Saturday, August 23, 2008
By Wendy Gragg
Tribune-Herald staff writer
The halls of the Waco Independent School District’s central office likely will be quiet Monday as many administrators instead man classrooms at long-troubled G.L. Wiley Middle School.
District officials announced Friday that former Wiley teachers, who have all been placed at other schools since Wiley’s closure, will remain at their new schools for the first day of class.
Slide show: G.L. Wiley hearing Thursday
Slide show: East Waco speaks out at Aug. 7 school board meeting
Video: Watch what the community had to say
“The district’s thinking is it would be too disruptive on the other campuses to pull those teachers back,” principal Kermit Ward said. “This was the best thing to do.”
G.L. Wiley Middle School, closed by a school board vote Aug. 7 because of ebbing enrollment, was reopened Thursday after a temporary restraining order was signed by Judge Jim Meyer in the 170th District Court.
Meyer said he granted the order, which reversed the school closure, based on a violation of the Texas Open Meetings Act by the Waco ISD board of trustees. The temporary restraining order was filed on behalf of two Wiley students and parents plus a group of East Waco leaders.
The court order gave Waco ISD four days to get the school staffed and ready for students by the first school day, Monday.
District spokesman Dale Caffey said Marsha Ridlehuber, assistant superintendent for accountability and instruction, rounded up many of the administrators in her office who are certified in a variety of subjects, then assigned them to classes at Wiley.
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
Short-term solution
The help from central office is a temporary solution while the school board holds an emergency meeting at 6 p.m. Monday to consider the closure of Wiley. On Tuesday or Wednesday Judge Meyer will likely issue a ruling on the temporary injunction, allowing the school to be closed or ordering it to remain open through the duration of the lawsuit filed by East Waco leaders.
The lawsuit claims the plaintiffs and the East Waco community will suffer deep and pervasive harm because of the district’s action.
The first thing Ward did at Wiley on Friday was change the school’s marquee sign.
“School Will Be Open” reads the sign, facing busy Waco Drive.
“I wanted people to know this is an option,” Ward said.
Ward, who had been reassigned as a Waco High School assistant principal, slipped easily back into his role as Wiley principal. He set up in his old office, a barren shell of itself since the closure of the school stripped the building of equipment.
“I had to have some kind of headquarters for the day,” Ward said.
He appeared in high spirits Friday despite the school’s disarray. And he wasn’t alone in his efforts to get the campus ready for students Monday.
“I was so impressed and proud of the different departments in the district because they converged on the school this morning,” Ward said. “We actually got the school ready in a matter of hours.”
Lots of work, little time
Waco ISD Superintendent Roland Hernandez said district staff members have been working hard since the court ruling Thursday to ensure all district schools, including Wiley, are ready Monday morning.
Desks were returned to Wiley classrooms. Computers were set up. Food was brought to the cafeteria. Ward even borrowed his former school secretary from the campus she had been reassigned to, and she was getting supplies ready for each classroom.
And then there were the Wiley parents. Once Ward plugged the phone in Friday, he said it had not stopped ringing.
“I sat there fielding phone call after phone call from jubilant parents and excited children,” he said.
Other parents came up to the school to ask questions and give Ward a hug. Toresa Bell was sent to the school by her eighth-grade son, Shyheim Bell. He got the good news about Wiley on Thursday while in the hospital with a ruptured appendix.
“He said, ‘Go register me at Wiley,’ ” she said. “I told him I’d go tomorrow, just as soon as I could get away from the hospital.”
Some people with no ties to Wiley came out to help get ready for Monday. Sandra Pickens, a retired educator, drove in from Elk to get her hands dirty straightening up the campus.
