Saving An Arts School
Submitted by Allen Gwinn on Sun, 08/28/2005 - 20:40.
So you have a magnet school that's, for all intents and purposes, the crown jewel of one of the largest school districts in the nation. It is walking distance from the focal area in the city that helped make it what it is today. In four short years (compared the rest of our lives) it gives hardworking kids the education of a lifetime.
District administrators and elected officials (three of whom are up for election in less than a year, three more the year after that) now, in essence, want to cut an 18 month swath out of every current and future student's experience. The school is to be moved miles away from anything resembling a fostering, nurturing learning environment for arts talent.
It's not black mold, or air quality, or the chance that someone is going to get into an accident driving to school.
It is about the experience. It is about the quality of education and the impact this move will have to the lives of thousands of kids, present and future.
Period.
The impact of moving the school to the Nolan Estes plaza is not an 18-month inconvenience. It is a jolt to the education process--the impact of which will be felt in some areas for years. This could literally be about saving the arts school and it's success as we know it.
What can be done?
Fortunately (and not to mince words), I believe the District picked the wrong group of parents and kids to pick on. One only had to be at the board meeting last week to realize the commitment and passion that was present among teens and adults. The kids understood the issue perfectly: if you want to find a way to do something bad enough, there is always a way to do it.
Protesting parents and kids (with surgical masks) make great television footage.
The District's P.R. staff knows that one week after the move, the protests will stop and this issue will fade away into the woodwork. They are immune to (and used to) embarrassment. So from their perspective, there is no long-term downside.
Two thousand protesting parents and kids make a great news story today and in the coming months.
But two thousand parents and kids quietly working over the next two years to affect change in the District will last alot longer than any newscast.
The bottom line: don't forget this.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to recognize that an arts school belongs in an arts district. It does not take a Ph.D. to know that every problem has a solution.
This is our district. We are the parents. DISD officials and employees work for us, not the other way around. If the trustees really cared, two of them wouldn't have walked out, now would they?
District decision-makers will continue to make detrimental decisions like this until parents, who care about our kids, put an end to it and replace them with people who do care.
Give them something to be concerned about.
But what about now?
To the parents: if there's one thing I've learned: there's always a solution and the best way to find it is to work smarter, not harder. Also, don't get discouraged. Your kids aren't. They're just getting warmed up!
To the kids: nothing! Just do what you guys are doing! You understand the issue better than all of us put together! Motivate us to help you.
DISD Killed My Magnet School
For some twisted reason, DISD has been intent on killing off the very (at one time) viable magnet program. I attended Health Magnet back when it was an independent institution. You had to apply to go there and I had more stringent interview than I had when I applied to go to college. Getting in was both competitive and a mark of pride. Two years into our "educational experience", all of the previous entry requirements were waived. Students from anywhere in DISD were immediately transferred to the magnet schools either administratively or by the student's request.
The magnet schools immediately went from being safe, peaceful places to drug and gang ridden hell-holes. They became dumping grounds for every violent, troubled, substance-abusing, gang-involved yahoo that the regular school principals wanted to dump. The singular exception to this was Arts Magnet. Arts Magnet is, to this day, still the ONLY magnet school that has an application process. I know because all of us watched in horror as this happened to our school, the Business Magnet, the Transportation Magnet, etc. We rode the same buses so we talked. We might have been teen-agers, but we weren't blind.
For some reason, probably because the Arts Magnet is 1) performing well, 2) still has is application requirement and 3) hasn't moved into the c.f. called the Super Magnet, they have a vendetta. I say vendetta because our parents and teachers fought when they tried to move Health. We got the distinct impression that we were later denied staff, funding and supplies that we would otherwise have been able to obtain. We (the students) finally appealed to several of the local businesses for assistance, and they generously supplied us, much to the chagrin of DISD officials. Believe it or not, we were reprimanded for seeking donations to cover things, like athletic equipment, that the district had refused to purchase for us.
