I have been on record saying that Delaware has too many school districts. 19 public/Vo-Tech school districts and 18 (and counting) charter districts. Each charter school is its own district. To me, that’s simply too much administrative overhead. Which brings us to the plan of reducing the number of districts in the city of Wilmington. Something I support, but know that the devil’s in the details.
When the Wilmington Education Advisory Committee (WEAC) submitted its report to the Governor, one of its suggestions was removing Christina and Colonial School Districts from the city and having the only two districts (Red Clay and Brandywine) serve the city.
As a city resident the idea of fewer school districts sounds wonderful. Having four districts fractured the city’s voice. It was hard to organize and advocate for city kids since school districts would only listen to people who lived in their district about concerns with their district. I do understand that, but it was extremely frustrating. Especially since 99% of our concerns applied to every district. But those district lines sent us off in four different directions, with less people, and were easily ignored. And, make no mistake, we were ignored. The districts’ go-to solution was always to form a committee to study the problem. Where all those committee reports ended up… I have no idea. And it was infuriating to keep bringing up the same concerns year after year only to have district administrators feign surprise and call for a new committee. So, most city residents would be happy with fewer school districts – if it’s handled correctly.
It’s no secret that I have huge issues with the Priority School’s plan. It’s about punishment, not education. That said, I did like that it finally triggered a discussion on the mess these districts had made of their city schools. And I really liked a lot of what came out of WEAC.
Now let’s talk about the realities of redrawing district lines, because this won’t be easy – which doesn’t mean it shouldn’t be done.
The News Journal’s article from yesterday:
Redistricting was thrust to the front of the state’s educational agenda when the Wilmington Education Advisory Committee recommended it in its interim report in January. The group, established by Markell to find ways to improve education, proposed removing the Christina and Colonial school districts from the city and giving those schools and students to the Red Clay School District.
That would leave only Red Clay and Brandywine serving students in the city limits.
While this plan reduces the number of districts from four to two it really is all about Red Clay, because it looks like the plan is for RCCD to take over all of Christina’s city schools and to take all of Christina’s and Colonial’s K-12 students. It appears Brandywine SD would remain untouched – serving city and suburban students.
Before continuing, here’s how the News Journal sums up the plan:
If the Wilmington Education Advisory Committee’s plan for redistricting is implemented by the legislature, five schools that are currently in the Christina School District would be moved to the Red Clay district. Students who live in the city and attend Christina high schools, which are located in the suburbs, would also be moved to Red Clay.
The Colonial school district serves some Wilmington students, but does not operate any schools in the city limits. Wilmington students in Colonial would move to Red Clay under the committee’s plan.
I’m not saying this can’t work, or be for the best, but there’s a lot of details to be worked out. And unless they are – and a ton of extra funding has to be part of it – I can’t see why RCCD would agree to this (would they even have a choice?). That’s a lot of poverty heading to all their schools, which we know is extremely expensive.
First, the complexities of school funding need to be worked out. High-poverty schools like those in the inner city require more resources to serve students’ challenges, but districts usually receive less property tax money from the city than they do from the suburbs.
Christina’s tax base in Wilmington does not provide enough money to pay for the students in Wilmington, Jaques said. That means Christina would see a significant financial benefit but Red Clay would be in a financial hole if the schools were simply handed over.
It will also increase the student population at Red Clay middle and high schools. The city doesn’t have a high school and only Christina’s Bayard Middle School – which houses approx. 470 students out of roughly 1300 in their elementary schools (is there another middle school in the city limits serving city kids? I don’t think so.) – to serve these students. Does Red Clay have the capacity at its existing middle and high schools to house extra students? I’m not sure. What I am sure about is that, if this plan goes through, it’s going to be expensive. I don’t have a problem with funding high needs kids – I have always said that they deserve and need higher funding – but this plan will result in increased poverty at RCCD’s middle and high schools. That must be addressed before implementing a plan. We cannot do this the way we did Neighborhood Schools. You know, create neighborhood schools, which then created high poverty schools and then act surprised that we re-segregated! Whooocouldaknown!
I’ll end with Kilroy. I’m not sure what possessed him to write this stuff. It makes me sad.
The Wilmington committee refuses to look in the mirror and realize Wilmington needs it’s own school district but I am sure they know it. The city leaders and so-called civil rights leaders won’t support a stand-alone Wilmington school district because if they fail they won’t have the white caretakers to blame. The solution is a stand-alone Wilmington school district with a school board that has the authority to be approval and oversight authority for all charter schools in Wilmington meaning current charter schools would move under that authority. The time is now for the men of Wilmington to man-up and be the guardian of their children.
I’m not even sure what to do with this paragraph. Time for the men of Wilmington to man-up? Why just the men? White caretakers? This statement is racially divisive and offensive. Seriously, Kilroy? You’re better than this.
He goes on to call out Sen. Bryan Townsend:
“I do think there’s a need for a sense of urgency,” said Sen. Bryan Townsend, D-Newark. “There are tough logistics, there’s no doubt, but the adults have really got to be courageous and committed to finding solutions, even if they’re tough, that are in the best interest of our schoolkids.”
Let me guess, Glasgow Class of 99? The Beavis and Butt-Head generation. Slowdown rookie, left not pull the alarm so fast! And there you go saying it’s for the kids if we don’t act fast! Stop kissing Jack Markell ass! You have bright future ahead of you but please walk upright!
But earlier he praised Rep. Kim Williams – who basically said the same thing.
“I get that there’s energy around this and I agree with that,” said Rep. Kim Williams, vice chairman of the House Education Committee. “But this is not something that can be figured out over a cup of coffee. We’ve been operating this system for years and years and years, and it’s not going to just take a couple of months to figure out how to change it.”
Spot on Rep Williams! But we’re talking Governor Jack Markell who has been come so reckless with public education and cares more about his change agent egotistic image than what’s right for children and parents.
I’m confused. Both said there’s a sense of urgency/energy around this topic. Both acknowledged that it wouldn’t be easy. But Kilroy saw these as two very different statements. I don’t understand why.
Redrawing districts won’t be easy, and I shudder to think of the outcry heading our way. Even if there’s a ton of money attached to this plan it’s going to be nasty and ugly. We got a taste of this with the Concerned Neighbors of Cooke Elementary School who fought to keep the high poverty children of Lancaster Court Apartments out of their school – be sure to read the comments on that post because that’s what will be heading our way. Now take that situation and apply it district wide. That doesn’t mean I don’t see problems with this plan. I do, and have mentioned them above (financing, space, etc.). I think they can be worked out (and would have to be worked out before moving forward), but even if they’re worked out I see a major fight on the horizon – and it won’t be pretty.