THE RIVER CITY NEWS MORE COVINGTON NEWS THAN ANY OTHER SOURCE
|
|
by Michael Monks
|
 |
| Mark Young (L) and Jon Ryker address the picnic |
"Our economic livelihood is being stopped dead by families who are moving out," warned Mark Young, an organizer of the Fix Covington Schools picnic held Saturday at Goebel Park in Mainstrasse Village. For months, an online Facebook group has generated debate and conversation about the state (and perceived state) of Covington Independent Public Schools.
|
A consistent point of depression for many of the group's members is the overall low achievement on standardized test scores such as the ACT. Vocal members of the Fix Covington Schools forum, which originated shortly after the emergence of several scathing anonymously produced anti-CIPS YouTube videos, communicate daily in lengthy threads that highlight ACT averages of 15.6 (out of a possible 36) and other percentages from other standardized tests that demonstrate low achievement in the district.
|
Through reform, "We can turn what ought to be a pretty good city into the gem of the Midwest," Young continued.
|
Through reform, "We can turn what ought to be a pretty good city into the gem of the Midwest," Young continued.
|
"Our kids are as good as any other kids, we've just not been as good at demanding more," said Jon Ryker, another organizer of the group and a self-described "bomb thrower". "We can fix this but we have to believe these kids can do it." Ryker is a former teacher at Holmes High School who told The River City News previously that his tenure there ended when his contract was not renewed. He is the author of the book Educating, Not Babysitting: A Foundation for Reclaiming Your Public School. His coauthor, Jo Rogers, is his wife and is now a candidate for school board.
"Our kids are as good as any other kids, we've just not been as good at demanding more," said Jon Ryker, another organizer of the group and a self-described "bomb thrower". "We can fix this but we have to believe these kids can do it." Ryker is a former teacher at Holmes High School who told The River City News previously that his tenure there ended when his contract was not renewed. He is the author of the book Educating, Not Babysitting: A Foundation for Reclaiming Your Public School. His coauthor, Jo Rogers, is his wife and is now a candidate for school board.
|
|
"I believe the school district is in an emergency situation," Rogers said. "Look at the test scores, the success of graduates and whether they go to college. You have a situation that needs intervention." Rogers is an instructor at the University of Cincinnati and a former teacher in the Bellevue Independent Schools. "My concern is the academic standards and academic achievement of the kids."
"I believe the school district is in an emergency situation," Rogers said. "Look at the test scores, the success of graduates and whether they go to college. You have a situation that needs intervention." Rogers is an instructor at the University of Cincinnati and a former teacher in the Bellevue Independent Schools. "My concern is the academic standards and academic achievement of the kids."
|
Rogers and Ryker moved to Covington's Old Seminary Square neighborhood from Fort Mitchell where "the schools were wonderful". "It's why we moved there," Rogers said. She said she was shocked at what she called the poor performance at CIPS.
Rogers and Ryker moved to Covington's Old Seminary Square neighborhood from Fort Mitchell where "the schools were wonderful". "It's why we moved there," Rogers said. She said she was shocked at what she called the poor performance at CIPS.
|
------------------------------------------------
SEE ALSO: Last Saturday, the Covington School Board held a retreat and highlighted some successes and difficulties. For the point of view from the school district, click the link below:
-------------------------------------------------
|
The "Fix Covington Schools" group has inspired other candidates to seek a seat on the Covington School Board where three of five seats are up for election this fall. "The biggest problem that I see is that kids aren't being taught basic things that they need to build on, they're not given a challenge," said Tom Miller, a Helentown resident who will have three granddaughters in CIPS schools this fall. "One thing that sticks in my mind is my oldest granddaughter who's going into tenth grade and never had to write a paper, nothing as simple as a book report. I find that deplorable. I'm sure she's not an isolated case. This has got to change. Kids have to be prepared for higher education to find a place in the workforce, to be productive citizens, and I don't feel they are getting that with the current system."
