TUSD (Tucson Unified School District) will hold the first of three public meetings regarding the district’s 30 year old desegregation tonight at Tucson High School, 400 North Second Ave from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Plaintiff representatives requested sites that were more user-friendly in terms of parking and access, but they say that DOJ officials ignored those requests and the District proceeded to schedule a Special Meeting of the Governing Board at the same time to vote to proceed with school closures.
The planned public meetings have left both plaintiffs and at least one Governing Board member questioning the processes and scheduling.
Michael Hicks is not only questioning the criteria applied in determining school closures, but the wisdom of proceeding before a decision is made by federal court Judge Bury. That decision is expected as early as mid-December.
The current plan offered up for discussion at the desegregation public forums has been described by plaintiff representatives as a “jobs plan” and “not a plan for improving student achievement.”
The plan, created by court appointed Special Master Willis Hawley focuses on the development and implementation of a “a plan for the identification and development of prospective administrative leaders, specifically designed to increase the number of African American and Latino principals, assistant principals, and district office administrators” rather than on classroom environment an student learning.
The proposed plan also requires that the District “designate, hire, or contract for appropriate trainers for all certificated staff, administrators and paraprofessionals to provide the professional development necessary to effectively implement the pertinent terms” of Judge Bury’s Order.
While the court is likely to order new staff to train and oversee the plan’s requirements, the District is proceeding with school closures which will result in teacher layoffs.
Hicks says that the District has failed to provide Board members with enough information to proceed with closures.
Hicks says the Board needs to know the condition of all TUSD school facilities, not just the schools presented to the Board. He is requesting information on the operating cost of all TUSD schools, the capacity of each school in the district, environmental factors including the monthly utility costs, the ethnic balance of the schools, and closing some schools may adversely affect ethnic distribution more than others, transportation costs, and the value of the properties.
Plaintiffs had asked Hicks to look into the value of the proposed closed properties due to concerns they have that the district is selecting schools on their resale value rather than the costs savings to the district. The District claims that the schools must be closed in order to save money, however in the past the district did not realize substantial savings and many of the closed schools have become abandoned eyesores.
One plaintiff representative expressed concern that Hawley would not be attending the public forums, “DOJ is handling things, and they will forward the comments to Hawley.”
The District has received over 1 billion dollars over 30 years to desegregate the District. In 2009, the desegregation order was lifted and the Tucson Unified School District began operating under what is called a post-unitary plan.
The Governing Board voted last Tuesday to initiate closure on eight TUSD schools. The action moves the eight schools nearer to closure, but is not a final decision on closure. Two public hearings are scheduled in December. Motions to initiate closure on Cragin Elementary School, Brichta Elementary School, Menlo Park Elementary School, Hollinger Elementary School, Manzo Elementary School, and Pueblo Gardens K-8, were withdrawn to be discussed at this Tuesday’s Governing Board meeting.
The Board is also expected to discuss the closures of Santa Rita High School, and Wakefield Middle School.
The desegregation public forums:
• Monday at Tucson High Magnet School, 400 N. Second Ave.
• Tuesday at El Pueblo Regional Center, 101 W. Irvington Road.
• Wednesday at Palo Verde High School, 1302 S. Avenida Vega.
Each forum will be from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m.
Read TUSD’s USP Objections here
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