gibson and the rest of the community leaders said they were resolved not to let the matter go.
“We’re not going to sit back as a community and roll over and play dead,” Gibson said.
vdarden@wacotrib.com
757-5743
wgragg@wacotrib.com
757-6901
Comments
By Gary (the first one)
Aug 12, 2008 11:05 AM | Link to this
I doubt anyone will read this now, but here's the solution:
Merely do as Lester Gibson demanded couple of years back, "give each black family a million dollars, AS A START, in repayment for slavery".
The 'as a start' obviously means 'keep the payments rolling', so all of the black people would be so rich they wouldn't need any education. They could just use their wealth to hire lawyers to take care of their wealth!
PROBLEM SOLVED!
By thefireman101
Aug 11, 2008 10:03 PM | Link to this
@ "VOICE OF TRUTH"
African Americans all over Wisd, are dragging down the test scores!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let me tell you something- I attended schools in WISD for 12 years of my life. When I was in school, African American students were just as plentiful in WISD, as they are now.
The reason for the drop in scores, is not due to African American children, But rather due, to the poor quality of teachers being turned out today; "Poor quality teachers, both white and black".
You have dumb white and black teachers in school now. Back in my days, It was hard work that got you college degree. Now a days, when you step foot in a college, you can literally, not study and still pass a test, guessing and going to class.
The teachers are dumber now, then they were when I was going to school.
And I do mean they are dumber.
The teachers are low paid, and because they are low paid workers, naturally, your going to get poor quality teachers, for low paying jobs.
THEY HAVING A TOUGH TIME FINDING QUALIFIED TEACHERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now I agree, as a BLACK MAN, THEY NEEDED TO SHUTDOWN WILEY. WHY?
MOST QUALIFIED WHITE TEACHERS, WILL NOT TEACH IN A GHETTO SCHOOL. YOU CAN'T SOLICIT QUALITY TEACHERS TO GO TO A GHETTO SCHOOL. SO NATURALLY, THE SCHOOL WILL BE LEFT WITH PICKING UP THE LEFTOVER TEACHER FROM THE SYSTEM, THAT CAN'T FIND GOOD PAYING TEACHING JOBS, SO THEY HAVE TO FIND A JOB TO PAY THOSE STUDENTS LOANS, SO THEY TAKE WHATEVER SHOWS UP. "
AND WHAT HAPPENED IS GL WILEY, HAD TO SETTLE FOR TEACHERS THAT SHOWED UP" AND THE TEACHERS THAT SHOWED UP, WERE ALREADY, "DUMB TEACHERS" TRYING TO GET A CHECK....... AND NATURALLY THE KIDS SUFFERED FOR IT........
By Voice of Truth
Aug 11, 2008 8:00 PM | Link to this
Dear Let them stay in East Waco,
You are correct in that whites are leaving the WISD in record numbers. In regards to the WISD being a low performing school district from Mr. Gibson's presentation it shows the problem is not just the African Americans at Wiley. It is the African Americans in all the WISD schools that are dragging down the test scores.
I would suggest that any parents who care about their children'education either move out of the WISD, or look at charter schools or private schools.
The WISD is only getting worse at time and money go by. Mr.& Mrs. Gibson can blame the white man if they would like but in their own family their Son, is contributing to the downfall of east WACO.
Read the press release from the Department of Justice in regards to a big time crack dealer in East Waco.
(http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txw/press_releases/2007/Gibson_complaint.pdf)
CLEAN UP YOUR Own back yard FIRST
By Gary(also)
Aug 11, 2008 7:44 PM | Link to this
I think some are missing the whole point about the Wiley situation. It has nothing to do with any supposed leaders of the E. Waco community. It has everything to do with telling a parent two weeks before school starts that you plan on closing their intended school. It has everything to do with school board members saying they have no intention to close a school only then to come back later and close the school. It's about treating people fairly and doing what you say you will(or won't) do. God have mercy on us all if this is the way people are to be treated. My kids go to Connally so I have no dog in this fight, but right is right.
By Tired
Aug 11, 2008 7:10 PM | Link to this
The African American community cracks me up! The "N" word can only be tolerated coming from their own lips. Segregation is a good thing if it is their idea... you know... Lester Gibson's plan for a "black school" and all. Entitlement... and how we owe you. The desire to live in poverty when money is just thrown out for anyone wanting to attend a place of higher education. Why is it again... that life plays out like this in east Waco? I believe it all boils down to bad judgement. Bad judgement ripples throughout the east Waco neighborhoods as well as some in the north Waco. With Brazos Middle, the grass isn't much greener. I'm sure there will be some response blaming me as the source of all this. You know... the whole "I want to keep the brotha down." Well, if you continue to let the likes of Lester Gibson lead you... it won't be very hard to keep you there. Now please, take pride in yourself... your people... take some responsibility and move on! Your children's future has not been taken from them. If anything... they've been given some hope! Change was needed and change was made... I say great job WISD!
ASA LAMA LAKUM LESTER GIBSON!!! :)
By Let them stay in East Waco
Aug 11, 2008 6:56 PM | Link to this
Why all the fighting? The black kids want to stay in East Waco and the whites are closing their schools preventing it? Crazy !!
In the early 70's white folk would be cheering for Wiley to stay open. I say WISD should re-open Jefferson Moore as the high school as well. Forget about test scores. Let my black friends go to black schools and hire and fire their own teachers and principals...maybe even have their own school board.
Lets see how things go with out THE MAN making the call.
Come on, the whites don't really want a group of disgruntal students and their parents moving into their school any way.
I'm just saying what people are thinking.
By real
Aug 11, 2008 5:55 PM | Link to this
Gibson are you real are what? Do you live and east Waco? Do your grandchildren go to east Waco?
By Rob
Aug 11, 2008 5:55 PM | Link to this
A little late to the party, are we Grass Roots?
By Grass Roots
Aug 11, 2008 5:46 PM | Link to this
Read what the Mr. Gibsons plan would be for your Children.
[http://www.issues-views.com/index.php/sect/1003/article/1050]
By CJ
Aug 11, 2008 5:32 PM | Link to this
Heartless- Did you happen to read the artice that was posted by Rob?? In the article it states that "Mr. Gibson continues to enlist parents in the drive to take control of their children's education."
That is ALL I have been saying and trying to stress. So, is HE heartless because he wants "parents to take control of their children's education???!?!?" Are you going to lower your standards and respond to Mr. Gibson?
Oh wait, he's an "East Waco leader" so surely HE can't be heartless by asking parents to have any kind of control over their children's education! The BUILDING closing means nothing if parents do not take a more active role in their children's lives... including education. Keep the school open, I don't care, but HOLD parents accountable for their child's education!
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