I would urge the kids now attending Arts to reach out to their alumni, who are now taxpaying, voting adults. Many of these people have become quite successful and would certainly not be opposed to helping out.
DISD is in big Trouble
The 3 year period that the DISD must honor the spirit of the of the changes brought on by Judge Barefoot Sanders over desegration in the 70's is over after this year.
Two really great changes happened because of that. One was the creation of Learning Centers. Schools that would have higher expectations for teachers, but also pay more. The teaching day is longer and teachers can earn bonuses based on working harder.
It was a system where teachers that have proven themselves to be skilled at the craft of teaching could get paid extra to work in areas that have children that are from a background that would make them more difficult to educate.
Out of that came many schools, a few come to mind in West Dallas, Carver, that I think was a Blue Ribbon school, and Jose Navarro, and Pricsilla Tyler. Both of the later were closed. They were small schools that had staffs of under twenty teachers and student populations of under 200. But the had a record of rating Exemplary or Recognized for over five years straight. But being small they were expensive. They were closed because while the quality of education was top notch, they were a drag on the districts bottom line.
Magnet Schools are a wonderful thing, they are public schools of choice. They were created to give black children a taste of white education, they have turned into being the few good schools that the DISD has to keep the middle class interested in public education. But it is expensive, yet great things happen.
DISD has a big choice to make, they have to choose between the bottom line and the good of children. Dallas has a big choice to make.
Fight for your school, fight for public education. If you don't, education will only be for the children whose parents can afford it.
The District is in BIG trouble
This is a more general DISD comment, but the DISD needs a major overhaul.
There is a BIG problem when officials think the Nolan Estes Plaza is a good place for the arts magnet. Erykah Badu, Norah Jones, and others are the product of this school; it's a city treasure. I helped get the special operating permit revoked for the motel yesterday, but the sickening appeals process may keep it open a little longer. The Atmos building would've been a better fit.
There is a problem when a city like Dallas has only a handful of good schools. My girlfriend and I look to be married soon and we want strong public schools. The only good close-in schools from elementary through high school are in Lakewood and Lake Highlands. Two areas; that's it. Seen the house prices over there lately? Houses in those areas, even at those outrageous prices, sell in two seconds simply because of the schools.
The TAKS tests is ridiculous. In most area teachers are teaching all year just for the test. So we turn out test takers instead of kids that can think.
I don't know the answer. I don't have kids, so I don't really know exactly what needs to be done. People need to start calling for the heads of trustees, DISD officials, and whomever else that corrupts this process. I'm sick of seeing Donny Claxton and others arrogantly shrug off and spin the issues of the day on the nightly news. It's like watching Enron execs, except it's about our kids.
They aren't even notifying parents when sex crimes against the kids (perpetrated by school employess) occur in the schools. Claxton says, "they don't have to."
Dr. Hinojosa has a monumental task. I wish him the best.
Uh...'kay?
You cats are insane.
It's no big deal, as long as the teachers teach. Yes, it's convenient to have the DMA within walking distance of an Arts school, and of course it'd be wonderful to learn in a comfortable building, but I think it's all about the teachers. Being in a different environment won't suddenly make the teachers flip out and fail on us.
The protests probably won't help much, so it's a good idea to give up; getting into some crazy debate on the air quality probably wouldn't help, either. You parents should just calm down and let us give our opinions once we realize the effects of NEP.
So, uh. That's about it. Now, you can totally disregard this because I'm a kid, right? Yeah. How's that for motivation?
--I am totally going to miss the spiral staircase. :(
I Believe It's Unhealthy
Years ago I visited that school and I would not allow my children to attend classes there without having an independent research team to study the safety health conditions. The Art Parents are wise to have concerns that might cause health problems later in life for their children.
A reseach will ease everyone's minds - it look bad, smells bad and too bad the parents that have their children attending school there did not call for an independent research health study..
