Tuesday, August 26, 2008
By Wendy Gragg
Tribune-Herald staff writer
While G.L. Wiley Middle School students were at home Monday night, preparing for their second day of school, the Waco Independent School District board of trustees cast a second controversial vote to close the East Waco school.
In a motion nearly identical to the one that passed on Aug. 7, the school board voted 4-3 to close Wiley this year and disperse its students to Brazos and Cesar Chavez middle schools and G.W. Carver Academy. Trustee Pat Atkins made the motion, which was seconded by Trustee Allen Sykes and supported by Trustees Sammy Smith and Debbie Luce. Trustees Larry Perez, Alex Williams and board president David Schleicher voted against the motion.
Slide show: First day of school at G.L. Wiley
Slide show: G.L. Wiley hearing Thursday, Aug. 21
Slide show: East Waco speaks out at Aug. 7 school board meeting
Video: Watch what the community had to say
“I expected it,” McLennan County Commissioner Lester Gibson, a staunch Wiley supporter, said about the board’s decision. “There’s too much pride to go back.”
Despite the second vote to close, the school will remain open, by the order of 170th State District Judge Jim Meyer, until he decides whether to grant a temporary injunction to keep the school open further. If he grants the injunction, the school could remain open through the lawsuit that has been filed against the school district by two Wiley families and a group of the school’s supporters. The plaintiffs are alleging racial discrimination, violations of the Texas Open Meetings Act and violations of the Texas Education Code.
The hearing for the temporary injunction begins at 9 a.m. today.
Monday night’s vote to close came during an emergency meeting. The meeting was a do-over of one held on Aug. 7 because Meyer agreed with the plaintiffs that the board was too vague in its wording about Wiley’s possible closure on that first meeting’s agenda. The original meeting was listed as “Status of Wiley.”
Waco ISD staff had worked furiously to get the school ready for Monday since Meyer signed the temporary restraining order Thursday reopening the school.
About 95 students returned to school at Wiley Monday and principal Kermit Ward expects that number to grow today.
“We’ve already had some parents call and say they couldn’t make it today, but their kids will be here tomorrow,” he said.
Tammie Means was thrilled for the last-minute reopening. She escorted her sixth-grade son, Jonathan Monroe, into the school that had served her two older sons. Jonathan was eager to carry on the family tradition.
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
“All my big brothers, they went here, so I wanted to go too,” he said.
Though Wiley’s doors were open Monday, the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the school district were not satisfied, said Austin attorney Robert Notzon.
Notzon, who is representing two Wiley families and a group of East Waco boosters calling themselves Fighting to Save the Children, said his clients are unhappy because not all the former Wiley teachers were returned to their classrooms for the first day of school.
Instead, administrators from the district’s central office taught classes in the various subjects where they are certified. District officials said most Wiley teachers were left in place at their reassigned schools for now, so that teaching schedules at several other middle schools would not be disrupted. Notzon said the district’s decision does not comply with the judge’s temporary restraining order.
“It’s not a baby-sitting service, it’s a school,” Notzon said. “These kids don’t need to be given short shrift on who’s teaching.”
Ward talked to his students Monday morning about the central office staff who would be teaching for the time being. He lauded their years of experience.
“I want you to realize how important that is, we’ve got good quality people in the classroom for you today,” he said.
A few former Wiley teachers, including physical education teacher Brandy Hemphill, were brought back to the campus so the children saw some familiar faces on their first day.
“I feel like it’s really a privilege for them to call me back,” she said.
Wiley’s three buses ran their regular routes Monday, but only one child was waiting to be picked up. Ward said the buses will run again today, just in case. Ward said he’s not letting lack of uniforms or rides to school stand in the way of kids getting to Wiley. Waco City Councilman Wilbert Austin made a run to pick up a parent who needed a ride to come register a child at Wiley.
“I’m really proud of the community and how people are coming forward. We’re taking away any excuse for them not coming,” Ward said.
Wiley boosters were out in force, greeting parents and students as they climbed the steps to Wiley’s entrance, though it was Ward who garnered the hugs from former Wiley kids.
Cesar Chavez Middle School took the brunt of Wiley’s reopening, with enrollment running 90 to 100 students short of what was expected, said district spokesman Dale Caffey.
Brazos Middle School was expecting about 70 Wiley students and received close to that number.
Brazos Principal Henri Lewis said the Wiley reopening didn’t mess up her teacher schedule, and she expects the students who were there Monday to return tomorrow.
About 52 Wiley-zoned students attended G.W. Carver Middle School Monday. Principal Pam Correa said there were about 11 students on the roll who didn’t show up and her staff was making calls to find out if those were Wiley students. She said she expects Carver’s enrollment to solidify as the Wiley situation shakes out and parents decide about where their children attend school.
“They just need to know, our doors are open, and the kids are welcome, and the families are welcome too,” Correa said.
wgragg@wacotrib.com
757-6901
Comments
By westside
Aug 27, 2008 10:53 AM | Link to this
Weýve already had some parents call and say they couldnýt make it today, but their kids will be here tomorrow,ý he said.
Thatýs part of the problem! Parents YOU must get YOUR kids to school EVERY DAY!!!! I bet you that will not be the only day Wiley student "cant make it"
By westside
Aug 27, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this
Weýve already had some parents call and say they couldnýt make it today, but their kids will be here tomorrow,ýWhat is up with that??
Thatýs part of the problem! Parents YOU must get YOUR kids to school EVERY DAY!!!!
