This just in from Marion Gibson and Rebecca DiLoreto, CKCPJ Board members:
The NAACP, Human Rights Commission, the Central Kentucky Council for Peace and Justice (download .pdf of CKCPJ statement here) and several other organizations serving the community and children of Fayette County area are tired of the inequities in the FCPS. We demand action and most importantly visible results to the inequity issues outlined in this press conference and in the latest FCPS Equity Scorecard.
An Open Records was submitted to FCPS on February 17th (download .pdf of NAACP's letter here). At this time, we must say that FCPS has not fully answered our questions in the open response. We know that they are planning to answer some of them later. However, for the purpose of our press conference and talking points are as follows:
- A staff that focuses minority recruitment and retention for the school district has been vacant for almost 2 years. We know from the previous open records request, that the minority teacher/administrative staff is no where near the student populations. They now have the Human Rights Commission addresses issues of retention and treatment of minority employees and FCPS is taking a long time to respond to their written complaint. Therefore, we are questioning FCPS commitment to improve the culture of their schools and central office by increasing and retaining minority teachers/administrators. Furthermore, we question their commitment to improving the educational culture of schools that serve a large portion of minority students. We also question their capabilities in addressing the equity issues outlined in the Equity Scorecard (which has not shown improvements in test scores and suspension rates for minority students in the last 5 years). In other words, IS THIS LIP SERVICE AND NO REAL PLAN OR ACTION TO ENSURE FCPS MEETS THEIR OWN STATED GOAL “All schools/departments will employ professional staff that reflects at a minimum the diversity of the students served at their schools, and departments reflect at a minimum the diversity of the students served in Fayette County Public Schools."
- The data they have provided thus far regarding Section 7 funds was for this school year (August through December) only and we asked for the last 5 years and the total funding available. The bottom line is that the money is not being given to the neediest schools and may be given out inconsistently and not aligned with the law. Even more dishearteningly, FCPS does not have a board policy to ensure that the money is being allocated according to to the law (702 KAR 3:246) whereby schools can request/receive this funding based on the student needs (this money is thought to be millions of dollars):
Section 7. Distribution of the Balance. (1) The balance between the amount generated in Sections 4, 5, and 6 of this administrative regulation and the amount available for distribution to school councils from Section 3 of this administrative regulation shall be distributed by the local board in one (1) of the following manners:
(a) An amount per prior year final average daily attendance;
(b) Based on pupil needs identified by school councils in their adopted school improvement plans and designated by the local school board. Money provided under this paragraph shall be used only for the needs identified by the council from its adopted school improvement plan and designated by the board;
(c) For specific instructional purposes based on student needs identified by the board from disaggregated student achievement data. Money provided under this paragraph shall be used by the council to address only the identified needs; or
(d) A combination of paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this subsection.
(2) An adjustment may be made to allocations under subsection (1) of this section at the end of the second school month for changes in average daily attendance and projected funding for SEEK, and changes in the projections for prior year, end-of-year balances.
(3) If the allocations in Sections 4, 5, and 6 of this administrative regulation generate more funds than are available in Section 3 of this administrative regulation for distribution to school councils, the local board shall make every reasonable effort to make up the deficit.
We demand that the board develop a policy and follow the law they ensure that the Section 7 money go directly to the staffing/student needs at the lowest performing schools first.
3. We asked the following questions: Subsequent to the recommendations from the FCPS Redistricting Committee, how will the School Board ensure the distribution of resources for students receiving free and reduced lunch and special education students in all schools?
FCPS response appeared to focus on an equitable staffing model. "Resources" does not equal staff....the question relates more to the Section 7 money and how they will ensure that the funding to secure staffing and educational materials to support students in closing the achievement gap. DOES IT APPEARS THAT FCPS is not serious about increasing their focus and resources on the students that are suffering the most (low achievement, graduation rate, and high suspension)?
4. Minority owned business contracting with the district (which averaged from 1 to 4 million dollars a year over the last five years). The response and data they provided show that not only is their current contracting with minority owned business almost nothing (less than 1%) it has not changed over the last five years. Even more insulting, they don't even have a policy or goal to increase the number of contracts with minority owned business. How does the district plan to increase that number if they don't have a policy or goal?
In summary, the NAACP, the Human Rights Commission, the Central Kentucky Council for Peace and Justice and several other organizations serving the community and children of Fayette County are tired of the inequities in the FCPS. We demand action and most importantly visible results to the inequity issues outlined in this press conference and in the latest FCPS Equity Scorecard.
Mr. William Saunders, the Lexington-Fayette NAACP President, will be addressing these issues at the Press Conference tomorrow. Afterwards, the NAACP and many of the concern citizens plan to address these issues to the School Board that will be meeting at the School Board Office on Monday, February 23, 2015 evening. You may also contact the Education Chair, Dr. Shambra Mulder, for any further questions at [email protected].
Media Advisory from Lexington-Fayette County NAACP
Lexington-Fayette National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
498 Georgetown Street, Lexington, Kentucky
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LEXINGTON, KY (February 19, 2015) – With the search for a new Fayette County School Superintendent, the redrawing of school boundaries, and the still unaddressed issue of minority educators’ treatment/recruitment in Fayette County Public Schools, The Lexington-Fayette County NAACP says it’s time to address these issues head on and push now, more than ever, for involvement of the Equity Council in the search for a new leader of this school system.
The NAACP will be holding a news conference on Monday, February 23 at 5:30 pm at the Fayette County School Board offices. Leaders will be discussing:
- The Kentucky Attorney General offered an opinion to a Senator on behalf of the NAACP about adding the chair of the Equity Council to the Superintendent search committee.
- The hiring/retention of minorities in key positions (teachers, administrators)
- The equitable distribution of funding and resources to high poverty schools
- Supplier Diversity
There is a lot of work to do be done in the Fayette County Public Schools to ensure all our children get the best possible education. The Lexington NAACP wants to make sure all voices are heard and are at the table to ensure equitable distribution of wealth, education and opportunities are given to everyone across the board.
Please contact the local branch President, Mr. William Saunders at phone (859) 420-1095 or email ([email protected]).
In Community,
Submitted by: JoJuana Greene, Community Outreach Liaison 859-608-973,5
Recent Comments