What do we have to loose - maybe our children's and the personnel staff's health.
Unhealthy Maybe, Unsafe No
I think we can stand on common ground that NEP is not the best venue in the world, but it seems to be the best that DISD owns and has available.
Dallas ISD could have done better. They could have planned better, they could have involved the parents and students of Booker T. into deciding where the school was going to be relocated before they chose to relocate. The district had a plan to do it, but did not involve enough stake holders before doing it. When they did it, it seems to have left the folks it most effects confused.
Now, if students and parents of Booker T. want to change circumstances, how do they do it with out robbing Peter to pay Paul?
If I were to imagine myself as a public school executive officer I would be most worried about what I had to do meet the federal NCLB requirements. Looking at Dallas's schools of choice program I would tend to think that they are fine, and could probably weather this storm.
Dallas could do better for the students of Booker T. but it would cost the students of other schools. There is only so much pie, (money and resources) to split up. So who will sacrifice to make things better for the kids of Booker T.?
If you want a private study of air quality at NEP, who will pay? Paying for that will take resources from somewhere else. Whose job gets cut to pay for the study?
Is NEP the best for the children of Booker T. in the short term? No, will they have to make a sacrifice for creating a better future Booker T.. Yes. Will students that come after them benefit from the sacrifice? Yes.
A rich and vibrant arts school in the heart of the Arts district is good for everyone. I thank those that are working to make it happen.
Saving An Art School
Naptha,
This is not about haves and have nots, its about a group of kids who worked hard - auditioning and testing to win their spot at Booker T. Washington (the Arts Magnet).
They danced,sang, acted and submitted portfolios - they followed their passion. These are students from all over the City of Dallas privileged and under privileged who won their spot solely on their own merit. They applied to a school in downtown Dallas, which is by design centrally located, they use public transportation.
Nolan Estes is not centrally located.
I really want to address the comment about the masks.
In 1989 Judge Barefoot Sanders addressed the issue of Nolan Estes Plaza,(the section of the building that had housed A. Maceo Smith). It was unfit.
Donald Hood (a court appointed Desegregation auditor) said that no students should be returned to the space vacated by Smith. No students have been in that section of Nolan Estes since that time.
So there was nothing to "piss and moan" about.
It should also be noted that at the last DISD Board Meeting a father from McMillan elementary stood and spoke, he and other parents at McMillan were told the school was to be closed.
There is a alternative to NEP - The Atmos building - get this, in downtown Dallas.
The students at Booker T Washington interact on a daily basis with the Arts District. How will this happen from 8 miles away?
Booker T. Washington is a national treasure that the DISD does not value. This is not your average High School and these are not your average High School Students.
Keep the Art School in the Arts District!
It is saved...
Only moved. An art school is unique beast onto itself. You said that the students are "a group of kids who worked hard - auditioning and testing to win their spot at Booker T. Washington (the Arts Magnet)." They are.
Why did they do it? Was it for the location, the reputation of the school, or the teachers at the school?
It seems that one of three will be out of pocket for a few years. I agree with you that the school should be located in or near the arts district. It will be after time.
It would only cost Dallas a mere extra $3.5 million to get the Atmos building ready for students. Dallas ISD can spend $500,000 to do the same eight miles away for a few years.
My advice to you is to start a charter school in the Atmos Building. Bringing it up to code is far to costly for the DISD to handle or I am sure they would do it.
Booker T. is the Crown Jewel because it has the wealthiest parents in the District. I think I know that a good deal of the money to build a new Booker T. is private money. If you buy it, then the Charter Arts School at the Atmos Building will compete with Booker T. when it comes back home--making both a better school.
You are right to be upset. NEP really sucks. It however is the best there is to offer. Because while public education does indirectly serve the interests of the folks with a bit of money, it is the only thing in life that is free for children of the poor. And sometimes the folks with money have to take one for the team for the poorest.