The "Fix Covington Schools" group has inspired other candidates to seek a seat on the Covington School Board where three of five seats are up for election this fall. "The biggest problem that I see is that kids aren't being taught basic things that they need to build on, they're not given a challenge," said Tom Miller, a Helentown resident who will have three granddaughters in CIPS schools this fall. "One thing that sticks in my mind is my oldest granddaughter who's going into tenth grade and never had to write a paper, nothing as simple as a book report. I find that deplorable. I'm sure she's not an isolated case. This has got to change. Kids have to be prepared for higher education to find a place in the workforce, to be productive citizens, and I don't feel they are getting that with the current system."
|
Christi Blair, a real estate agent living in Licking Riverside and a mother of three grown children with a fourth in Kindergarten at John G. Carlisle Elementary School, has also thrown her hat into the school board race. "They (CIPS administration) are acting like we're so poor and pitiful," Blair lamented. "The more I read Fix (Covington Schools), I started thinking, they're not totally cuckoo, something is just wrong and it needs to be changed and something just happened in me and I just felt compelled to do this. My family and friends tell me to get out of Covington and as a mother, that's really heartbreaking. But my daughter loves her school. It's not her fault how they spend their money or the books they buy. When I look at these budgets, I think it doesn't make sense to me. I like things real clear, real simple. I want everyone to be able to understand it."
Christi Blair, a real estate agent living in Licking Riverside and a mother of three grown children with a fourth in Kindergarten at John G. Carlisle Elementary School, has also thrown her hat into the school board race. "They (CIPS administration) are acting like we're so poor and pitiful," Blair lamented. "The more I read Fix (Covington Schools), I started thinking, they're not totally cuckoo, something is just wrong and it needs to be changed and something just happened in me and I just felt compelled to do this. My family and friends tell me to get out of Covington and as a mother, that's really heartbreaking. But my daughter loves her school. It's not her fault how they spend their money or the books they buy. When I look at these budgets, I think it doesn't make sense to me. I like things real clear, real simple. I want everyone to be able to understand it."
|
"There are a lot of good things," said Blair, a volunteer with the parents group at John G Carlisle. "If it were completely bad, I'd move to Fort Mitchell but I love Covington and its urbanness. I don't feel I should have to put her out of school. Why should I pull her out of school because of the way a few people are running things? I think there are a lot of parents who want to be involved but they are shot down by gatekeepers."
|
Another mother has also jumped in the race. Rebecca Pettigrew of Peaselburg has three children, two of whom attend Glenn O. Swing Elementary. "I have no personal agenda or misled loyalties," Pettigrew said. "My loyalty lies with the children of Covington. I know that the children are more than statistics and test scores and that they deserve more credit than they are given on both sides of this battle. This war will not be won with fighting, but with compromise and cooperation. If we can't learn to work together, we will never get anything done."
Another mother has also jumped in the race. Rebecca Pettigrew of Peaselburg has three children, two of whom attend Glenn O. Swing Elementary. "I have no personal agenda or misled loyalties," Pettigrew said. "My loyalty lies with the children of Covington. I know that the children are more than statistics and test scores and that they deserve more credit than they are given on both sides of this battle. This war will not be won with fighting, but with compromise and cooperation. If we can't learn to work together, we will never get anything done."
|
Yet another mother from John G. Carlisle is also in the race, though Kerry Holleran, an attorney, was not in attendance at the picnic. Reached Saturday evening, Holleran told The River City News, "I'm running for a seat on the Board of Education because I want my daughter's diploma to be something people envy. I want CIPS and Holmes to re-establish their reputations so that families stop choosing to send their children to other schools.