By radiowave000
Aug 27, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this
Close it already. It isn't up to standards and that is everyone's fault, PARENTS, Teachers, Administration and oh yeah (gasp) the KIDS. Deal with it and get better. Quit whining
By UR- CONCERNED BLACK PARENT
Aug 27, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this
I HAVE A SIMPLE QUESTION...I HAVE CHILDREN WHO ATTEND SCHOOL AND NO MATTER WHERE THEY GO TO SCHOOL, I WOULD BE VERY, VERY INVOLVED AND CONCERNED IF THEY WERE FAILING. WHERE WERE ALL OF THESE CONCERNED PARENTS AND CITIZENS WHEN THE CHILDREN WERE FAILING ? WHY WASNT SOMEONE MORE CONCERNED A LONG TIME AGO ? I AM BLACK PARENT AND I FEEL LIKE ITS FAIR FOR ME TO ASK THESE QUESTIONS, SINCE THIS HAS BECOME A RACE ISSUE, NOT SURE WHY, BUT IT HAS. WHERE WERE THEY WHEN THIS SCHOOL WAS "IN THE PROCESS" OF BECOMING ACADEMICALLY UNACCEPTABLE ? WHERE WERE THE COMMUNUTY LEADERS AND TV CAMERAS AT THAT TIME ? I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY EVERYONE IS SO INVOLVED NOW THAT THE STATE HAS BEEN FORCED TO STEP IN.
By I'm a teacher, parent and taxpayer
Aug 26, 2008 10:55 PM | Link to this
I am a teacher, a parent and a tax payer and quite frankly am fed up with all of this. It is sad that Wiley is in this position because Wiley is an East Waco icon. What galls me is that Lester Gibson is playing the "race card". The facts are, that the Wiley population is predominately African-American and the school is academically unacceptable. Is there a correlation? That we will never know for sure. There are a lot of factors that affect a child's performance in school and one of the biggest factors is PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT. At some point, the parents of students at Wiley must take responsibility for their child's education.
I too would like to know where all these concerned parents and East Waco community leaders have been the last 5 years? Please don't misunderstand...I know that some of the parents at Wiley are very genuinely concerned about their child's education. However, standing in front of Wiley on the first day of school in front of cameras telling everyone how grateful you are that Wiley is still open, does not constitute genuine concern.
It's time to move on for the sake of the students. Let them go to their new schools and get situated so that they can LEARN, since that is the purpose of school.
By the way, is Councilman Austin willing to pick up parents all over Waco that can't go register their children at their respective schools?
By A real Teacher
Aug 26, 2008 7:54 PM | Link to this
I taught at Waco High School for 2 years, and what I saw was a small number of disruptive students doing ALOT of damage.I left Waco High School after being injured in an altercation between 3 female students attacking another female student. (NO race has nothing to do with this so don't GO THERE)Fact is that there are kids OUT OF CONTROL!! Ask them some will tell you "WE RUN THIS PLACE" I see the problem as two fold. First the PARENTS have to start taking responsibility for their Childrens actions. if your son or daughter hits someone and they aren't 17 yet thats ON YOU MOM....DAD..... GRANDMA...GRANDPA WHOEVER!! You better teach them right from wrong! I got soo tired of hearing parents say "When I drops them off they ain't mines they yours you handle them" Second The DISTRICT NEEDS TO GET THE HELL OUT OF THE TEACHERS WAY (pardon my Language, but thats the Nicest I could put it) QUIT putting roadblocks up between us and the good kids that want to learn get the HOODLUMS OUT and let us concentrate on the good ones that want to learn. STOP with the INCESSANT IDIOTIC programs that don't work! you try something it doesn't work, that doesn't give you license to try it agin 3 yrs later GUESS WHAT IT STILL WON'T WORK. I have more to say but this is to long already thank you and goodnight
By To: Dumb, Dumber and Dumbest in Waco
Aug 26, 2008 7:03 PM | Link to this
Fred Buddy
I seriously doubt if you could pass any of the TAKS test.
But while you're worrying about EW, I wonder how you're going to feel after the new University High is built. You see, its not the blacks that you need to worry about, its the Mexican
American population that continues to grow. Before you know it, that's who will be in command. How are you going to feel when your students at Waco High are attending a less that acceptable building. Even though Waco High looks good on the outside, go sit in some of the classrooms. Old and dreay. Still looks like it did in the early 60's and 70's. And let's not overlook the thought that Waco High was also a low performing school, until they were given an exception.
Throwing stones about Wiley is absured. Many, many intelligent students have passed through the doors of Wiley. So get a grip and talk what you know, cause the walk you're doing is just from your mouth that seems to know nothing and really saying nothing.
By Cameron
Aug 26, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this
@Lisa:
Do you seriously believe the teacher is the only factor in A)The kids passing the test and B) The child's education in general?
Laying blame solely on the teachers is not fair...when it comes down to it, they are not the one that takes the test. There are many factors responsible for Wiley's poor performance, but remember if you look at the numbers, they were getting better...in other words, the teachers were doing their job.
By lisa
Aug 26, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this
what i dont understand is(and not to knock any teacher, i respect them and what they do for our kids)if you are going to allow these same teachers to teach at other school, whats the point. if they cant get these kids to learn, how could they teach some where else. a different building and different kids want make a difference. if they are going allow them to teach anyway. what have you solved. if they are good enough to teach let them. where shouldnt make much difference
By Fred's Buddy
Aug 26, 2008 2:24 PM | Link to this
I would be very suprised if Mr. Ward or Mr. Gibson could pass the TAKS test. It would seem to me if you are going to be a "spokesman" you should at least be able to "SPOKE"!
These 2 are exactly what is wrong with Wiley in particular and East Waco in General. Neither one of them live in east Waco just go there to work and stir things up. One live in his Momma's house and the other rents in Hewitt.
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