If I were you I would be wondering why I did not see this one coming. The folks at Booker T. gave several millions to Dallas to get this better school off the ground. Did you think enough ahead to think about where your students where going to end up while they were fixing the building?
I have a friend who has twenty extra folks living on the floor. I was reading today in the DMN today that Highland Park ISD will only accept students as they have space.
It seems that many other Public Schools will accept refugees. But the best and richest district in North Dallas seems have it's doors closed.
Before you talk again about the haves and have nots, please, have a medical emergancy and go to Parkland Hospital for it.
Then tell me that having money or not having money makes difference.
Costs may be bogus
Actually, I'm not sure I agree with the cost estimates pur forth by the District with respect to the Atmos Building versus Nolan Estes. I'd need to see a little more data before just being willing to accept their figures.
I went to Highland Park. Let's not go there. If I wanted to put my kids through Highland Park, they'd be there right now. I live in Dallas out of choice because this is where the work needs to be done.
Parkland is one of the best hospitals in the region. Don't ever make the mistake in believing otherwise. Their medical talent is difficult to rival. They just need a little better administration sometimes!
Look, I know there are some in this town that just like to see achievers suffer for no particular reason other than the fact they're achievers. I've never quite understood it, but it's there.
These kids have done nothing wrong. They haven't stolen tax dollars or allowed their palms to be greased by vendors. The parents are honest and just want the best education possible for their kids.
If the Arts school is moved from the arts district, you will negatively impact the quality of education of every kid there and every kid who will be there.
The move will impact continuity and instruction. The curriculum will be damaged and opportunities diminished. It will take many years to get things back on track.
This isn't a secret. The District knows this. The parents know this. The kids know this.
But, I suppose, if we must punish achievement, this is a good place to start. Hopefully you'll chalk it up as a personal win?
Come on Naptha! I know you better than that! You don't believe this way! This is a bad thing that's happening here and it needs to be stopped!
To save a Nation
Before, you have often told me that the difference between the haves and the have nots is nothing more than unfairness. So I ought to stop complaigning when I see it or it seems to effect me.
When something unfair happens to you, or your sphere of interest, you seem to say it is "unfair" and it is bad, and something should be done about it.
Did the children who attended the "plaza" the before send their children with masks as a protest? Did they get upset that the place they sent their children too was unsafe?
You seem to be saying that to be saying that Nolan is good enough for some kids, but not other kids.
When it was other kids, I did not hear any pissing and moaning from the parents of children at Booker T.
You will have a wonderful spanking new school in a better place than the plaza in 18 months, so hunker down and deal with it and shut up. If you choose to pull your children out, go ahead. There are many poor children that need the education more and will be willing to go. If you choose to stay, why not choose to be an involved parent and work to make the plaze a less sucky place, not only for your children but for the children that will flow back in after the priveledged flow out.
Where in the Arts district can the DISD relocate the students while they fix or improve Booker T.?
That was only my left hook to set the Ivory Tower up for the Right. What I wrote about above was only a local problem.
Let me have a bit of fun and extrapolate your micro politics to a macro level...
Bush and Nero share having four letters in common. And most of you reading this are wealthy enough to have a type of education to understand the analogy.
But Hold On
That's really not fair. The Arts Magnet is open to all kids. It is achievement based. It doesn't matter what part of town you live in. Your kids have as much of a right as any other DISD kid to try out and attend Booker T. Washington.
If the parents of the previous attendees at Nolan Estes Plaza were concerned about air quality, general health or safety, they should have (and could have) raised the issue. I guarantee it would have gotten attention.
This isn't an issue of have's or have not's. It is an issue of quality borne by those who have worked hard to have a stake in one particular school.
There are alternatives with respect to relocaion. It is just that the District is having a difficult time bringing themselves to deal fairly with the parents and students.
Unfortunately, I think the parents are getting tired of the fight.
But while we're on the subject, I have a novel idea: why don't we all work to improve the district rather than trying to drag the good schools down to the least common denominator?