“I’ve been hearing about it, and I just wanted to help,” she said.
wgragg@wacotrib.com
757-6901
Comments
By Karen Jefferson Thompson
Aug 25, 2008 11:53 AM | Link to this
Sorry, I have no time to hide behind a pseudonym. As an alumnus of Wiley and former resident of East Waco, I'm proud to say that I think Wiley should remain open. Everyone is focused on who is to blame for problems with the school and not on the bigger issue. Folks, Wiley is just another crumb of the crumbling East Waco cookie. Systematically, East Waco has been robbed of the businesses and schools that once thrived there while other parts of Waco are booming. When I visit Waco, I am appalled at the fact that East Waco has no major supermarket or business. With gas prices skyrocketing,a trip to Bellmead or North and West Waco can cost more than groceries. I'm not saying that the businesses and schools in EW are not viable, but folks still trek across town to Walmart, Richland Mall and a number of other "staples." Does Wiley need good leadership and good teachers? Of course. However, when I grew up in East Waco those leaders and teachers came out of the community as well--in the form of ministers, cleaning ladies, grocery store managers and workers, church members, and many more. The school and its students have been deserted, but not necessarily by the school system. When I was younger (and I thought as only children can), I thought the only way to get the education that the white people had, the better education, was to go to their schools in their neighborhoods. East Waco is a neighborhood for all the people of Waco--as such, every single resident should be held accountable. If the principal is the issue, work to replace that person or any other educator who fails to support the children, but don't let the walls of one of East Waco's last venues of education fall. Paul Quinn's gone. What's next, J.H. Hines?
By Karen Jefferson Thompson
Aug 25, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this
Sorry, I have no time to hide behind a pseudonym. As an alumnus of Wiley and former resident of East Waco, I'm proud to say that I think Wiley should remain open. Everyone is focused on who is to blame for problems with the school and not on the bigger issue. Folks, Wiley is just another crumb of the crumbling East Waco cookie. Systematically, East Waco has been robbed of the businesses and schools that once thrived there while other parts of Waco are booming. When I visit Waco, I am appalled at the fact that East Waco has no major supermarket or business. With gas prices skyrocketing,a trip to Bellmead or North and West Waco can cost more than groceries. I'm not saying that the businesses and schools in EW are not viable, but folks still trek across town to Walmart, Richland Mall and a number of other "staples." Does Wiley need good leadership and good teachers? Of course. However, when I grew up in East Waco those leaders and teachers came out of the community as well--in the form of ministers, cleaning ladies, grocery store managers and workers, church members, and many more. The school and its students have been deserted, but not necessarily by the school system. When I was younger (and I thought as only children can), I thought the only way to get the education that the white people had, the better education, was to go to their schools in their neighborhoods. East Waco is a neighborhood for all the people of Waco--as such, every single resident should be held accountable. If the principal is the issue, work to replace that person or any other educator who fails to support the children, but don't let the walls of one of East Waco's last venues of education fall. Paul Quinn's gone. What's next, J.H. Hines?
By Missing the Point
Aug 24, 2008 6:15 PM | Link to this
Reading the responses from this article, I think many people are missing the point. There are many possible reasons for Wiley being a low performing school: lack of parental involvement, student to teacher ratio, administrative support for teachers and the school, and lack of resources. The point is, whether the problems are in the school, the administration, the community, or all three, they need to be determined and addressed.
The school board closing Wiley does nothing but dilute the problem and make it less noticeable by sending it onto another school. These children, and whatever issues are keeping them from performing well are not going to be solved at another school--they are just going to be covered up.
The school board needs to get real honest with itself and the community--have some open conversations with parents and teachers and start working on a solution. If parents need to be more involved, tell them in an open and constructive way. And if the school needs more resources (teachers, computers, etc.) then do it.
Solve this problem, don't run from it.
By null
Aug 24, 2008 5:40 PM | Link to this
lets bulldoze east waco and make some condos and retail stores
By Fred
Aug 24, 2008 8:16 AM | Link to this
This is beginning to get rather funny. Imagine if WISD had to keep GL Wiley "open" with just five students? See what one loud-mouth, blood-sucking Lawyer can do? It's all a big Cosmic Joke. Grab your popcorn and enjoy the comedy.