Yet another mother from John G. Carlisle is also in the race, though Kerry Holleran, an attorney, was not in attendance at the picnic. Reached Saturday evening, Holleran told The River City News, "I'm running for a seat on the Board of Education because I want my daughter's diploma to be something people envy. I want CIPS and Holmes to re-establish their reputations so that families stop choosing to send their children to other schools.
|
"If we want to reinvent CIPS, we need everyone’s help. We need board members who will ask for help and who won’t stop until the problem is solved. There are roughly 15 district administrators and board members. CIPS is facing problems that are bigger than what 15 people can solve. Our test scores are low and our discipline numbers are high. We’ve got to attack these problems from a ground level, and that starts in each school. I will be that board member who is visible in all schools and in the community who encourages parents and community leaders to help us make CIPS the envy of other Northern KY school districts."
|
Two current school board members, Denise Varney and Krista Powers, attended the Fix picnic. Varney is mid-way through her 4-year term while Powers's is one of three seats up for election. She has not yet decided on seeking her second term though she is still looking toward the future success of the district. "I would like to see eight out of ten graduates having fifteen college credits before they leaves us," Powers said. "We also have to make sure we have a vision and commitment to providing all-day Kindergarten no matter what state reimbursement is and to make sure we are growing math and reading scores by eight and ten percentage points each year because we have to be doing that. Part of that is retaining high quality teachers through competitive wages, providing intense professional development, securing finances, making sure there is prudent spending, and ultimately my vision is that district-wide all of our decisions are data driven and move us toward motivating and inspiring all of our students to excel."
|
"Out of all of those vision points, we're working on five of them right now. I will always admit that we have a lot of work and people that I'm speaking to, the people that I respect in the district, believe that, too. No one is resting on their laurels. We're on the route to that vision."
Two current school board members, Denise Varney and Krista Powers, attended the Fix picnic. Varney is mid-way through her 4-year term while Powers's is one of three seats up for election. She has not yet decided on seeking her second term though she is still looking toward the future success of the district. "I would like to see eight out of ten graduates having fifteen college credits before they leaves us," Powers said. "We also have to make sure we have a vision and commitment to providing all-day Kindergarten no matter what state reimbursement is and to make sure we are growing math and reading scores by eight and ten percentage points each year because we have to be doing that. Part of that is retaining high quality teachers through competitive wages, providing intense professional development, securing finances, making sure there is prudent spending, and ultimately my vision is that district-wide all of our decisions are data driven and move us toward motivating and inspiring all of our students to excel."
|
"Out of all of those vision points, we're working on five of them right now. I will always admit that we have a lot of work and people that I'm speaking to, the people that I respect in the district, believe that, too. No one is resting on their laurels. We're on the route to that vision."
|
The man who could perhaps be credited with originally inspiring the online movement that morphed into Fix Covington Schools was not present at the picnic Saturday. Everett Dameron, who has run and lost three times for the school board, expressed through a letter read at the picnic, his gratitude that more people are taking up his cause. "CIPS students score well below the state average on all standardized tests but the district spends more per student than the state average by nearly fifty percent," Dameron wrote. "The ultimate responsibility for the operation of the school district lies with the elected five-person board.n They are directed by state law to manage public funds and property, hire the superintendent, set broad policies, and establish salary schedules for district employees. ...This election is critical to the very survival of the Covington Independent School District and the successful turnaround of the city. Schools affect every aspect of the life of a city. We can and must do better!"
|
Dameron has not yet decided whether he will launch a fourth campaign for school board. Candidates have until mid-August to file.
The man who could perhaps be credited with originally inspiring the online movement that morphed into Fix Covington Schools was not present at the picnic Saturday. Everett Dameron, who has run and lost three times for the school board, expressed through a letter read at the picnic, his gratitude that more people are taking up his cause. "CIPS students score well below the state average on all standardized tests but the district spends more per student than the state average by nearly fifty percent," Dameron wrote. "The ultimate responsibility for the operation of the school district lies with the elected five-person board.n They are directed by state law to manage public funds and property, hire the superintendent, set broad policies, and establish salary schedules for district employees. ...This election is critical to the very survival of the Covington Independent School District and the successful turnaround of the city. Schools affect every aspect of the life of a city. We can and must do better!"
|
Dameron has not yet decided whether he will launch a fourth campaign for school board. Candidates have until mid-August to file.
No comments:
Post a Comment