You see, our elected officials should want all our kids to have a great education--not to see that everybody has a mediocre experience. All the parents, collectively, seem to want all the schools improved!
If we work for excellence, we'll have less work to do in the long run and everyone will be a lot happier!
Give me a break!
The issue has been raised about the air quality, general health or safety regarding NEP. But guess what, nothing was ever done, granted these folks did not have a protest regarding this, but they have/had many concerns.
Did you know that the employee's of DISD have also had concerns regarding NEP? Yes, they have had the air quality checked many times since placed in the building. They were told that It's not bad, but It's not good for you either.
Did you know that the majority of the employee's housed at NEP are in the minority? Check it out for yourself. Did you know that every day the building smells like raw sewage? Well, take your honker down there and smell for yourself.
Did you know that several employee's there have had issues with cancers? coincidence? maybe yes, maybe no. As far as the motel behind NEP, It has never been an issue in the past when the lil minority children and the minority employees were housed there.
There have never been any incidences in or around that motel in the daylight hours. These parents need to realize there are alot worse things to get riled up about.
The kids will do great.
The adults just need to step back and quit putting all that in the kids heads.
You obviously don't know
Ok so you have not been listening to anything we have been talking about. Im not sure if you have ever been to a board meeting either.
Well, let me tell you something: I am a junior at Booker T. Washington.
The students are not upset about the mold. We are upset about leaving downtown.
It's not the motel, because even though it's not a great place, so what?
Who cares?
Downtown is not the safest place either. There are homeless people everywhere.
The problem is the Nolan Estes Plaza.
Where the visual arts cluster will be stationed has NO WINDOWS! You cannot paint in flourescent lighting. The building is deficient for what we do and what we are attempting to accomplish.
How are they going to move the five increadibly heavy (and expensive) printing presses down into the Nolan Estes dungeon?
We will no longer have transportation for the long hours we spend at school.
I arrive at school an hour before and stay sometimes until 8; and I am not in theater or dance! Those kids stay until 11 sometimes.
You said that it is safe during the day. Well most of us will be in school during that time and do not have to worry about the motel.
But what about night when many of us are still there? Is it safe, then?
Who will make sure the school is safe when the security guards leave at 7?
Also many people say the kids, teachers, and curriculum make the school.
First, many of the kids are leaving.
I'm not saying that 20 kids are leaving. I'm talking about a large percentage of the student body is leaving.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but when we were choosen to attend the school, we were choosen because of our talent and potential. If kids leave, they will simply be taking kids from the waiting list who will settle for Nolan Estes.
It seems as though DISD is trading talent for geography.
Does this help the school?
I hate to say it, but the school has already started to decline since I have been there. Quality should be increasing.
Second, are you aware that some of the teachers will be leaving? This includes cluster teachers (talented specialists) in addition to the academic teachers.
How is this going to help Dallas' Arts School?
Third, the curriculum will be altered to meet the needs of this so called "best fit of a school."
So what is going to make this school great anymore when, what everyone is calling, "the passion and essence of the school" is no longer there?
Last board meeting one woman remarked that the Nolan Estes relocation will be "like a pregnancy," with "pain and suffering" eventually turning into "beautiful results."
Sorry to disagree. Students will just have the pain and agony with no great outcome.
This move will impact my future--not make the school great.
I'm sorry if other students and I seem like a bunch of complaining kids, but we are concerned about our future.
We worked hard to get where we are only to lose what we've worked so hard to get, and after we've worked hard to make Booker T. Washington successful.
My future is everything I have been working for and you are not going to mess up that up. Trust me when I say I will never give DISD any credit when I leave this school.
Also the relocation board hasn't been exactly truthful.
I was a student representative and I feel that the board has not represented student's interests. The Board promised not to remove us from the Arts District, and they failed.
Period.
They just plain failed us.
This is why the current students are upset.
Our future is in jeopardy.