By apple
Aug 24, 2008 4:58 AM | Link to this
I am Afro-American, well educated, and don't live in E. Waco but I do know there are some good-hearted and beautiful people who happen to live or have lived there.
I don't scream racism.
If we "must" get political tisk it's possibly a (shallow minded) class issue which at the end of the day means little in that we all have the same basic needs and are the same basically as much as we are different as I see everyone as an individual and we are all trying to make it.
I scream help for these underprivileged children, help for cleaning up the community, and help for helping others to get the big picture.
It will always be about money which is the survival of business - it's factual. However, there's other layers involved that cannot be ignored - human psychological factor, children of course and community. (cause decision and effect people, a very basic principle of economics) Once we get past the basics and settle emotions with good faith efforts, we can start seriously brainstorming this out to exhaustion as phase 1, phase 2 pilot program, phase 3 implement, phase 4 evaluate. Basic business mgmt school concepts here...not rocket science.
By Wildcat Teacher
Aug 24, 2008 1:53 AM | Link to this
I have never posted anything on a blog before but some of the comments made by some very angry people are ridiculous. If the
blogger who entitles himself to be a reverend is truly a member of the clergy, then we need to worry about his church members. This man is very dangerous, hateful, and full of himself.
To those of you in support of Wiley, thank you so much for caring about this wonderful school. Although improvement and some changes will have to be made, let's all get on the same page. No matter how much some of you HATE anything connected to Wiley, you should remember the children who will start school there on Monday morning. They need to feel safe, cared for, and positive about their school. My teaching career started at Wiley 33 years ago. I had wonderful students, great co-workers, and I didn't worry too much about no air-conditioning.It's true that some children bussed there are not from a wealthy environment, yet they still are eager to learn. More than anything, you angry people need to volunteer this week with helping teachers set up their classrooms while they can be there 100% for the kids actively engaged in their lessons. Help bring textbooks to classrooms. Help the kids put bookcovers on. Bring some ice cold water bottles to the gym for the kids to drink after P.E. or football practice. SHUT-UP AND DO SOMETHING GREAT FOR THE STUDENTS. Your negative comments are worthless. Your positive actions are priceless.
By This is getting old
Aug 23, 2008 11:25 PM | Link to this
This is all about racism, right? Wiley gets shut down and East Waco screams racism. Now I read a comment assumingly by a spiritual leader calling someone "Uncle Tom." And of course they had to throw in a "white man" for good measure. Who are the racist ones????
I teach at a school that I will not send my children to. That doesn't mean I'm just there for the money. I care about those kids and want to make a positive impact in their lives.
Perhaps all these people trying to get their 15 minutes of fame should have spent half of the energy they're using now in the name of a "racism war" to help enrich the students at Wiley for the past 5 years. If you care about those kids as much as you claim to, those teachers better see you up there offering to help out in anyway you can while the school is open.
By Are you KIDDING me?
Aug 23, 2008 7:25 PM | Link to this
OMG! WHERE WERE ALL YOU PEOPLE ALL THE YEARS THE SCHOOL WAS FAILING!? I sure as heck didn't hear about this much parental involvement until the board finally said, WE HAVE TO SOMETHING DIFFERENT FOR THESE KIDS! Why in Heaven's name would you not want your child to have the very best that Waco ISD has to offer, even if that means that your kid might have to catch the school bus or God forbid, you might have to drive 4 miles to another school? The more I read about this, the more I see a bunch of racist (I know, not everyone is racist,but unfortunately, it is sure appearing that way) whiners, griping because they aren't getting their way. Life is like that - you don't always get things the way you would like them to be, but your child's education should not be about convenience... EVER!
By HOORAH!
Aug 23, 2008 7:00 PM | Link to this
I GUESS EAST WACO LEADERS PUT THE WACO ISD BOARD IN THEIR PLACE.WHAT A GO. STAND UP FOR OUR KIDS.SHOW THEM WHO RULES.
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