Posted on 07/12/2007 5:28:46 AM PDT by truthkeeper
WEST WHITTIER - Students, parents and teachers frustrated over recent changes at Los Nietos Middle School packed the school board meeting Wednesday night, railing against decisions to nix a military-style student Cadet Corps after one year and reassign popular first-year Principal Marla Duncan.
For more than 90 minutes, community members pleaded with the five-member Los Nietos School District board to give the program and Duncan at least one more year, citing dramatic changes at the school and in the students' behavior.
"I have stories where students could have been swayed into gangs but joined the (Cadet Corps) instead," said teacher Eileen Schin, as fellow teacher Elsa Alvarado held up newspaper articles highlighting the new programs Duncan helped implement at the middle school last year.
"Ms. Duncan gave it a chance when no other middle school would," Schin added. "And she treated us with the utmost respect, something we haven't had in a long time."
The board did not take action Wednesday on the complaints, as the matter was not listed on its agenda. Board members did not ask to discuss the issue at a future meeting.
Last week, Superintendent Lillian French said it was an administrative decision to take Duncan out of the middle school post and redesignate her as a principal on special assignment. Because it was a personnel issue - and therefore confidential - no other details could be released.
"Oh c'mon!" teacher Manuel Valencia told the school board as about 100 audience members cheered and clapped loudly. "This isn't a promotion! All we want is the truth."
(Excerpt) Read more at whittierdailynews.com ...
San Diego......Cadet Corps out......15 minute prayer sessions for Muslims in. Apparently, in San Diego, we are losing the battle for our culture. Can the School Board be recalled?
Oops, both Southern California but not same place. Sorry. Still losing the battle in Southern California.
Ah. The meat as to why the school board wished to kill a successful program.
I am glad to see some parents starting to stand up against the USA and military hating school administrators who run nearly all of our public schools. However, I doubt it will succeed for the they are so well entrenched. The real solution to our failed public education system is school choice.
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